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James Balsillie Net Worth

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James Balsillie Net Worth
Net Worth:$800 Million
Age:64
Born:February 3, 1961
Gender:Male
Height:1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Country of Origin:Canada
Source of Wealth:Entrepreneur
Last Updated:Aug 13, 2025

Introduction

James Balsillie is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $800 Million. 

 

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2007$1.6 Billion
2008$3.4 Billion
2009$1.7 Billion
2010$2.3 Billion
2011$1.8 Billion

 

Education & Career Beginnings

James Laurence Balsillie was born on the 3rd of February, 1961, in Seaforth, Ontario. Balsillie received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trinity College in 1984. During his college years, he was a member of the elite Zeta Psi fraternity. In 1989, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

After graduating from Harvard Business School, Jim Balsillie became the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Sutherland-Schultz, a design and construction company. He remained in that position until 1992, when the company was sold to the Vollmer Group, and Balsillie decided to leave. In the same year, he invested $125,000 in Research in Motion and joined Mike Lazaridis as co-CEO. 

 

Research In Motion

When Jim Balsillie became co-CEO, Research in Motion had only ten employees; however, with his guidance, it quickly grew into an international company. Not long after Balsillie joined, Research in Motion was re-branded as BlackBerry Limited, and it boasted over 28,000 employees. 

While Lazaridis handled the technological aspects, Balsillie oversaw all sales, accounting, and business dealings. However, when competing with Steve Jobs’ Apple iPhone and Larry Page’s Android devices, the company’s dual-CEO structure began to hinder it. 

Soon after, Jim Balsillie stepped down from his role as chairman after the company reported over $250 million in stock option accounting errors from the past. Of course, he didn’t leave the company entirely and retained his roles as co-chief and director, allowing him to maintain his influence. 

 

The Fall Of BlackBerry

In 2007, Apple debuted its first touchscreen smartphone, which further pushed BlackBerry behind in the competition. Two years later, the Ontario Securities Commission forced Jim Balsillie to resign as the director as part of their sanctions. However, when the sanctions expired in 2010, Balsillie was almost immediately reappointed to his prior position despite shareholder pushback. That same year, BlackBerry fell even further behind thanks to Google’s technology and the fact that BlackBerry OS hadn’t been updated since 2002. 

By 2011, Balsillie was BlackBerry’s third-largest shareholder; however, after cutting 2,000 employees, the share value began to decline. The following year, Balsillie and Lazaridis resigned and were replaced by Thorsten Heins, the Chief Operating Officer. 

Balsillie then resigned from the board as BlackBerry’s decline continued, reducing it from Canada’s most valuable property to a tenth of its former value. 

 

NHL Ownership Bids

After leaving BlackBerry, Jim Balsillie founded the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the Centre for International Governance and Innovation. He has also attempted to become the owner of a National Hockey League team, although all such endeavors have since failed. Firstly, he made a bid to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006 for $185 million, but by the end of the year, he had withdrawn the bid. 

The following year, he made a tentative deal to purchase the Nashville Predators, although the owner, Craig Leipold, ultimately decided not to complete the transaction. Balsillie then offered $212 million for the Phoenix Coyotes on the condition that they relocate to Southern Ontario. However, Judge Redfield Baum rejected his bid and ruled that Balsillie didn’t have the power to relocate the team.

Despite a tumultuous business career, Jim Balsillie remains one of the wealthiest businessmen in Canada, and his fortune continues to grow.

 

Estimated Net Worth

James Balsillie’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $800 Million. 

 

Philanthropy

In 2007, he donated $50 million to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. 

 

 

Dan Western is a British journalist with a decade's worth of experience in researching financial information of the world's most influential people.

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Entrepreneurs

Rich Paul Net Worth

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Rich Paul Net Worth
Net Worth:$120 Million
Age:43
Born:December 16, 1981
Gender:Male
Height:1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Sports Agent
Last Updated:Aug 13, 2025

Introduction

Rich Paul is an American professional sports agent with an estimated net worth of $120 Million. 

As the founder and owner of Klutch Sports Group, Rich Paul manages contracts for almost 200 professional athletes across basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. The company manages several billion dollars in contract value at any one time, taking a commission of between 3% and 5% on each negotiated contract. 

 

Klutch Sports Group

In 2012, Rich Paul launched Klutch Sports Group, a sports agency responsible for managing professional athletes and their contract negotiations. When the company was first founded, Klutch Sports focused primarily on the NBA, but gradually expanded into half a dozen sports leagues, including the MLB, MLS, NFL, and WNBA. They were initially headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, but later established their headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Based on the most recent information available, Klutch Sports now has locations in Atlanta, Cleveland, Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles.

 

Expansion by Acquisition

Although Rich Paul initially focused on the NBA, the company’s growth allowed him to expand into other sports. Instead of entering new leagues from the ground up, Klutch Sports focused on acquiring notable agencies that held a larger number of clients from a particular sport. Unfortunately, none of the financial details from each of the company’s acquisitions has been publicly disclosed, but here’s what we do know:

  • 2020 – Tidal Sports Group (MLB)
  • 2020 – Revolution Sports Agency (NFL)
  • 2023 – Elite Athlete Management (NFL)
  • 2023 – Rep 1 Baseball Agency (MLB)
  • 2024 – ROOF (European soccer)

With all of these acquisitions, Klutch Sports was able to bring in all of the companies’ former clients. For the MLB agencies, Tidal Sports Group and Rep 1 Baseball, Klutch Sports added clients such as Alex Bregman, Marcus Stroman, Rafael Devers, and Devin Williams.

As for the two NFL agencies, Revolution Sports and Elite Athlete Management, the acquisitions added a substantial number of successful players to the Klutch Sports roster. This included:

While these clients were acquired through acquisitions, it’s essential to note the existing NBA client list that Klutch Sports has built since 2012. This list includes heavy hitters such as:

 

Contract Value & Commission

It’s challenging to evaluate just how much money Klutch Sports holds under management, as this would include the combined value from every active contract of all its clients. This is not just limited to team contracts, but also brand endorsement deals. In 2021, TIME magazine listed Klutch Sports among the top 100 most influential companies of the year, reporting over $1.8 billion in contracts under management for clients in the NBA and NFL. 

The maximum commission that a sports agent can command from a player’s contract agreement is 4% in the NBA and WNBA. However, for the NFL, the percentage is capped at 3%, and in the MLB, the maximum is 5%. These caps are not expanded to brand endorsements, and agencies typically take a cut of between 10% and 20% for such deals.

Klutch Sports typically sticks to the maximum percentage cap; thus, if their client signs a $100 million contract, the agency can earn up to $40 million (NBA), $50 million (MLB), and $30 million (NFL).

 

Notable Contract Commissions

As of 2025, Klutch Sports reportedly has nearly 200 professional athletes under management across four separate sports, meaning that a 3-5% commission, even for lower-value contracts, can quickly accumulate. Some of Paul’s most notable negotiations, of course, include his experience managing LeBron, securing multiple agreements valued at over $400 million. At a 4% commission, assuming LeBron earned the full value of the deal, the agency would have earned $16 million.

When Anthony Davis signed a three-year, $186 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Klutch Sports potentially earned $7.4 million in commission.

Other notable deals include:

  • Fred VanVleet – $130 million (estimated $5.2 million commission)
  • Draymond Green – $100 million (estimated $4 million commission)
  • Jerami Grant – $160 million (estimated $6.4 million commission)

 

Real Estate

Paul owns a beautiful home in Los Angeles, which he purchased for $4.35 million. It’s a traditional home, featuring six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. 

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Entrepreneurs

Joel Glazer Net Worth

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Joel Glazer Net Worth
Net Worth:$1 Billion
Age:58
Born:March 31, 1967
Gender:Male
Height:1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Entrepreneur
Last Updated:Aug 13, 2025

Introduction

Joel Glazer is an American businessman and part of the Glazer family with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion. 

The family controls First Allied Corporation and the Zapata Corporation, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and England’s Manchester United Football Club. Glazer was born in Rochester, New York.

 

Quick Facts

  • Estimated 16.7% stake in Tampa Bay Buccaneers valued at $900 million
  • Acquired 68% of Manchester United for £800 million in 2005
  • Remaining 47% stake in the club is valued at over $1 billion

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquisition

In January 1995, Joel’s father, Malcolm, secured an agreement to purchase the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the former owner, Hugh Culverhouse, had passed away in August of the prior year. As it turns out, Malcolm had been desperate to own an NFL team, and in 1993, had put in a bid to bring an NFL team to Baltimore. Back then, the Ravens didn’t exist, but unfortunately, Malcolm’s bid was rejected.

Finally, he was able to acquire the Buccaneers for approximately $192 million and placed both of his sons, Joel and Edward, in leadership positions. Joel was 28 years old at the time. 

Thirty years later, and here we are; the franchise remains in the hands of the Glazer family, with ownership split among the six siblings. The exact split has never been confirmed, but just assuming it’s an even split, Joel would own roughly 16.7%. In August 2024, Forbes valued the team at $5.4 billion, which is a whopping $5.2 billion more than their father paid. Assuming Joel has always held a 16.7% stake, in 1995, it would have been worth roughly $32.06 million, and by 2024, it had grown to $901.8 million. 

 

Manchester United Acquisition

In May 2005, Joel Glazer and his family negotiated a deal to acquire 68% of the English Premier League soccer club, Manchester United. The acquisition, made through their company Red Football Ltd, was worth a reported £800 million (approximately $1.46 billion at the time). This would have placed the club’s valuation at roughly £1.18 billion ($2.15 billion).

The purchase initially put Manchester United under a heavy financial burden, as much of the £800 million was secured by borrowing against the club’s assets. It has been reported that this led to the club holding significant debts, owing £60 million per year in interest payments alone.

Although Manchester United is no longer a dominant force in the English Premier League, they were the league’s strongest club for seven years following the investment. In five of those years, they won the league, finishing second in the other two. As a result, the club’s value has increased significantly over the past two decades.

In December 2023, INEOS, led by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, acquired 25%  of the club’s A and B class shares at $33 per share. Since then, he’s increased his overall stake to roughly 28.9%.

As of May 2025, Joel Glazer holds a remaining stake of 43%, and the club’s market valuation is approximately $2.4 billion. This would equate to Glazer’s stake being worth an estimated $1.03 billion.

 

Philanthropy

Glazer supports various charities. His family founded the Glazer Family Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting children in the Tampa Bay area through various charitable initiatives.

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Entrepreneurs

Ma Huateng Net Worth

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Ma Huateng Net Worth

sideres

Net Worth:$31.4 Billion
Age:52
Born:October 29, 1971
Gender:Male
Height:1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Country of Origin:China
Source of Wealth:Entrepreneur
Last Updated:February 15, 2024

Introduction

Ma Huateng is a Chinese business magnate, engineer, internet and technology, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $31.4 Billion.

Huateng is the chairman, founder, and chief executive officer of Tencent, Asia’s most valuable company, and one of the world’s largest Internet and technology companies. 

 

Quick Facts

  • Holds an 8.7% stake in the Chinese tech company Tencent
  • Typically earns between $6 million and $8 million in annual compensation
  • Peak estimated net worth of $65.8 billion in 2021

 

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2009$3.5 Billion
2010$4.4 Billion
2011$5 Billion
2012$6.4 Billion
2013$12.1 Billion
2014$13.4 Billion
2015$16.1 Billion
2016$16.6 Billion
2017$24.9 Billion
2018$45.3 Billion
2019$38.8 Billion
2020$38.1 Billion
2021$65.8 Billion
2022$37.2 Billion
2023$35.3 Billion
2024$31.4 Billion
2025$46.2 Billion

Although almost all of Huateng’s wealth has been generated through his ownership stake in Tencent Holdings, the percentage has gradually been reduced over time. This is primarily due to minor share sell-offs and the addition of new investors. At the time of the company’s founding, Ma Huateng owned 47.5% of the company. Over time, this has been reduced to an estimated 8.7%.

In 2009, Huateng’s net worth was estimated at approximately $3.5 billion. However, in 2012, Tencent’s market cap exploded to over $50 billion thanks to the growth of WeChat, the Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp. As a result, Huateng’s net worth almost doubled throughout the year, from $6.4 billion to $12.1 billion.

Tencent’s valuation continued to increase dramatically over the next several years, reaching $563 billion in 2018, with Huateng’s stake worth an estimated $45.3 billion. In recent years, China has proposed and introduced new, stricter regulations on the gaming industry, which have significantly affected Tencent’s market cap on more than one occasion.

In 2018, Chinese regulators introduced regulations requiring new games to receive approval from authorities before being released. Since 30% of Tencent’s revenues come from the online gaming industry, its valuation took a massive hit, wiping out over $200 billion in just nine months. Huateng’s net worth would have dropped significantly between 2018 and 2019; however, towards the end of the year, the company began recovering at a steady pace.

Tencent reached a new peak market capitalization of $916 billion in 2021, but suffered setbacks again from the Chinese government. The government proposed a new rule to curb the amount of money players can spend on online gaming. Huateng’s net worth went from a peak of $65.8 billion to $37 billion in a single year.

 

Tencent Compensation

While we don’t have a complete history of Ma Huateng’s annual Tencent compensation, we do have information regarding several recent years. This includes 2020, when he received a total compensation of CNY 58.74 million, equivalent to roughly $8.21 million.

In 2021, reports of his earnings are slightly more transparent, receiving a base salary of CNY 7.33 million ($1.02 million), bonuses of CNY 35.52 million ($4.97 million), plus pension contributions and director bonuses totaling CNY 1.26 million ($176,000). In 2023, Huateng earned a total compensation of CNY 42.92 million ($6 million).

All things considered, it appears that Ma Huateng’s total annual compensation from Tencent typically ranges between $6 million and $8 million per year.

 

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