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James Balsillie Net Worth

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James Balsillie Net Worth
Net Worth:$800 Million
Age:65
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 29, 2026

Introduction

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

In this profile, we’ll discuss our research into James Balsillie’s net worth history,  early career, and the rise and fall of BlackBerry. We’ll also review his numerous attempts to purchase an NHL franchise, all of which failed.

 

Quick Facts

  • Debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2007
  • Peak estimated net worth of $3.4 billion in 2008
  • Withdrew his $185 million bid to acquire the Pittsburgh Penguins (2006)
  • $212 million offer to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes was rejected

 

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 Center 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.

 

Philanthropy

In 2007, he donated $50 million to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Center 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

Avram Glazer Net Worth

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Avram Glazer Net Worth
Net Worth:$1 Billion
Age:65
Born:October 19, 1960
Gender:Male
Height:Unknown
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Entrepreneur
Last Updated:Aug 28, 2026

Introduction 

Avram Glazer is an American businessman and sports team owner with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion.

This profile covers our extensive research into Avram Glazer’s net worth and investments, including ownership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United.

 

Quick Facts

  • Debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2024
  • Holds an estimated 16.7% stake in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • That stake is now worth $900+ million
  • Acquired a 68% controlling stake in Manchester United for $1.46 billion
  • Sold a 25% stake of the team to James Ratcliffe for $1.3 billion in 2023

 

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2024$1.7 billion
2025$1.7 billion
2026$2 billion

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquisition

Avram’s father, Malcolm, was a dedicated sports fan and had been desperately trying to secure ownership of a franchise team within both the NFL and the MLB. This included attempts to acquire or establish franchises for the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Orioles (now the Baltimore Ravens), the San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After Hugh Culverhouse, the then-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, passed away in August 1994, Malcolm finally managed to acquire a team. Malcolm purchased the Buccaneers for a reported $192 million, placing two of his sons, Joel and Edward, in leadership positions. All six Glazer siblings received an ownership stake in the team, which they still hold today. The exact split has never been confirmed, but assuming it’s an even split, this would bring Avram’s stake to roughly 16.7%.

In August 2024, Forbes valued the Buccaneers at $5.4 billion, indicating that the franchise’s value had increased by approximately $5.2 billion over the previous 29 years. Assuming Avram has always held 16.7%, his stake would have been worth $32.06 million in 1995 and is currently worth approximately $901.8 million. 

 

Manchester United Acquisition

In May 2005, Avram and the Glazer family acquired a 68% majority stake in the EPL soccer team, Manchester United, through their company Red Football Ltd. The deal reportedly cost the family £800 million ($1.46 billion USD), placing the club’s valuation at approximately £1.18 billion ($2.15 billion USD).

However, the majority of the £800 million was secured by borrowing against Manchester United’s assets, which quickly put the club in financial trouble. This left the club obligated to pay £60 million per year in interest alone on its total debts. Although no longer a dominant force in the English Premier League, Manchester United won the league in five of the first seven years following the Glazers’ acquisition.

As of May 2025, the club’s market valuation is approximately $2.4 billion. According to various reports, the Glazer family still holds approximately 71%, but it’s unknown exactly how the shares are split between the family members. Nonetheless, a 71% stake in Manchester United, based on its current valuation of $2.4 billion, would equate to roughly $1.7 billion.

 

Financial, Tax, & Legal Issues

In December 2023, Avram Glazer’s family sold a 25% stake in Manchester United to British billionaire James Ratcliffe for $1.3 billion. This sale valued the football club at $5.2 billion, over five times its 2005 leveraged buyout price of $1 billion. However, many Manchester United fans expressed frustration, attributing years of poor club performance to mismanagement under the Glazer ownership.

The sale drew further attention because Glazer used complex tax exemption strategies through the Cayman Islands, reportedly avoiding a $100 million capital gains tax bill. While legal, it reignited debates about fair tax practices among high-net-worth individuals.

 

Philanthropy

The Glazer Family Foundation, founded in 2000, has maintained a strong focus on community programs despite recent financial difficulties. In 2023, the foundation reported a $121,000 deficit, with assets of $17,700 and liabilities totaling $26,600. Even so, it supports initiatives like the Glazer Children’s Museum, which nurtures educational play through donor funding.

The foundation also supports youth sports leagues that provide equipment and coaching to over 500 underserved children annually, encouraging teamwork and physical activity. Its scholarship programs have awarded over $1 million to help more than 100 students access higher education, reducing financial obstacles for their families. The foundation has also focused on health-related efforts, such as vision screenings and eyeglass donations, which have reached more than 2,000 children in the Tampa Bay area and addressed critical needs in local communities.

Together, these initiatives reflect the Glazer family’s commitment to meaningful community support, even during periods of financial strain.

 

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Avram Glazer’s career:

  • Owner of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1995
  • Executive Co-Chairman of Manchester United (2005) 
  • Former chairman and chief executive officer of Zapata Corporation (1995 – 2009) 
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Entrepreneurs

Jordan Belfort Net Worth

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Jordan Belfort Net Worth
Net Worth:$1 Million
Age:64
Born:July 9, 1962
Gender:Male
Height:1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Entrepreneur
Last Updated:Aug 28, 2026

Introduction

Jordan Belfort is an American motivational speaker and author with an estimated net worth of $1 Million.

In this profile, we’ll discuss our research into Jordan Belfort’s net worth, income sources, legal issues, and any other events that have affected his finances.

 

Quick Facts

  • Peak annual income of $50 million
  • Ordered to pay $110.4 million in restitution to Stratton Oakmont victims
  • His legal obligation to do so expired in April 2026
  • Paid less than $14 million in total (roughly 12.6%)
  • Victims allegedly lost $200 million in total
  • Earned $1.045 million from selling the film rights to his memoirs

 

$110 Million Judgment

Belfort is known to the public for his legal issues involving a scheme he ran through his former brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont. Between 1989 and 1998, the firm engaged in a range of illegal trading practices while Belfort and his coworkers earned millions of dollars. These illegal practices included:

  • Money laundering
  • Pump and dump schemes
  • Stock price manipulation
  • Securities fraud

During Belfort’s 1999 trial, he pleaded guilty to money laundering and securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their investigation. Investors allegedly lost as much as $200 million from their dealings with Stratton Oakmont. Belfort was later sentenced to four years in federal prison and was released after serving 22 months.

In addition to his conviction, Jordan Belfort was ordered to pay restitution of $110,362,993.87 to his 1,513 victims. Since he obviously didn’t have this kind of money upfront, the payments were court-ordered to be taken from his gross income. He was also required to continue paying restitution to his victims on the $110.4 million judgment until April 2026.

 

Restitution Payments

So now that this date has passed, how much money did he pay in total?

Here’s the thing: Belfort could only make restitution payments based on the amount of money he earned following his release from prison. His conviction permanently barred him from re-entering the U.S. securities industry. This meant he was starting from the bottom again with a brand-new career and unlikely to fulfill the judgment by 2026.

Now, back in 2013, court filings revealed that Belfort had paid a total of $11,629,143.64. However, roughly 86% of this figure ($10 million) came from the government’s asset seizures of his properties. Those assets were sold at the beginning of the 2000s, which means he paid roughly $1.6 million in restitution from his income between then and 2013.

The reason 2013 is such a key year is that, prior to this, Belfort was obligated to put 50% of his gross income toward restitution. That obligation expired in 2013, though Jordan allegedly stopped complying with it three years earlier.

 

Historical Payments

Here are some of Belfort’s confirmed annual payments, according to the U.S. government:

  • 2007 – $382,910
  • 2008 – $148,799.19
  • 2009 – $170,000
  • 2010 – $0
  • 2011 – $21,000
  • 2012 – $158,000

In 2011, Belfort paid just $21,000 in restitution despite receiving $940,000 for selling the film rights to his life story to Red Granite Pictures. The following year, he also received an additional $250,000 from the company, but the government caught on quickly. They intervened before the payment was made, instructing Red Granite to pay $125,000 into the restitution fund.

Some reports suggest that from 2013 onwards, Belfort was required to pay a minimum of $10,000 per month into the fund. This is nothing in the grand scheme of things, since he had a remaining balance of roughly $98.73 million. At $10,000 per month, it would have taken him 822 years and 10 months to cover the full judgment.

The last official court filing made public was in 2018. It stated that Belfort had paid a total of $12,843,845.19 in restitution since the original judgment. His legal obligation expired in April 2026; therefore, the remaining balance has been wiped. We can assume that he probably paid a little more than $13 million in total.

 

Real Estate

Jordan Belfort previously owned an 8,706-square-foot, five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home in Glen Head, New York, before his arrest. This property features an outdoor pool, billiards room, bar, walk-in closets, and a squash court. Federal authorities seized the home in 2001 and sold it for $2.53 million to help pay restitution to his fraud victims.

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Entrepreneurs

Damon Dash Net Worth

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Damon Dash Net Worth
Net Worth:-$25 million
Age:55
Born:May 3, 1971
Gender:Male
Height:1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Professional Music Producer
Last Updated:Aug 28, 2026

Introduction

Damon Dash is an American professional actor, entrepreneur, and music producer with an estimated net worth of -$25 million.

This profile outlines our research into Damon Dash’s net worth and the numerous lawsuits he’s faced over the years.

 

Quick Facts

  • Sued by Monique Bunn for $50 million in 2019
  • Filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2025
  • Listed $25.3 million in liabilities
  • Also listed just $4,350 in assets
  • Allegedly owed $19.1 million to the government

 

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filing

In September 2025, amid all his legal and financial issues, Damon Dash ultimately filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

 

Liabilities

According to the filing, Dash listed $25,303,049.47 in liabilities, owed to approximately 49 creditors. The bulk of Damon’s debts consisted of unpaid taxes and backdated child or spousal support. This included a sum of $19,141,917.48 in tax and government debts, owed to:

  • NYS Dept. of Taxation & Fin – $9,654,700
  • Los Angeles County Treasurer – $5,792,611.20
  • New Jersey Division of Taxation – $3,500,000
  • NYC Dept. of Social Services – $223,000
  • NYC Dept. of Social Services (2nd case) – $264,946
  • Tax Assessment Securities – $194,606.28

Dash also fell significantly behind on his child support to three women, owing a reported $647,000 in total. As for the other creditors, which make up roughly the remaining $5.5 million in liabilities, some of the individuals listed included:

  • Christopher Brown – $100,000
  • Edwyna Brooks – $78,000 (see Edwyna Brooks lawsuit below)
  • Monique Bunn – $30,000 (see Monique Bunn lawsuit below)
  • Corrina Levine – $40,000
  • Linda Williams – $51,915.42
  • Muhammad Sultan – $60,316.06

 

Additional Creditors

Here’s a complete list of all the other creditors mentioned in the filing:

  • Josh Webber – $4,000,000
  • Josh Webber & Muddy Water – $823,284 (Muddy Waters lawsuit below)
  • Sanders Roberts, LLP – $93,677.95
  • Gail Construction – $24,874.41
  • Weltman Weinberg & Reis – $2,398.50
  • Chase – $440
  • Chase National Pymt Svcs – $76.27
  • Beverly Hills Institute of – $199.92
  • Optum Home Delivery – $158.79
  • Byram Healthcare Center – $105.65
  • H Lee Kagan – $31.06

 

Assets

He also listed his personal assets at just $4,350, claiming that he doesn’t own a house or any other valuable assets such as vehicles. Additionally, Dash reported his monthly income as $0 and his monthly expenses as $5,200.

Under his assets, Dash listed the following:

  • Cell Phone – $500
  • 2 Guns – $750
  • Clothing – $500
  • Jewelry – $2,500
  • Cash – $100

Shortly after the filing, Dash’s share in Roc-A-Fella (roughly 33.3%) was purchased by the New York state government for just $1 million at auction. The last known investment in the company was in 2004, when Island Def Jam acquired a 50% stake for $10 million. 

So, the bigger question is, how did Damon find himself in this situation?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the numerous legal and financial issues he’s faced over the year, which ultimately forced him to file for bankruptcy.

 

Monique Bunn Lawsuit

In 2019, hip-hop photographer Monique Bunn sued Dash for approximately $50 million, claiming he touched her inappropriately while she was staying at his house shooting a music video. She later added charges to the lawsuit, alleging defamation after Dash publicly accused her of using his credit card without his permission.

However, the case was closed in 2023 as the jury found Dash not guilty of sexual assault but still liable for defamation and, therefore, ordered him to pay Bunn approximately $30,000 in damages.

A year later, in 2024, Bunn tried to reopen the case, seeking $400 million, claiming she was not adequately compensated for over 100,000 photos Dash withheld from her, which she could license to others to support her income. Despite her claims, Dash won again as the judge denied her bid for a new trial, and the case remains closed.

 

Muddy Water Pictures Lawsuit

In the same year as Bunn’s lawsuit, Dash was involved in another case with Muddy Water Pictures and Director Josh Webber.

The lawsuit alleged that Dash falsely claimed copyright ownership of the 2019 independent film Dear Frank and sought damages for defamation. The music mogul responded by saying that he made a verbal agreement of ownership, provided the necessary film equipment, and used his celebrity status to bring in high-profile actors.

However, in March 2022, the case went to trial, and the Jury awarded Muddy Water Pictures more than $800,000 in damages for Dash’s false claims of copyright ownership and defamation.

 

Edwyna Brooks Lawsuit

Author and filmmaker Edwyna Brooks accused Dash of copyright infringement in 2021. This time, Dash was accused of trying to sell the movie Mafietta through his network of online platforms without the right to do so.

Dash argued that he co-authored the film and that the lower courts should have acknowledged that he retained the right to sell it if he wished. However, the court ordered Dash to pay Brooks $300,000 in compensation for her work.

 

Roc-A-Fella Records Lawsuit

In 2021, Roc-A-Fella Records sued Dash for trying to sell his ownership stake in Reasonable Doubt, the label’s first album, as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT). A restraining order was issued to prevent any sale while the case was resolved, and a final settlement was reached in the summer of 2022 after Dash admitted he had no right to sell any part of the record without the permission of his former business partner and record label owner, Jay-Z.

 

Real Estate

In June 2003, Damon Dash paid $2.75 million for a 5,875-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Beverly Hills, California. The property features numerous amenities, including an outdoor pool and walk-in closets. He owned it for several years, but eventually sold the house for $3.6 million in May 2007.

Prior to this, Dash owned a 6,983-square-foot home in Alpine, New Jersey, which he purchased for $2.1 million in October 2000. He sold it for $3.075 million in May 2003, a month before relocating to the West Coast.

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