Entrepreneurs
Steve Ballmer Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $120.1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 67 |
| Born: | March 24, 1956 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Businessman |
| Last Updated: | February 15, 2024 |
Introduction
Steve Ballmer is an American investor, businessman, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $120.1 Billion.
Ballmer built his net worth during his thirty-four-year career at Microsoft, having joined the company when it was worth just a few million dollars. He served as the chief executive officer for fourteen years, earning an average of $1.2 million/year in compensation. His initial 8% stake in the company has since been reduced to less than 4%, with shares worth well over $3.2 billion sold during his tenure.
Since retiring, Ballmer has acquired the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team and begun focusing more heavily on philanthropic efforts with his wife, Connie Snyder. In this profile, we’ll discuss our research on Steve Ballmer’s net worth history, his career at Microsoft, his salary and earnings, and other factors that have shaped his wealth over time.
Quick Facts
- Previously held an 8% stake in Microsoft
- Earned $17.1 million in salary as CEO of the company
- Paid $2 billion to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team
Net Worth History
| Net Worth: | $120.1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 67 |
| Born: | March 24, 1956 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Businessman |
| Last Updated: | February 15, 2024 |
Since nearly all of Steve Ballmer’s wealth was generated through his 8% stake in Microsoft, his net worth history can be tracked relatively easily. In 1986, Microsoft launched its IPO, which skyrocketed Microsoft’s valuation, giving it a market capitalization of $777 million. This gave Ballmer a net worth of roughly $62 million at the time.
By the end of 1990, the company’s market cap had grown to $4.8 billion, increasing the value of his stake to $384 million. In 2000, his stake had grown to an enormous $46.9 billion, but the dot-com bust wiped out over 60% of the company’s valuation in a matter of months. Ballmer often sold shares of Microsoft regularly. The most notable of which was in 2003, when he sold 39.3 million shares for $955 million. This reportedly reduced his ownership stake to 4%.
In 2009, Ballmer’s net worth was estimated at approximately $11 billion. A year later, he reportedly sold more than 83.1 million Microsoft shares across five transactions, totaling more than $2.2 billion. However, it appears he’s been quiet on the trading front since then, with his net worth continuing to increase as Microsoft’s market cap grows.
In 2015, he was worth approximately $21.5 billion; by 2019, he was worth $41.2 billion, and by 2022, $91.4 billion. As of 2025, Steve Ballmer is estimated to be worth approximately $120.1 Billion.
Microsoft
In 1980, Steve Ballmer became Microsoft’s 30th employee, taking on the role of business manager. Upon joining, he received an 8% stake in the company and an initial reported base salary of $50,000/year. He helped oversee the Windows and Office franchises during the late 1980s and 1990s and helped launch Windows 95.
When Bill Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000, Ballmer took his place and led the company until 2014. During this time, Microsoft had some of its most successful years, launching Windows XP, Windows 7, and, most notably, its Xbox gaming console. In 2000, Microsoft reported annual revenues of $25 billion; by the time Ballmer stepped down, this figure had tripled to $78 billion.
Acquisitions
As CEO, Ballmer also led some of the company’s most notorious acquisitions, both good and bad. In 2007, they acquired aQuantive for $6.3 billion to compete with Google in digital advertising. Just five years later, Microsoft effectively wrote off $6.2 billion and admitted its failure.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, perhaps one of the more successful acquisitions during Ballmer’s reign as CEO. In 2013, they also acquired Nokia for $7.2 billion, hoping to compete in the smartphone market, but it again had to be marked down as a multi-billion-dollar write-off.
Microsoft Salary
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $600,000 | $200,000 | $800,000 |
| 2001 | $656,000 | $374,500 | $1,030,000 |
| 2002 | $656,000 | $324,500 | $980,500 |
| 2003 | $700,000 | $400,000 | $1,100,000 |
| 2004 | $901,000 | $175,000 | $1,080,000 |
| 2005 | $605,000 | $620,000 | $1,230,000 |
| 2006 | $616,667 | $350,000 | $966,667 |
| 2007 | $620,000 | $700,000 | $1,320,000 |
| 2008 | $640,833 | $700,000 | $1,340,000 |
| 2009 | $665,833 | $700,000 | $1,370,000 |
| 2010 | $682,500 | $670,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 2011 | $682,500 | $682,500 | $1,370,000 |
| 2012 | $685,000 | $620,000 | $1,300,000 |
| 2013 | $700,000 | $550,000 | $1,260,000 |
| 2014 | $500,000 | $375,000 | $875,000 |
| Totals: | $9,950,000 | $7,140,000 | $17,090,000 |
Ballmer never had a particularly high salary during his time at Microsoft, at least compared to his overall net worth today. We already mentioned his starting salary of $50,000/year, but how about as CEO?
From 2000 to 2014, as Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer received an annual base salary ranging from $600,000 to $700,000. The only two outliers from this range were in 2004, when he received $901,000, and 2014, which wasn’t a full calendar year. Ballmer also earned an annual bonus, ranging from $175,000 in 2004 to $700,000 (in multiple years). His average annual bonus as CEO was roughly $510,000.
Overall, this meant he earned between $800,000 and $1.2 million annually for the first seven years. This was followed by earnings of between $1.26 million and $1.37 million annually from 2007 to 2013. He’s estimated to have earned $17.1 million in compensation as the CEO.
Los Angeles Clippers Acquisition
Upon leaving Microsoft in 2014, Ballmer acquired the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. Several bids were placed to purchase the team after Donald Sterling, the previous owner, was caught on tape making racist comments and was banned for life by the NBA. Ballmer’s bid was the highest, closing his acquisition of the team. At the time, the purchase was considered an incredibly high-risk move, with professional valuations of the Clippers coming in at under $1 billion.
However, in recent years, his investment has paid off significantly, with the team’s value more than doubling in the last five years. Recent estimates place the club’s value at $5.5 billion, generating $353 million in revenue over the past twelve months.
Entrepreneurs
Robert Herjavec Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $300 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 62 |
| Born: | September 14, 1963 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Country of Origin: | Croatia |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Jun 20, 2026 |
Introduction
Robert Herjavec is a Croatian-born Canadian investor, businessman, and television personality with an estimated net worth of $300 Million
Before Wealth & Fame
Believe it or not, Robert Herjavec’s career began in the film industry as an assistant director. He worked behind the scenes on numerous productions, including The Return of Billy Jack and Cain and Abel. He also served as a field producer with Global TV for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
A couple of years later, Herjavec learned of an opening at a computer startup called Logquest, which sold IBM mainframe emulation boards. The job paid $30,000 per year, but he was underqualified for the position. Still, Herjavec managed to secure the job by offering to work for free for the first six months. To keep food on the table, he waited tables during the evenings until Logquest paid him a full-time salary. Robert quickly rose to become president of the company, but was fired in 1990.
BRAK Systems
Following his dismissal, Robert Herjavec launched his first major company, BRAK Systems, which was one of Canada’s first cybersecurity companies. The company helped Canadian businesses procure and integrate network security solutions, and was operated entirely out of Herjavec’s basement. Ten years later, in 2000, AT&T acquired BRAK Systems for $30.2 million.
The Herjavec Group
After AT&T acquired BRAK Systems, Robert Herjavec became the vice president of Ramp Network, though the company was sold to Nokia for $126 million just several months later.
In 2003, now with a substantial amount of money to his name, Robert Herjavec founded the Herjavec Group, which quickly became one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Canada. The business also operates in the cybersecurity industry and has since merged with Fishtech Group and rebranded to Cyderes. The company currently reports annual revenues of $108.4 million and employs 425 people.
Apax Partners acquired a majority stake in The Herjavec Group in 2021, but Robert is believed to still hold a stake in the company. He also continued to serve as the CEO of Cyderes until 2024.
Shark Tank
By the time Robert Herjavec joined Shark Tank in its debut season in 2009, he already had a net worth in the tens of millions of dollars. Before Shark Tank began airing, Herjavec had actually been involved in Canada’s Dragon’s Den since 2006. He joined fellow sharks Daymond John, Lori Greiner, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Kevin O’Leary.
Thus far, Herjavec has starred in all seventeen seasons of Shark Tank, appearing in 323 episodes. According to our research, he’s invested approximately $7.58 million in 39 companies that have pitched in the tank. Several reports suggest that Herjavec has invested more than $16 million, but they also include failed post-show negotiations. Not every deal that’s accepted on the show actually gets finalized. Here’s a list of the companies that accepted Herjavec’s offer on the show, but ultimately fell through afterward:
- Gift Card Rescue
- Soy-Yer-Dough
- Mod Mom Furniture
- Hill Billy Brand
- Orig Audio
- You Smell Soap
- Focus Designs
- Henry’s Humdingers
- Oru Kayak
- Kronos
- Zero Pollution Motors
- SynDaver Labs
Shark Tank Investments
| Company | Investment | Equity | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| SignalVault | $100,000 | 12.5% | S.7 Ep.1 |
| Breathometer | $200,000 | 6% | S.5 Ep.2 |
| Genius Litter | $83,333 | 2.66% | S.15 Ep.13 |
| Lollacup | $50,000 | 20% | S.3 Ep.12 |
| Red Dress Boutique | $600,000 | 5% | S.6 Ep.5 |
| Buena Papa | $400,000 | 19% | S.15 Ep.4 |
| ChordBuddy | $175,000 | 20% | S.3 Ep.9 |
| CoinOut | $250,000 | 15% | S.9 Ep.23 |
| Freeloader | $200,000 | 33% | S.5 Ep.3 |
| Lumio | $350,000 | 10% | S.6 Ep.6 |
| Tipsy Elves | $100,000 | 10% | S.5 Ep.12 |
| Supermix Studio | $250,000 | 20% | S.12 Ep.6 |
| PaddleSmash | $250,000 | 20% | S.15 Ep.4 |
| Grill Charms | $50,000 | 20% | S.1 Ep.107 |
| My Therapy Journal | $40,000 | 25.5% | S.1 Ep.105 |
| Jump Forward | $300,000 | 25% | S.1 Ep.11 |
| Grease Monkey Wipes | $20,000 | 20% | S.1 Ep.12 |
| Toygaroo | $100,000 | 20% | S.2 Ep.2 |
| Buggy Beds | $50,000 | 5% | S.4 Ep.2 |
| Back 9 Dips | $75,000 | 12.5% | S.4 Ep.4 |
| Ruck Pack Combat Nutrition | $75,000 | 10% | S.4 Ep.10 |
| Coffee Joulies | $37,500 | N/A | S.4 Ep.13 |
| Hoodie Pillow | $90,000 | 20% | S.4 Ep.15 |
| Nuts 'N More | $125,000 | 17.5% | S.4 Ep.20 |
| Geek Chic | $300,000 | 25% | S.4 Ep.25 |
| Postcard on the Run | $300,000 | 25% | S.5 Ep.1 |
| Hamboards | $300,000 | 33% | S.5 Ep.4 |
| YUBO | $75,000 | 7.5% | S.5 Ep.10 |
| Wall Rx | $150,000 | N/A | S.5 Ep.14 |
| LockerBones | $87,500 | 25% | S.5 Ep.14 |
| Revolights | $150,000 | 10% | S.5 Ep.19 |
| Happy Feet | $375,000 | 25% | S.5 Ep.23 |
| The Natural Grip | $125,000 | 25% | S.6 Ep.8 |
| The Mensch on a Bench | $75,000 | 7.5% | S.6 Ep.14 |
| Doorman | $250,000 | 15% | S.6 Ep.13 |
| Drain Strain | $110,000 | 10% | S.6 Ep.17 |
| Keen Home | $750,000 | 13% | S.6 Ep.20 |
| Pittmoss | $200,000 | 11.66% | S.6 Ep.27 |
| ZinePak | $362,500 | 8.7% | S.6 Ep.26 |
| Total | $7,580,833 |
While that’s a lot of investments to cover, here’s a list of every company Herjavec has invested in on Shark Tank. The table above shows that Robert Herjavec has invested in 39 companies, totaling $7.58 million of his own money. Bear in mind that many of these investments were joint deals made with one or more sharks, but we’ve calculated Herjavec’s share of the investment.
For two of the deals on the list, Herjavec didn’t receive any equity. Herjavec split a $1450,000 investment in Coffee Joulies with Kevin, Lori, and Daymond for the following:
- Retail royalty – $6 per unit
- Wholesale royalty – $3 per unit
- Perpetuity after recouping their investment – $1 per unit
When Herjavec invested $150,000 into Wall Rx in episode 14 of season five, he didn’t want any equity. Instead, he invested the money in exchange for the rights to sell the product internationally.
While many of these businesses have since closed their doors or filed for bankruptcy, others have continued to thrive. Which begs the question, which of Herjavec’s Shark Tank investments have been the most successful?
Tipsy Elves
Details: $100,000 investment for a 10% stake
After the founders of Tipsy Elves appeared on the fifth season of Shark Tank, they secured a $100,000 investment from Herjavec for 10% of the business. Tipsy Elves launched as an e-commerce business selling Christmas sweatshirts and has since expanded into Halloween costumes, Hawaiian shirts, and other themed clothing.
By 2025, twelve years after appearing on the show and securing investment, Tipsy Elves’ lifetime sales exceeded $317 million. According to Herjavec himself, this was by far his best investment from Shark Tank.
Divorce Settlement
In July 2014, after 24 years of marriage and three children together, Herjavec’s relationship with then-wife Diane Plese came to an end, with Plese filing for divorce in March 2015, claiming that Herjavec had been having extramarital affairs with another woman.
The settlement, ruled by an Ontario Supreme Court, was finalized in 2016 and required Herjavec to pay Plese $125,000 a month in spousal and child support with no set termination date, a $2.6 million equalization payment, and an extra $2.5 million once all their assets had been divided and sold, bringing her total settlement from the marriage to $25 million.
Some of their joint assets included a $17.4 million mansion in the Bridal Path area of Toronto, a $4.8 million holiday home on Fisher Island, Florida, as well as top-of-the-line luxury boats and automobiles, including a rare $1.5 million Ferrari, and several other high-end items.
After the settlement, it was reported that Herjavec struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression following their separation, especially over the estrangement from his children. However, he continued with his life, appearing on season 20 of Dancing with the Stars in 2015 and subsequently marrying his co-star, Kym Johnson, a year later in 2016.
Entrepreneurs
Gina Rinehart Net Worth
Gina Rinehart built a massive fortune in the mining sector, turning a broken company into an industry leader, and making herself immensely wealthy.
| Net Worth: | $25.6 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 72 |
| Born: | February 9, 1954 |
| Gender: | Female |
| Height: | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Country of Origin: | Australia |
| Source of Wealth: | Businesswoman |
| Last Updated: | Jun 20, 2026 |
Introduction
Gina Rinehart is an Australian heiress to the Hancock Prospecting Group fortune with an estimated net worth of $25.6 Billion.
The company was founded by Gina’s father, Lang Hancock, whom she worked alongside from an early age to learn the ins and outs of the business. She is the executive chairwoman of her father’s company and Australia’s richest citizen. Rinehart has succeeded in expanding the company since taking over, with her biggest break coming from the iron ore boom in the early 2000s.
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2007 | $1 Billion |
| 2017 | $15 Billion |
| 2018 | $17.4 Billion |
| 2019 | $15.3 Billion |
| 2020 | $13.1 Billion |
| 2021 | $23.6 Billion |
| 2022 | $30.2 Billion |
| 2023 | $27 Billion |
| 2024 | $30.8 Billion |
| 2025 | $29.3 Billion |
| 2026 | $25.6 Billion |
What’s most fascinating about Gina Rinehart’s net worth is that she controls 100% of her late father’s mining company, Hancock Prospecting. The company is privately owned, but most industry experts typically place its valuation between $25 billion and $30 billion. It’s extremely rare for someone to control 100% of a business worth tens of billions of dollars. Though Rinehart’s personal stake is technically only 76.6%, the remaining 23.4% is controlled through a trust set up for her four children. Since her children are now all in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, they likely now control the trusts.
In fact, three of Rinehart’s children are also listed on the Forbes Billionaires Index:
- John Hancock – $2 billion
- Bianca Rinehart – $1.9 billion
- Hope Welker – $1.9 billion
Rinehart was first listed on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2007, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. By 2015, her net worth had increased 15-fold to $15 billion. While Rinehart’s fortune briefly spiked to $17.4 billion the following year, it gradually declined to $13.1 billion by 2020.
After the pandemic, Rinehart’s wealth grew explosively. It hit $23.6 billion in 2021 and $30.2 billion in 2022. Over the last few years, it bounced up and down, but hit an all-time high of $30.8 billion in 2024. At the time of writing, the mining magnate is worth an estimated $25.6 Billion, which makes her the richest person in Australia.
Hancock Prospecting
In March 1992, Gina’s father passed away, leaving a virtually bankrupt company for her to manage. Not only did she become the Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, but she also became the Executive Chairman of the HPPL Group of companies. She applied for the Roy Holl Tenements five months after her father’s passing, and this became one of her company’s biggest assets.
She obtained the Roy Hill tenements in 1993 and focused entirely on developing them and on Hancock Prospecting. By raising capital through joint partnerships, she turned the leases into huge revenue-producing mines.
Since acquiring Roy Hill, Hancock Prospecting now owns 50% of Hope Downs, giving it a 50% share of the mine’s profits. Hope Downs mine is operated by Rio Tinto and produces 30 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
Since taking over, Gina has invested in copper, iron ore, gold, and coal, as well as cattle and property. Taking her business ideas to the next level, she obtained a 10% stake in Ten Network Holdings in 2010. Later that year, she also purchased a stake in Fairfax Media and, two years later, became its largest shareholder.
In 2015, she managed to obtain Fossil Downs, a huge cattle station and pastoral lease.
By 2012, Gina was referred to as the richest woman in the world due to the growth of her companies. Despite her business success, she kept a low profile, avoiding the media.
In 2015, Gina announced the grand opening of one of Roy Hill’s largest mines, just 8 months after securing $7.9 billion in funding. The next year, Hancock Prospecting entered into a deal to invest in Sirius Minerals.
Gina’s wealth has increased substantially, due to the iron ore-fuelled mining boom in the last decade. This resulted in the company becoming one of the largest privately owned businesses in Australia.
Personal Life
In 1973, Gina Rinehart married Greg Milton and had two children, John Langley and Bianca Hope, before divorcing in 1981. She was married a second time to Frank Rinehart, a German-American corporate lawyer. The couple had two children, Hope and Gina, before Frank passed away in 1990.
Gina’s four children have a strained relationship with their wealthy mother, and, unfortunately, Gina hasn’t had the best relationship with her son John. Gina attended only her two younger daughters’ weddings because of the strained relationship with her older children.
Entrepreneurs
Iris Fontbona Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $20 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 84 |
| Born: | 1942 |
| Gender: | Female |
| Height: | Unknown |
| Country of Origin: | Chile |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Jun 19, 2026 |
Introduction
Iris Fontbona is a Chilean mining magnate, media proprietor, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $52.6 Billion.
Fontbona was married to the Chilean businessman Andrónico Luksic, who built one of the country’s largest conglomerates, holding significant stakes in mining, banking, and beverage industries. Following his death in 2005, Fontbona and her three sons inherited control of his fortune. She’s currently the fourth richest woman in the world.
This profile details our research into Iris Fontbona’s net worth history, assets, income sources, and other significant events impacting her fortune.
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2005 | $4.2 Billion |
| 2010 | $11 Billion |
| 2016 | $10.1 Billion |
| 2017 | $13.7 Billion |
| 2018 | $16.3 Billion |
| 2019 | $15.4 Billion |
| 2020 | $10.8 Billion |
| 2021 | $23.3 Billion |
| 2022 | $22.8 Billion |
| 2023 | $23.1 Billion |
| 2024 | $25.7 Billion |
| 2025 | $28.1 Billion |
| 2026 | $52.6 billion |
As we briefly mentioned above, Iris Fontbona isn’t a self-made billionaire. She inherited an estimated $4.2 billion fortune from her husband, Andrónico Luksic, after his death in August 2005. This includes a 60.7% controlling stake in Antofagasta Plc, which is held jointly by her and her family. They also control an 82.9% stake in the Chilean conglomerate, Quiñenco. The two companies currently have a combined market cap of roughly $60 billion.
Between 2005 and 2016, Fontbona and her family’s fortune grew to $10.1 billion, despite a few ups and downs. Her net worth hovered between $13 billion and $17 billion from 2017 to 2019, before experiencing a brief decline (as did everybody else) during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, Antofagasta’s market cap didn’t take much of a hit, but Quiñenco’s valuation crashed from a peak of $5.8 billion in December 2017 to just $1.92 billion in March 2020.
Nonetheless, after this brief speedbump, both companies recovered, and Fontbona’s net worth hit a new all-time high of $23.3 billion in 2021. There wasn’t much fluctuation during 2022 and 2023, but in 2025, her fortune reached an estimated $28.1 billion.
However, none of the above compares to what has happened in the last 12 months. The mining industry, and specifically the copper mining industry, has been thrown off balance by a significant increase in demand, sending copper prices skyrocketing. In fact, since the beginning of 2025, copper has increased from $3.8 per pound to $6.3 per pound. During the same period, Antofagasta’s market cap more than doubled, from $20 billion to a peak of $56.7 billion.
As a result, Iris Fontbona’s net worth almost doubled in a single year, and now sits at an estimated $52.6 Billion.
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