What is Henry Samueli’s Net Worth?

Henry Samueli, an influential figure in the technology and sports industries, has an estimated net worth of $10 billion. This wealth primarily stems from his co-founding of Broadcom Corporation, a leading semiconductor and software company, and his significant ownership stake in Broadcom Inc.

Samueli went to electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In 1991, he co-founded Broadcom with Henry Nicholas, initially operating out of Nicholas’ home. The company quickly grew, going public in 1998 and achieving rapid financial success. By 2016, Broadcom was acquired by Avago Technologies for $37 billion.

In addition to his technological ventures, Samueli has diversified his investments, notably purchasing the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks in 2005. Under his ownership, the team won the Stanley Cup in 2007, enhancing its value and contributing to Samueli’s overall net worth. The Ducks are currently valued at approximately $765 million.

Samueli’s financial success has also enabled him to engage in philanthropic activities. He and his wife, Susan, established the Samueli Foundation, which has donated over $500 million to various causes, including education, health, and community services. Samueli has also signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.

Here’s the breakdown of Henry Samueli’s net worth:

Name:	Henry Samueli
Net Worth:	$10 Billion
Date of Birth:	September 20, 1954
Profession:	Businessperson

If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.

Henry Samueli Net Worth

Early Life and Education

Henry Samueli was born on September 20, 1954, in Buffalo, New York, to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents who survived the Holocaust.

His family later moved to Los Angeles, where Samueli grew up and helped in his family’s liquor store. His interest in electronics was sparked during a shop class in junior high school, where he built an AM/FM radio.

This early fascination led him to pursue a career in electrical engineering. Samueli attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1975, his master’s degree in 1976, and his Ph.D. in 1980, all in electrical engineering. His doctoral research focused on digital filters, under the guidance of his advisor, Alan N. Willson Jr..

Broadcom Origins

In 1991, while still a professor at UCLA, Henry Samueli co-founded Broadcom Corporation with one of his Ph.D. students, Henry Nicholas. The company started with a modest investment of $5,000 each from Samueli and Nicholas, initially operating out of Nicholas’ home in Redondo Beach, California.

Broadcom’s early focus was on semiconductor solutions for broadband communications. The company quickly gained traction, securing a significant contract with Scientific-Atlanta in 1993, which helped it grow rapidly.

By 1995, Broadcom had moved its headquarters to Irvine, California, and Samueli took a leave of absence from UCLA to dedicate himself fully to the company.

Broadcom went public in 1998, and its success turned Samueli and Nicholas into billionaires. The company continued to grow through strategic acquisitions and innovations, becoming a major player in the semiconductor industry.

Anaheim Ducks Ownership

In 2005, Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, purchased the Anaheim Ducks from The Walt Disney Company for $75 million. The acquisition included a commitment to keep the team in Anaheim, which was a significant factor in Disney’s decision to sell to Samueli.

Under his ownership, the Ducks experienced considerable success, winning their first Stanley Cup in 2007, making them the first California-based team to achieve this feat.

The Samuelis also own the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate, and have announced plans for a large-scale development project around the Honda Center, aimed at creating a vibrant entertainment district.

Despite facing legal challenges and a temporary suspension from the NHL, Samueli’s tenure as owner has been largely positive, contributing to the team’s competitive performance and community engagement.

Philanthropy

Henry Samueli and his wife Susan have become prominent philanthropists, donating over $500 million to various causes through their Samueli Foundation. Their philanthropic efforts focus on areas such as education, health, youth services, and Jewish culture. Some of their major donations include:

$200 million to UC Irvine in 2017 to create the Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences
$100 million to UCLA in 2019 to expand the engineering school
$30 million to the School of Engineering at UCLA and $20 million to the School of Engineering at UC Irvine, both of which now bear Samueli’s name
$25 million to the Samueli Jewish Campus in Irvine
$10 million to the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s concert hall

In 2012, the Samuelis joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Personal Life

Henry Samueli grew up in Los Angeles and currently resides in Newport Beach, California, with his wife Susan. The couple met at a Jewish temple dance in the 1970s and have three daughters.

Broadcom Stock Options Investigation

In 2008, Samueli faced legal challenges related to stock option backdating at Broadcom. He was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with falsifying the company’s reported income. Samueli stepped down as chairman of Broadcom’s board and took a leave of absence as chief technology officer during this time. In 2009, he planned to plead guilty to lying to the SEC during their investigation.

However, in 2010, a federal judge dismissed the stock options backdating-related charges against Samueli and Broadcom co-founder Henry Nicholas. This legal resolution allowed Samueli to return to his roles at Broadcom.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Henry Samueli has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to engineering and technology:

Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003
Named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Received the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Industrial Pioneer Award in 2000
Awarded the University of California Presidential Medal in 2000
Received the Marconi Prize and Fellowship in 2012 for pioneering contributions to broadband communications systems
Named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2017

These accolades reflect Samueli’s significant impact on the fields of electrical engineering and communications technology, as well as his entrepreneurial success with Broadcom.

Ashley Roberts

Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.

With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.