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What is Terry Gou’s Net Worth?
Terry Gou, the founder and former chairman of Foxconn, has an estimated net worth of $9 billion. The primary source of Gou’s wealth is his stake in Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the publicly traded division of Foxconn Technology Group. As of August 2023, Gou held approximately 12.6% of the company’s shares, although about half of these were pledged and excluded from net worth calculations. Foxconn’s impressive revenue, which reached NT$6.6 trillion ($222 billion) in 2022, has been a significant contributor to Gou’s wealth.
In addition to his Foxconn holdings, Gou has diversified his portfolio with investments in other companies. He owns a 9.8% stake in Sharp Corporation and a 9% stake in EirGenix, a biopharmaceutical company.
In 2002, he became the owner of a $30 million castle in the Czech Republic.
Here’s the breakdown of Terry Gou’s net worth:
Name: | Terry Gou |
Net Worth: | $9 Billion |
Date of Birth: | 18 October 1950 |
Profession: | Businessperson |
If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.
Early Life
Terry Gou was born in 1950 in Banqiao Township, Taiwan, to parents who had fled from mainland China during the Chinese Civil War. Despite humble beginnings, Gou’s entrepreneurial spirit emerged early.
After completing his education and military service, he worked various jobs, including at a rubber factory and medicine plant, to save money.
Foxconn
The cornerstone of Terry Gou’s vast fortune is Foxconn, which he founded in 1974 with a $7,500 loan from his mother. Starting with just 10 employees making plastic parts for televisions, Gou grew Foxconn into the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer.
The company’s pivotal moment came in 1980 when it secured a contract with Atari. Gou’s aggressive expansion into China in the 1980s and 1990s, coupled with securing major clients like Apple, Dell, and Sony, propelled Foxconn’s growth.
As of 2022, Foxconn reported revenues of NT$6.6 trillion ($222 billion). Gou’s stake in Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Foxconn’s parent company, forms the bulk of his wealth, though he has pledged about half of his 12.6% shareholding.
Other Business Ventures
While Foxconn remains the primary source of Gou’s wealth, he has diversified his portfolio with strategic investments in other sectors.
Notably, he holds a 9.8% stake in Sharp Corporation and a 9% stake in EirGenix, a biopharmaceutical company.
In addition, Gou has shown interest in the entertainment industry, investing in film production.
Political Career
When Gou announced his run for the 2024 Taiwan presidency as an independent candidate in August 2023, Foxconn’s stock initially saw a slight uptick.
Following Gou’s announcement to run in the 2024 election, Chinese authorities launched a tax investigation into Foxconn. This move was perceived as politically motivated and aimed at dissuading Gou from running.
Gou announced his withdrawal from the presidential race on November 24, 2023, just hours before the deadline to formally register candidacies with Taiwan’s electoral authorities.
He did not provide a specific reason for his withdrawal but framed it as an act of love for Taiwan.
Personal Life
After the death of his first wife, Serena Lin, in 2005, Gou established an educational charity.
In 2008, he married choreographer Delia Tseng. The couple decided to give away 90% of Gou’s personal wealth to charity.
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.
