Early Life
Henry Thompson Nicholas III was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 8, 1959. After his parents divorced, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother and sister. He attended Santa Monica High School and later enrolled in the United States Air Force Academy but left to pursue his degrees at UCLA. Nicholas graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1982 and earned a master's degree in 1985 and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1998.
Rise to Success
Nicholas began his career at TRW, where he met his future business partner, Henry Samueli. In 1991, Nicholas and Samueli co-founded Broadcom Corporation in a Redondo Beach, California condominium. Broadcom quickly grew into a leading semiconductor company, going public in 1998. Nicholas served as CEO until 2003, during which time he spearheaded Broadcom's advancements in broadband and wireless technologies.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy for Broadcom under Nicholas's leadership was its focus on innovation in the semiconductor sector, particularly for broadband communications. The company's "fabless" business model, outsourcing chip manufacturing, allowed Broadcom to concentrate on design and innovation, enabling rapid scaling and setting it apart from competitors. Broadcom also employed an aggressive acquisition strategy, which fueled its growth.
Philanthropy
In 2003, Nicholas founded The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation, focusing on education, youth sports, technology, medical research, and victim's rights. He is a strong supporter of crime victims' rights and actively promotes Marsy's Law. His philanthropic efforts include supporting the Nicholas Academic Center and contributing to various educational and cultural institutions.
