Billionaire Profile
Henry Nicholas III
Global Rank
#104

Image: Henry T. Nicholas Foundation | CC BY-SA 3.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Henry Nicholas III

CEO, Semiconductors
UNITED STATES
Real-Time Net Worth
$25.075B
Estimated based on Semiconductors stock value as of June 4, 2026
+1.23% (24h)
Age
66
Source
Semiconductors
Industry
Technology
Citizenship
UNITED STATES

Biography

Henry Nicholas III is among the world's most closely watched billionaires from UNITED STATES, with an estimated fortune of $25.1B. The bulk of Henry Nicholas III's wealth comes from Semiconductors, closely tied to Semiconductors. Henry Thompson Nicholas III is an American businessman best known for co-founding Broadcom Corporation, a leading semiconductor company. Born in 1959, he co-founded Broadcom in 1991 and served as its CEO until 2003. His source of wealth is primarily derived from the semiconductors industry. Nicholas's career includes pivotal roles in the early days of Broadcom, driving its growth in the telecommunications sector. He is also actively involved in philanthropy, particularly through the Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation, which supports various causes including victims' rights, education, and technology. As of March 2026, his net worth is estimated at $20.6 billion, securing his position as a prominent figure in the technology industry. Key career milestones include Co-founded Broadcom Corporation (1991); Broadcom Goes Public (1998); Resigned as CEO of Broadcom (2003). This profile documents verified holdings, career milestones, and multi-year net worth history drawn from Forbes rankings, company filings where available, and our editorial methodology. Readers use it to understand how public markets, private company stakes, and major business bets shape one of the largest personal fortunes on record. Wealth estimates move with stock prices, funding rounds, and disclosed transactions—figures on this page are research estimates, not cash balances. We publish year-by-year net worth history when verified data exists, link to primary sources, and update profiles when Forbes Real-Time Billionaires or major filings change the picture materially. For investors and researchers, the most useful reading pairs the headline number with ownership structure, geography, sector exposure, and the multi-year history chart on this page—especially during volatile markets when single-day moves can shift rankings without any operational change at the underlying companies.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 6/4/2026
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Wealth Over Time

Career Milestones

  1. 1

    Co-founded Broadcom Corporation

    Co-founded the fabless semiconductor company with Henry Samueli.

  2. 2

    Broadcom Goes Public

    Took Broadcom public on the NASDAQ exchange.

  3. 3

    Resigned as CEO of Broadcom

    Resigned from the role of CEO.

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2026$25.075B
2025$20.6B
2024$20.6B

Philanthropy

Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation

$$312.1M
Victims' Rights, Education, Technology, Medical Research, National Defense

The foundation supports victims' rights, education, youth sports, technology, medical research, and national defense. It has assets totaling over $312 million.

Marsy's Law

$Undisclosed
Victims' Rights

Advocated for the crime victims' rights bill, named after his murdered sister. It has been adopted by 12 states.

Controversies & Legal

2019

Drug Trafficking Charges

Charged with five counts of drug trafficking after police found drugs in his hotel room.

2008

Options Backdating Scandal

Faced 21 federal charges of options backdating.

In-Depth Profile

Henry Nicholas III Net Worth in 2026

Henry Nicholas III's fortune reflects listed equity, private company stakes, and other assets tied to Semiconductors. Our current estimate stands at $25.1B, updated from Forbes Real-Time Billionaires data and cross-checked against company ownership records where disclosed. Rankings can shift quickly when a core holding re-prices on public markets or a private valuation is revised after a funding round.

How Henry Nicholas III Built Their Wealth

Henry Nicholas III accumulated wealth through Semiconductors. Semiconductors remains the central operating company in most public estimates, meaning its valuation and Henry Nicholas III's reported ownership stake drive much of the net worth figure. Early career decisions, founding roles, and subsequent scaling of operating businesses typically explain how concentrated equity positions became a global top-tier fortune.

Portfolio and Business Context

Shareholding tables, financial history charts, and linked company profiles on this page show how Henry Nicholas III's wealth shifts with market cycles. Compare year-over-year net worth history, related billionaire profiles, and sector rankings for additional context. When multiple companies appear in the source-of-wealth field, treat each as a separate exposure: public tickers update daily, while private assets may revalue only when credible transactions or disclosures occur.

How We Research This Profile

Editors combine Forbes billionaire list data, company market capitalization, disclosed ownership where available, and historical net worth series stored in our database. We do not publish synthetic chart points—only documented years appear in financial history modules. See our methodology page for sourcing standards and the corrections page to flag material errors.

Career Milestones

1991

Co-founded Broadcom Corporation

Co-founded the fabless semiconductor company with Henry Samueli.

1998

Broadcom Goes Public

Took Broadcom public on the NASDAQ exchange.

2003

Resigned as CEO of Broadcom

Resigned from the role of CEO.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Victims' Rights, Education, Technology, Medical Research, National Defense

Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation

$312.1M

The foundation supports victims' rights, education, youth sports, technology, medical research, and national defense. It has assets totaling over $312 million.

Victims' Rights

Marsy's Law

Undisclosed

Advocated for the crime victims' rights bill, named after his murdered sister. It has been adopted by 12 states.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"A music enthusiast, Nicholas says his inspiration for Broadcom came from Pink Floyd lyrics."

Controversies & Challenges

2019

Drug Trafficking Charges

Charged with five counts of drug trafficking after police found drugs in his hotel room.

2008

Options Backdating Scandal

Faced 21 federal charges of options backdating.