The 69 Richest Canadians in 2023

Who is the richest Canadian? How did they become the richest? It is true that Canada is home to a lot of billionaires? Some of Canada's richest citizens started their companies less than 10 years ago while others inherited their money. A billionaire’s fortune can swing by millions of dollars each day, and each way, with the whims of the stock market.

There are so many different ways to measure wealth. Some of the richest Canadians, like the Rogers family, are billionaires who did not make the list. How did that happen? We decided to concentrate on two sources, Forbes Real Time Billionnaires List and Bloomberg's Billionnaire Index, for our Richest list. Some billionaires are just very private about their assets. That said, here is a list of Canada’s richest people and the story of how they got their wealth.

69. Apoorva Mehta – $1.3 billion CAN ($1 billion US)

Founder of Instacart, a food delivery business located in California and valued at $13 billion USD, Apoorva Mehta is an Indian-Canadian businessman. He became one of the richest Canadians in 2020 at the age of 33. In 2023, he still is the executive chairman of Instacart. Apoorva Mehta studied electrical engineering at University of Waterloo. He founded 20 startups, all of which failed, before he had the idea for Instacart. He didn't give up, and now he is one of the richest Canadians! Forbes puts his net worth at $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

68. Michael McCain – $1.3 billion CAN ($1 billion US)

Michael McCain is part of one of the richest Canadian families. He is an heir to the McCain frozen foods family. His father cofounded this company in 1956 with his brother. In 1995, the family bought a controlling stake in Maple Leaf Foods.

Today, Michael McCain is the CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, in which McCain Capital Corporation and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board have controlling interests. He earned an Honours Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario. According to Forbes, Michael McCain is worth $1.3 billion ($1 billion USD).

67. Prem Watsa – $1.5 billion CAN ($1.1 billion US)

Prem Watsa is chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings which he founded in 1985. It is a financial services firm. When Watsa arrived in Canada, he went to the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where he earned an MBA. He made his money acquiring insurance companies, which led him to the foundation of Fairfax. In 1985, he bought Markel Financial, a small insurance company and renamed it Fairfax Financial Holdings. Forbes magazine puts Watsa’s fortune at $1.5 billion ($1.1 billion USD).

66. Réal Plourde – $1.5 billion CAN ($1.1 billion US)

Réal Plourde is one of the four men behind Alimentation Couche-Tard, founded in 1980. The chain is known as the Canadian convenience store giant and owns the Circle K chain. Today, Plourde remains on the company's board of directors. With thousands of stores, Couche-Tard has annual sales of $63 billion. Headquartered in Laval, the company sells convenience goods, trucking fuel and other products.

The other three co-founders, all among the wealthiest Quebecers, are Alain Bouchard, Richard Fortin and Jacques D'Amours. Over the years, Réal Plourde has held several positions within the company, including chief operating officer and director of technical services. From 2011 to 2014, he served as chairman of the board. Forbes estimates Plourde's worth at $1.5 billion CAN ($1.1 billion US).

65. Zao Tongtong – $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US)

Zao Tongtong made her fortune in hotels. She is a co-founder of H World Group, the operator of one of the largest hotel chains in China. She's also a board member of China Education & Technology Group. She studied at McGill University, where she earned a MBA, as well as Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Forbes estimates Tongtong's worth at $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

64. Gerald Schwartz – $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US)

Gerald Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a law degree (LL. B) from the University of Manitoba. He also holds an MBA from Harvard University. Schwartz worked in corporate law in Canada and then at Bear Stearns in the United States. Schwartz returned to Canada and co-founded CanWest Capital with Izzy Asper. It later became CanWest Communications.

In 1984, Schwartz founded Onex Corporation with 50 million dollars in private equity. The company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the first time in 1987. Onex acquired companies and grew to include credit and investment advisory. Gerald Schwartz is in the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and has been given the Order of Canada. According to Forbes, Gerald Schwartz is worth $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

63. Naomi Azrieli – $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US)

Naomi Azrieli sits on a billion-dollar empire that started with her father. David Azrieli came to Montreal in 1954 after surviving the Holocaust. He earned his degree from Université de Montréal and started a small construction business. He built duplexes, office towers, apartments and malls all over the US and Canada. The Canadian company that now manages the business is called Canpro Investments, where Naomi Azrieli sits at its helm.

The Israeili arm of the business is called the Azrieli Group Ltd. It was the largest IPO on the Israeli stock exchange. The group operates 13 malls in Israel and is that country’s leading commercial and office real estate company. Forbes puts Naomi Azrieli’s net worth at $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

62. Guy Laliberté – $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US)

The only richest Canadian who is a space-tourist billionaire! Guy Laliberté certainly stands out. He is the co-founder of the Cirque du Soleil international entertainment empire. Laliberté established Cirque du Soleil with Gilles Ste-Croix in 1984.

Laliberté sold his shares in the company but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still making moves. He has become a major player on the poker circuit and has also purchased his own island in French Polynesia. In the midst of all that he also created the One Drop Foundation to help ensure access to clean water around the world. Forbes puts his net worth at $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

61. Sharon Azrieli – $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US)

She is the daughter of a billionaire real estate tycoon and a star on the opera stage. Sharon Azrieli’s fortune started with her father, David Azrieli. Like her sister Naomi, Sharon Azrieli inherited a portion of the empire, but she has also earned her own wealth as an opera singer. Their father fled Poland during WWII and eventually ended up in Montreal in 1954. After graduating from university, he quickly established a building company in Montreal. He went from building duplexes to building skyscrapers and massive malls, many in Israel, to create a billion-dollar fortune.

Sharon Azrieli has performed in classics like Romeo and Juliet as well as Don Pasquale. She also studied religion and played a role as cantor to a synagogue in Quebec. Sharon Azrieli has been recognized by the National Order of Quebec and also sits on the board of her father’s philanthropic organization, the Azrieli Foundation. Forbes puts Sharon Azrieli’s net worth at $1.6 billion CAN ($1.2 billion US).

60. Francesco Saputo – $1.7 billion CAN ($1.3 billion US)

Francesco Saputo is the son of Giuseppe Saputo and holds an interest in his family's Canadian dairy company. His father founded the company in 1954 with $500 and a bicycle for deliveries after immigrating from Italy. His nephew, Lino Jr, the son of Emanuele (Lino) Saputo, is the current president of the company. Forbes estimates Francesco Saputo's fortune at C$1.7 billion (US$1.3 billion).

Headquartered in Montreal, Saputo is one of the largest dairy processors in the world. It sells cheese, milk and other products in more than 60 countries. It employs more than 17,000 people and has dozens of plants and brands, including Milk2Go and Armstrong. The publicly traded Montreal-based company had sales of $11.9 billion in 2022.

59. Stewart Butterfield – $1.7 billion CAN ($1.3 billion US)

One of the richest Candians gave new meaning to the term “slacker”. If you have ever used the messaging software Slack, you can thank Stewart Butterfield. He co-founded the company in 2009. Slack was originally an ancillary software to a video game that Butterfield was designing called Glitch. Butterfield saw the potential in the messaging software and started to focus only on that. He spent years growing the company and leading them to a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2019. Apart from Slack, Butterfield also created Flickr, which he sold to Yahoo for about $20 million. Butterfield still serves as CEO of Slack. Forbes puts Butterfield’s net worth at $1.7 CAN ($1.3 billion US).

58. Philip Fayer – $1.7 billion CAN ($1.3 billion US)

Philip Fayer founded Nuvei, a payment processing company in 2003 with the help of co-founder Lester Hernandes. Nuvei helped retailers, both online and offline, process credit and debit payments without the help of banks and credit card companies. Fayer’s fintech company attracted investors like Goldman Sach. The company went on to provide services to countries around the world, in 150 different currencies. In 2017, Fayer sold the company to a private equity firm for just over $400 million, with Fayer staying on as CEO. The company listed on the NASDAQ Exchange in 2020. Forbes puts Fayer’s net worth at $1.7 billion CAN ($1.3 billion US).

57. Yuan Liping – $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US)

Yuan Liping received a 24% stake in Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products after her divorce from Du Weimin in 2020, the company's chairman. Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products develops vaccines, and initially gained success by being the leading producer of the nation’s vaccine against Hepatitis B.

Yuan Lipig graduated from Beijing’s University with a degree in economics. From 2012 to 2015, she served as the company’s director and deputy general manager. Since March 2017, Yuan has been deputy general manager of Kangtai subsidiary, Beijing Minhai Biotechnology. Forbes puts her net worth at $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US).

56. Brandt Louie – $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US)

Brandt Louie is an accountant, businessman and philanthropist from Vancouver, British Columbia. His grandfather, Hok Yat Louie opened a general store in 1903 in the city’s Chinatown. Over time, that business turned into HY Louie Group, one of British Columbia’s largest private companies. Brandt Louie joined the family company in 1972. In 1987, he replaced his father as President of HY Louie Group. By 1998, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of one of the company’s brands, London Drugs. Forbes puts his net worth at $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US).

55. Michael Lee-Chin – $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US)

Michael Lee-Chin started out landscaping for a Jamaican hotel, and cleaning the engine room of a cruise ship. Lee headed back to Canada and snagged a job at Investors Group. There, Michael became an investing mastermind. He took a small business loan and purchased a stake in Mackenzie Financial Group. Lee grew that investment seven-fold and used the profits to buy AIC Canada. The majority of his wealth currently comes from Portland Holdings Inc, of which he is founder and chair, as well as his stake in the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica. Lee-Chin is an active philanthropist. Forbes put his net worth at $1.9 billion CAN ($1.4 billion US).

54. Stephen Jarislowky – $2 billion CAN ($1.5 billion US)

Stephen Jarislowsky fled Nazi Germany for the Netherlands, then France, before immigrating to the United States in the 1940s. Jarislowsky served in the US armed forces and went to Harvard before moving to Montreal to work for Alcan.

In 1955, he opened up the doors of his eponymous investment firm, Jarislowsky Fraser Limited. He remained CEO of the firm until 2012 and then sat on the Board of Directors. In 2018, Scotiabank bought the firm for $950 million. Jarislowsky also held seats on the corporate boards of some of the world’s largest and most influential companies like SNC Lavalin and Swiss Bank Corp. Forbes puts his net worth at $2 billion CAN ($1.5 billion US).

53. Terence (Terry) Matthews – $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US)

Terry Matthews is one of Ottawa’s most prominent tech entrepreneurs. His has significant company holdings in Mitel Networks, Wesley Clover and March Networks. He is also known as the Godfather of more than 120 startups. He was instrumental in founding Newbridge Networks from the proceeds of the stakes in Mitel. Terry Matthews also owns a Celtic Manor Resort, which hosted a NATO summit in 2014. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US).

52. Jack Cockwell – $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US)

Jack Cockwell is in the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and a member of the Order of Canada. He is a trained accountant who came to Canada from South Africa and helped build Brookfield Asset Management. Most of Cockwell’s wealth comes from his shares in Brookfield Asset Management, which is one of the largest money managers around. The company is listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. It invests in real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, private equity, and the investment management firm Oaktree. Cockwell is an affiliate director of Brookfield Asset Management. Forbes puts Jack Cockwell’s net worth at $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US).

51. Richard Fortin – $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US)

Richard Fortin is one of the founding partners of Alimentation Couche-Tard, a chain of convenience stores. Fortin earned a degree in finance and was president of Quebec-based investment firm Société Générale S.A.

Richard Fortin’s business prowess is well-known. He has sat on the boards of media giant Transcontinental as well as the National Bank of Canada. Fortin has established Lise et Richard Fortin, a foundation that provides money to a variety of causes including those that assist children and the elderly. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.1 billion CAN ($1.6 billion US).

50. Hal Jackman – $2.3 billion CAN ($1.7 billion US)

Hal Jackman owns a major share in the E-L Financial Corporation holding company, an insurance and investment firm which made him one of the richest Canadians. It operates through the E-L Corporate and Empire Life. E-L Financial Corporation Ltd. trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Hal Jackman was the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1991-1997. He is a director on the E-L Financial board. Forbes puts Jackman’s net worth at $2.3 billion CAN ($1.7 billion US).

49. Jay Hennick – $2.3 billion CAN ($1.7 billion US)

Jay Hennick is the CEO of the real estate investment firm Colliers International. He is also its largest shareholder. Born in 1957, he grew up in a small town north of Toronto largely made up of working-class families. As a teenager, he started a small company that managed a commercial swimming pool, which quickly became vey successful. In 1989, he made his first steps in real estate with FirstService, which merged with Colliers in 2010. Forbes puts Jay Hennick's wealth at $2.3 billion ($1.7 billion USD).

48. Alan Zekelman – $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US)

Alan Zekelman used his training to transform the family business into one of the largest steel pipe and tube manufacturers in North America. The company, Atlas Tube, was sold to the Carlyle Group in 2006 for 1.2 billion USD, and the family bought their business back in 2011. Zekelman transformed the business into a world-renowned steel company, JMC Steel Group, now known as Zekelman Industries. Zekelman is widely known for his generous charitable contributions. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US).

47. Pierre-Karl Péladeau – $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US)

Pierre-Karl Péladeau sits at the head of the empire founded by his father, Pierre Péladeau. Pierre Péladeau was studying law when he borrowed money from his mother and bought his first media company, a newspaper. The family company, Quebecor, was formed one year after Pierre Péladeau started Le Journal de Montréal. He expanded his media and printing empire in Quebec with the addition of newspapers, magazines, television channels and as an Internet provider. His holdings extend from Quebec to the rest of Canada and into the US.

Although Pierre Karl Péladeau was heavily involved in the business early on, he took on a greater role after the death of his father in 1997. In 2023, he acquired the wireless company Freedom mobile and plans to undercut the competition. According to Forbes, Pierre-Karl Péladeau is worth $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US).

46. Robert G. Miller – $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US)

Robert G. Miller is the founder of Future Electronics, one of the four largest electrical component suppliers in the world. Based in Montreal, the company has 5,500 employees and operates in 44 countries. In February 2023, he stepped down as CEO and president of Future Electronics in the wake of allegations he paid teens for sex. While he was still CEO, he was a big champion of the environment and has started a global initiative to reduce paper waste. The company also provides transportation to company employees in an effort to get more cars off the road. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US).

45. Guo Zhenyu & Family – $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US)

Guo Zhenyu chairs China-headquartered skincare products supplier Yunnan Botanee, the company he founded. He shares his fortune with his son Kevin. Together, they own 26% of the company. Guo Zhenyu was a professor and researcher at the University of Montreal in the medical college. He also taught at George Washington University. Forbes puts his wealth at $2.4 billion CAN ($1.8 billion US).

44. Bill Malhotra – $2.7 billion CAN ($2 billion US)

Bill Malhotra is the founder and CEO of one of Ottawa’s most prominent real estate developers, Claridge Holmes. Malhotra is a civil engineer. Bill Malhotra was born in India and came to Canada at the age of 22 in 1971. He worked at an engineering firm and then became the chief structural engineer of the city of Ottawa. After resigning, he founded his company, Claridge Holmes, in 1986. Forbes puts Bill Malhotra’s net worth at $2.7 billion CAN ($2 billion US).

43. Lawrence (Larry) Tanenbaum – $2.7 billion CAN ($2 billion US)

If you’re a sports fan in Toronto, then you know Lawrence Tanenbaum. But Lawrence Tanenbaum built an empire before spearheading the explosive growth of Toronto professional sports. Lawrence Tanenbaum is Chairman of Kilmer Capital Partners Limited, which is partners with two private equity investment funds. According to Forbes, Lawrence Tanenbaum is worth $2.7 billion ($2 billion USD). From 1968 until 2000, Tanenbaum was President and Chief Executive Officer at Kilmer Van Nostrand (KVN). While he was in charge of KVN, he oversaw the merger of its subsidiary, The Warren Paving & Materials Group Limited with Lafarge North America, creating North America’s largest diversified constructions material and cement supplier.

42. Zhang Ning and family – $2.8 billion CAN ($2.1 billion US)

Zhang founded Red Avenue New Materials Group in 1999. What started off as a rubber manufacturing company now includes electronic materials, automotive materials and biodegradable materials. The company is a global leader in rubber chemical materials that trades on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company’s clients include Pirelli, Bridgestone and Michelin. Zhang Ning owns the company along with her husband Liu Dongsheng.

Today, Zhang Ning is the Independent Director of Red Avenue New Materials Group. She holds Canadian citizenship even though she lives in Shangai. She has a doctorate degree in global financial business management, a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Beijing Technology, and an MBA from the University of Warwick. Forbes puts Zhang Ning and family’s net worth at $2.8 billion CAN ($2.1 billion US).

41. Clayton Zekelman – $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US)

Clayton Zekelman owns a stake in the family business, Zekelman Industries, which make his brother and himself part of the richest Canadians. However, it’s his telecommunications companies that really butters his bread. He has two of them: MNSi Telecom and Nexicom. Clayton established MNSi Telecom in 1995, and bought Nexicom from the retiring Downs brothers in 2016. Forbes puts his net worth at $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US).

40. Alex Shevchenko – $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US)

Alex Shevchenko co-founded Grammarly.com in 2009 and also serves as the Product Lead for Grammarly. Shevchenko was born and raised in the Ukraine and later received Canadian citizenship. Shevchenko’s first business was MyDropbox.com, a plagiarism detector. That is where he began working with Lytvyn. He eventually sold the company to Blackboard. According to Forbes, Shevchenko is worth $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US).

39. Max Lytvyn – $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US)

Max Lytvyn co founded Grammarly.com. In late 2021, Grammarly had a $13 billion valuation and investors like BlackRock. Grammarly is a paid subscription service with a free version. It started in 2009. It boasts 30 million daily users. Max Lytvyn was born and raised in Ukraine. He later obtained Canadian citizenship. He earned a Master in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University. According to Forbes, Lytvyn is worth $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US).

38. Chulong Huang – $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US)

Chulong Huang amassed most of his wealth as the chair of privately-held Galaxy Group, based out of Shenzhen, China. The company was involved in developing over 538 million square feet of real estate in China and has interests in hotels, shopping malls, parking lot operation, and office leasing. It continues to integrate into new sectors like business operations, finance, urban renewal, and investment. Chulong holds 85% of shares of the Shenzhen Galaxy Commercial Property Investment. According to Forbes, his fortune is worth about $2.9 billion CAN ($2.2 billion US).

37. Mitchell Goldhar – $3.2 billion CAN ($2.4 billion US)

One of the richest Canadians is also a university professor! It is Mitchell Goldhar, who started SmartCentres in 1994 and convinced Walmart to let open its first store in Canada. Another 175 Walmarts followed. Over the course of decades his company built hundreds of shopping centres in Canada. He sold SmartCentres in 2015 to SmartREIT for $880 million for cash and assumed debt. He also became the largest shareholder in SmartREIT. According to Forbes, Goldhar is worth $3.2 billion CAN ($2.4 billion US).

36. Charles Bronfman – $3.4 billion CAN ($2.5 billion US)

Charles Bronfman inherited the largest distiller of alcohol in the world, Seagram. In 2000, he and his nephew decided to sell the family business to Vivendi in a deal valued at $30 billion. Bronfman also founded Claridge Inc., a private equity firm, in 1987. He runs Claridge with his son. Charles is a major philanthropist who has signed The Giving Pledge and written two books on the subject. To date, he has given away about $350 million. Forbes puts Charles Bronfman’s net worth at $3.4 billion CAN ($2.5 billion US).

35. Serge Godin – $3.4 billion CAN ($2.5 billion US)

Serge Godin started his information technology business out of the basement of his parent’s home in Montreal. He founded CGI in 1976 and later took on a co-founder. They wanted to provide IT consultancy services to businesses grappling with how to best utilize their technology resources. Ten years later it listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Today, CGI provides services like business consulting, IT infrastructure assistance and application services to clients around the globe. Godin has received the Order of Canada and is a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. According to Forbes, Serge Godin is worth $3.4 billion CAN ($2.5 billion US).

34. Mark Leonard and family – $3.5 billion CAN ($2.6 billion US)

Mark Leonard and family own Constellation Software. Leonard founded the company in 1995 and then acquired many other tech companies. Mark Leonard is the President and Chairman of the Constellation Software board.

Constellation Software is based in Toronto, Canada and can be found on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company provides software to private and public markets and acquires software businesses that have tech its clients need. To date, the company has bought out more than 500 companies. The company is divided into segments. They are Volaris Group, Topicus, Perseus Operating Group, Vela Software, Harris Computer Systems and Jonas Software. Forbes puts Mark Leonard and family’s net worth at $3.5 billion CAN ($2.6 billion US).

33. Pan Dong – $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US)

Pan Dong worked her way up from tech consultant to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and finally to Chairman of Blue Moon Group. Pan and her husband grew Blue Moon Group into a company with healthy profits. That is why Hillhouse Capital Management invested 46 million USD (55.66 million CAD) in two rounds of funding. When the Blue Moon Group went public in 2020, it was one of the biggest IPOs in Hong Kong and the market reached record highs. Pan Dong has a 76% stake in the company. According to Forbes, her success has earned her a net worth of $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US).

32. N. Murray Edwards – $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US)

N. Murray Edwards is a lawyer who jumped into the oil and mining business when a friend made him promise to always pursue his passions. He pivoted from starting his own energy company to investing in energy companies that were already successful. Some of his biggest holdings are in Canadian Natural Resources, Magellan Aerospace, and Ensign Energy Services, Canada’s second-biggest oil services company. Apart from oil, Edwards is also a minority owner of the Calgary Flames as well as Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, which operates a slew of ski resorts. According to Forbes, N. Murray Edwards has a net worth of $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US).

31. Bruce Flatt – $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US)

Businessman Bruce Flatt is a self-made billionaire and one of the richest Canadians in the world. He is often compared to Warren Buffet. Bruce Flatt is an accountant and he took over the job of Chief Executive Officer of Brascan in 2002. He had only joined the company 12 years earlier. The company was later renamed Brookfield Asset Management. The company invests in alternative assets like infrastructure, private equity and real estate. Flatt is credited with expanding the company’s reach across the globe and being instrumental in major financial moves for the company. Forbes estimates Bruce Flatt to have a net worth of $3.6 billion CAN ($2.7 billion US).

30. Garrett Camp – $3.8 billion CAN ($2.8 billion US)

Garrett Camp, a Calgary born entrepreneur, is a founder of Uber. He serves as Chairman of the company. He still owns about 4% of the company. Uber was not Camp’s first business venture. Camp also owned a web discovery tool called StumbleUpon. He eventually sold this to Ebay for $75 million. He mentors people through Expa Labs, a startup incubator in Silicon Valley. Forbes puts Garrett Camp’s current net worth at $3.8 billion CAN ($2.8 billion US).

29. Jacques D’Amours – $3.9 billion CAN ($2.9 billion US)

Jacques D’amours is a founder of Alimentation Couche-Tard. Couche-Tard expanded from Montreal to across all of Quebec through the acquisition of other convenience store chains. They expanded into Ontario with the acquisition of Becker’s and Mac’s stores in the 1990s. The 2000s took the company into the US market with the acquisition of Circle-K convenience stores. Today Couche-Tard stores can be found all over the world.

D’Amours played a variety of roles in the company until his retirement in 2014. He was a technical services manager and Vice-President of sales. D’Amours still sits on the Alimentation Couche-Tard board. Forbes puts his net worth at $3.9 billion CAN ($2.9 billion US).

28. Jean Coutu and family – $4 billion CAN ($3 billion US)

Jean Coutu opened his first pharmacy in Quebec in 1969 and, thanks to some clever tactics, that one pharmacy turned into a large network of pharmacies across Canada. Part of that success had to do with the fact that Jean Coutu didn’t just sell pharmaceuticals, but rather low-priced items like school supplies, bathroom tissue, and other products that other pharmacies didn’t carry. In the early 1990s, the company started buying out pharmacies in the United States. They merged with Rite Aid shops in the US, becoming the third largest pharmacy chain in the US. Jean Coutu Group sold its Rite Aid shares back to Rite Aid in 2013. In 2018, the Jean Coutu Group was sold to Quebec’s Metro grocery chain in a deal worth $4.5 billion. Forbes puts Jean Coutu and family’s net worth at $4 billion CAN ($3 billion US).

27. Ryan Cohen – $4.2 billion CAN ($3.1 billion US)

Ryan Cohen is the former CEO of Chewy.com, the online pet supplier which he co-founded in 2011. He sold that business to Petsmart for $3.4 billion (US) in 2018. In 2020, he paid $76 million US to purchase a 13% stake in the dying brick-and-mortar gaming business Gamestop. He is the largest individual investor in the company. Then stock traders on Reddit organized a short-squeeze that sent the share price of GameStop soaring. According to Forbes, Ryan Cohen now has a net worth of $4.2 billion CAN ($3.1 billion US)

26. Peter Gilgan – $4.4 billion CAN ($3.3 billion US)

Another billionaire and richest Canadian is Peter Gilgan. Born to a family of nine in Burlington, Ontario, this real estate developer knows how to stand out from the crowd. He soon figured out the secret sauce to mind-bending wealth is to build the kind of home he wanted to live in.

Peter Gilgan is a chartered professional accountant who founded Mattamy Homes in 1978, and remains CEO to this day. Mattamy is one of the largest residential real estate developers in North America. Forbes has estimated Peter’s net worth at $4.4 billion CAN ($3.3 billion US).

25. Stephen Smith – $4.4 billion CAN ($3.3 billion US)

If you’ve ever shopped around for mortgage rates, chances are you’ve heard about Smith’s companies. Smith is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of mortgage lender First National Financial. He took the company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange and never looked back. In addition to First National, Smith is co-owner of the lucrative Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company and Duo Bank of Canada. He also has interests in a variety of other financial corporations including Equitable Bank. Forbes puts Stephen Smith's net worth at $4.4 billion CAN ($3.3 billion US).

24. Barry Zekelman – $4.7 billion CAN ($3.5 billion US)

Barry currently serves as the President, Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, the family steel and pipes business. It is a privately held company. Barry and his two brothers, Clayton and Alan Zekelman, split 100% ownership of the firm. According to Forbes, Barry Zekelman has a net worth of $4.7 billion CAN ($3.5 billion US).

23. Lawrence Stroll – $4.8 billion CAN ($3.6 billion US)

Lawrence Stroll is partly responsible for taking Michael Kors public in 2011, which is where the bulk of his fortune came from. He sold this stake in 2014. Stroll purchased the Formula One racing team Force India, whose name was changed to Aston Martin in 2021. The name change was made in the wake of Lawrence Stroll’s $200 million investment into Aston Martin in 2020. Stroll collects vintage Ferraris. Forbes puts Lawrence Stroll’s net worth at $4.8 billion CAN ($3.6 billion US).

22. Bob Gaglardi – $4.8 billion CAN ($3.6 billion US)

Bob Gaglardi founded Northland Properties in 1963 with a $5,000 loan. He opened his first Sandman Inn hotel four years later in British Columbia. Northland Properties Corporation is widely known in Canada as one of the most trusted names in hotels, sports, restaurants and construction. In 2011, the Gaglardi family purchased the then-bankrupt Dallas Stars NHL team in a $240 million deal. Northland is turning the Dallas Stars into a greater real estate and hospitality presence in Texas. Northland is also expanding in England, Scotland and Ireland. Forbes puts Bob Gaglardi’s net worth at $4.8 billion CAN ($3.6 billion US).

21. Leonid Boguslavsky – $5.4 billion CAN ($4 billion US)

In 2000, Leonid Boguslavsky founded ru-Net in Russia. This venture capital firm changed its name to RTP Global. RTP has invested in 90 companies, five of which became multibillion dollar public companies including Yandex and Delivery Hero. Forbes puts his wealth at $5.4 billion CAN ($4 billion US).

In the early 1990s, he built one of Russia's largest IT solutions integrators (LVS), which he sold to PwC in 1996. In 1991, he moved to Canada, working at the University of Toronto as a visiting professor of Computer Science. He used the proceeds of the sale of LVS to launch ru-NET.

20. Tobias Lutke – $5.4 billion CAN ($4 billion US)

Tobias Lutke founded Shopify. Actually, he built the e-commerce software himself. The company is an essential platform for merchants to sell their goods and services online. Today, the platform is used by more 1.75 million merchants worldwide. Shopify is used in over 175 countries around the globe. According to Forbes, Tobias Lutke has a net worth of $5.4 billion CAN ($4 billion US).

19. Daryl Katz – $5.8 billion CAN ($4.3 billion US)

Is Daryl Katz the richest Canadian pharmacy magnate? Daryl Katz is the son of a pharmacist and made his fortune by buying the Canadian rights to the U.S. franchise, the Medicine Shoppe in 1991. He spent 1991-2016 expanding this business into a conglomerate called the Katz Group Of Companies which has businesses in pharmacy, sports & entertainment, and real estate development. In 2016, he sold off the pharmacy portion of his business to the United States-based McKesson Company. Today, the Katz Group of Companies is one of the largest privately-owned businesses in Canada. And, according to Forbes, Daryl Katz has a net worth of approximately $5.8 billion CAN ($4.3 billion US).

18. Carlo Fidani – $6.3 billion CAN ($4.7 billion US)

Carlo Fidani took over management of Orlando Corporation after the death of his father, Orey Fidani, in 2000. The company manages more than 40 million square feet of commercial space and is involved in land development, design and construction throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It also purchases and develops high-value lands in the GTA. The company is known for its ability to provide full-service with everything from the land, to the design, permit obtainment and construction of a project which has contributed to its success. Fidani is known for his philanthropy. Carlo Fidani is worth an estimated $6.3 billion CAN ($4.7 billion US) according to Forbes.

17. Emanuele (Lino) Saputo – $6.6 billion CAN ($4.9 billion US)

Emanuele Saputo turned his cheesemaking roots into a billion-dollar business. His agrobusiness is why he is one of the richest Canadians. The Saputo family immigrated to Montreal, Canada in the 1950s with teenaged Emanuele, and set up their cheese business. Emanuele Saputo became its president in 1969. The company expanded from that point until it went public in 1997). The company now has interests in restaurants, golf clubs as well as the Saputo Stadium which hosts the Montreal soccer team. According to Forbes, Emanuele Saputo is worth $6.6 billion CAN ($4.9 billion US).

16. Chip Wilson – $6.7 billion CAN ($5 billion US)

Chip Wilson is a businessman, philanthropist and the founder of many retail apparel companies including Lululemon Athletica Incorporated. Wilson was CEO of Lululemon until 2005, when he sold a 48% stake to two private equity firms: Advent International and Highland Capital Partners. Lululemon went public in 2007. Wilson resigned as Chairman in 2013 and removed himself from the business entirely in 2015. However, he is still Lululemon’s largest individual shareholder with an 8% stake in the company. Wilson, his wife and five sons now operate a holding company called Hold It All, which invests in apparel, real estate and private equity. Forbes puts Chip Wilson’s net worth at $6.7 billion CAN ($5 billion US).

15. Mark Scheinberg – $6.7 billion CAN ($5 billion US)

Mark Scheinberg and his father Ian created their own casino, PokerStars.com. Under his leadership as CEO, Mark transformed PokerStars into the internet’s largest online poker playing platform. They sold the company for $4.9 Billion. Mark used the money to establish Mohari Hospitality, an investment company. Scheinberg develops luxury real estate and leisure destinations worldwide. Forbes puts Mark Scheinberg’s net worth at $6.7 billion CAN ($5 billion US).

14. James Irving – $7.4 billion CAN ($5.5 billion US)

James Irving is a member of the Irving family, one of the richest Canadian families. He owns of J.D. Irving, a conglomerate that owns over two dozen companies in several sectors. While his brother Arthur inherited the oil part of the Irving family business, James took the shipbuilding business. James Irving widened the scope of his business to include shipbuilding, transportation, forestry retail, frozen food, and more. Irving Woodland, one of the major divisions of J.D. Irving, is the sixth-largest landowner in the United States, with over 1.25 million acres of land in its name. Their timber and forestry operations have planted over one billion trees since 1957. Forbes puts James Irving’s net worth at $7.4 billion CAN ($5.5 billion US)

13. Arthur Irving – $7.6 billion CAN ($5.7 billion US)

Arthur Irving inherited the oil arm of the Irving family business. In 2018, the Arthur Irving Family Trust later bought out Arthur’s brother’s stake in the company after his death. That brought Arthur 100% ownership of the company. The billionaire also acquired Tedcastle Holdings, an Irish oil company that imports and distributes fuel all over Ireland. Today, Irving Oil operates most gas stations east of the province of Quebec, and is also one of the largest oil refinery businesses in all of North America. Forbes puts Arthur Irving’s net worth at $7.6 billion CAN ($5.7 billion US).

12. Alain Bouchard – $8 billion CAN ($6 billion US)

Alain Bouchard is one of the richest Canadians because of a company he helped build. After years working in the convenience store sector, Alain Bouchard opened his own convenience store in 1980 at the age of 29. Five years later, Bouchard bought a Quebec regional chain of convenience stores called Couche-Tard, and Alimentation Couche-Tard was born. Over the next few years, the company bought stores across Canada and around the world, including Circle-K. Bouchard is still Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Alimentation Couche-Tard, the position he took after naming Brian Hannasch President and Chief Executive Officer in 2014. According to Forbes, Bouchard is worth about $8 billion CAN ($6 billion US).

11. Gaye Farncombe – $9.4 billion CAN ($7 billion US)

Gaye Farncombe is a member of the one of Canada's richest families and owns a piece of the empire. Farncombe is a granddaughter of the great Canadian newspaper mogul, Roy Thomson. Farncombe also owns 11% of Woodbridge, an investment firm that owns a two-thirds stake in the financial data and services provider Thomson Reuters. Bloomberg puts Gaye Farncombe’s net worth at $9.4 billion CAN ($7 billion US).

10. Linda Campbell – $9.4 billion CAN ($7 billion US)

Linda Campbell is another granddaughter of newspaper titan Roy Thomson, who was given the title of 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet due to his work in the news and information business. Campbell reportedly owns an 11% stake of the Thomson family’s fortune. Woodbridge is the investment firm that manages the fortunes of Roy THomson's seven grandchildren. According to Bloomberg, Linda Campbell has a net worth of $9.4 billion CAN ($7 billion US).

9. Joseph Tsai – $10.2 billion CAN ($7.6 billion US)

​​Taiwanese-born Canadian billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Joseph Tsai, is the co-founder of Alibaba Group Holding, the Chinese-based internet giant. He has been with the business for over 20 years, most recently as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board. He graduated from Yale Law School and spent time at various firms before joining Alibaba. According to Forbes, Joseph Tsai has a net worth of $10.2 billion CAN ($7.6 billion US), which puts him in the top 10 richest Canadians.

8. Taylor Thomson – $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US)

Taylor Thomson is the granddaughter of Roy Thomson. She owns a 14% stake in her family’s investment company, Woodbridge. Born Lynne Thomson, she later changed her name to Taylor Thomson. The young billionaire passed the bar exam and worked as a lawyer before diving into the world of acting. She was executive producer on the film The Children of Huang Chi. Taylor Thomson appears to be focusing on building her real estate portfolio with more than $120 million worth of real estate in California alone. Bloomberg puts her net worth at $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US).

7. David Thomson – $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US)

David Thomson is the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet and the grandson of Roy Thomson, the man who started the Thomson Corporation with the purchase of a single small town newspaper in Ontario. David Thomson Corporation acquired Reuters in 2008 to form Thomson Reuters.

Thomson is chair of Thomson Reuters, the Globe and Mail newspaper and Woodbridge, an investment firm. He has also invested in True North Entertainment, the company that owns the Winnipeg Jets hockey team, and he owns real estate developer Osmington. Bloomberg puts David Thomson’s net worth at $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US).

6. Peter Thomson – $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US)

Peter Thomson is the co-chair of Woodbridge with David, the investment firm that manages the investments of the Thomson family. Peter Thomson reportedly owns a 14% stake of Woodbridge. Woodbridge manages investments in Thomson Reuters, Bell Media, the Globe and Mail and others. He is also a rally race car driver. Thomson is the grandson of Thomson Corp. founder Roy Thomson. According to Bloomberg, Peter Thomson’s net worth is $11.9 billion CAN ($8.9 billion US).

5. Anthony von Mandl – $12.1 billion CAN ($9 billion US)

​​Anthony von Mandl is a businessman and leading figure in the alcohol sector. He first entered the alcohol business selling imported wines from his car in Vancouver after graduating from college. He eventually landed a European apprenticeship in the wine trade which, in turn, brought him back to Canada as an importer and merchant of fine wines. When von Mandl was 31, he had saved up enough money to invest in his first vineyard, mostly through his importing business. He chose to put down roots in his native British Columbia, in the largely unknown Okanagan Valley. However, his first major success was the creation of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, which first launched in Canada in 1996 and then in the U.S. in 1999. He also launched White Claw. Forbes puts Anthony von Mandl’s net worth at $12.1 billion CAN ($9 billion US).

4. David Cheriton – $12.1 billion CAN ($9 billion US)

David Cheriton is a professor at the University of Stanford and owes his fortune to a $100,000 investment that he made in a young company called Google. In addition to his investment in Google, he has also founded three different companies. One is Arista Networks, which went public in 2014. The second is Kealia, which was sold to Sun Microsystems in 2004. The last was Granite Systems, which was sold to Cisco in 1996. According to Forbes, David Cheriton has a net worth of $12.1 billion CAN ($9 billion US).

3. Jim Pattison – $12.7 billion CAN ($9.5 billion US)

​​Jim Pattison is an investor, philanthropist and businessman. He is the head of an empire that operates in some 85 countries spanning an array of industries such as supermarkets, lumber, fisheries, disposable packaging, theme parks, auto dealers and more. He opened a Pontiac dealership in 1961; 25 years later, he was selling more cars than anyone else in Western Canada. He grew his business to include other companies such as Overwaitea Foods, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, Save-On-Foods, Guinness World Records and numerous TV and radio stations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Forbes puts Jim Pattison’s net worth at $12.7 billion CAN ($9.5 billion US).

2. Changpeng Zhao – $14.1 billion CAN ($10.5 billion US)

Chanpeng Zhao started Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange in the world. He studied computer science at McGill University. After university, he worked as a developer for Bloomberg. He then became a partner at Fusion Systems. In 2013, he became Head of Development at Blockchain. In 2015, Chapeng Zhao started Bijie Tech, an exchange systems provider.

Then in 2017, he launched Binance Holdings Inc. Binance is not publicly traded. Binance Holdings Limited has bought or invested in important companies like Coinmarketcap, the world's most-referenced price-tracking website for crypto assets. According to Bloomberg, Zhao is worth $14.1 billion CAN ($10.5 billion US).

1. Sherry Brydson – $19.3 billion CAN ($14.4 billion US)

Sherry Brydson is the richest Canadian. She owns 23% of the Thomson family’s investment firm, Woodbridge, while her relatives own the rest. Brydson’s ventures also go beyond Woodbridge via investment firm Westerkirk Capital, which manages investments in hospitality, aviation and real estate sectors. Besides these million dollar investments, Brydson owns a few small businesses in Toronto including Thai restaurant Bangkok Garden and Elmwood Spa. Bloomberg puts Sherry Brydson’s net worth at $19.3 billion CAN ($14.4 billion US).