As Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List expands to over 3,000 names globally, 76 of them are Canadians. These homegrown (and in some cases, globally rooted) billionaires span industries from cryptocurrency and tech to legacy media and retail. Here are the top 10 richest Canadians making waves in 2025, ranked by net worth in U.S. dollars:
1. Changpeng Zhao – US$62.9B (24th globally)
Industry: Cryptocurrency | Residence: Global
The founder of Binance, Zhao remains Canada’s richest citizen—even after resigning as CEO and serving time in the U.S. for money laundering charges. Now leading a massive family office, Zhao’s crypto legacy continues to mint wealth on an unprecedented scale.
2. Sherry Brydson – US$16.7B (125th globally)
Industry: Media | Residence: Toronto
An heiress to the Thomson-Reuters empire, Brydson owns 23% of Woodbridge, the family holding company. Her quiet power in Canadian media makes her one of the country’s most influential billionaires—and the richest woman in the nation.
3. David Cheriton – US$14.3B (163rd globally)
Industry: Tech Investments | Residence: California
Nicknamed the “Professor Billionaire,” Cheriton was one of the earliest investors in Google. A computer science professor at Stanford, he’s a reminder that quiet intellect and the right bet can yield generational wealth.
4. Joseph Tsai – US$12.1B (195th globally)
Industry: E-commerce, Sports | Residence: New York
The Taiwan-born Canadian co-founded Alibaba with Jack Ma and owns stakes in the Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Tsai is one of Canada’s most globally-connected billionaires in both business and sports.
5. Jim Pattison – US$11.4B (213th globally)
Industry: Conglomerates | Residence: Vancouver
At 96, Pattison remains at the helm of the Jim Pattison Group, overseeing hundreds of businesses across media, agriculture, and retail. One of the last remaining self-made billionaires of his generation.
6. David Thomson – US$10.2B (264th globally)
Industry: Media | Residence: Toronto
The Thomson family patriarch, David controls Thomson Reuters through Woodbridge Co. Though Sherry Brydson has overtaken him in personal wealth, he remains a central figure in Canada’s media influence.
7. Taylor Thomson – US$10.2B (264th globally)
Industry: Media | Residence: Toronto
Another key Thomson family heir, Taylor maintains a powerful but low-profile presence. Her fortune, like the others in the family, is tied to their media and financial holdings.
8. Peter Thomson – US$10.2B (264th globally)
Industry: Media | Residence: Toronto
Also part of the Thomson dynasty, Peter’s fortune matches that of his siblings and cousins. The family remains one of the most tightly held billionaire dynasties in Canada.
9. Tobi Lütke – US$8.9B (337th globally)
Industry: E-commerce | Residence: Ottawa
The founder and former CEO of Shopify, Lütke helped reshape online retail globally. Even after stepping down from day-to-day operations, his wealth continues to grow thanks to Shopify’s continued dominance.
10. Linda Campbell – US$8B (382nd globally)
Industry: Media | Residence: Toronto
Another Thomson heir, Campbell is among Canada’s quiet billionaires. Her wealth is a product of the vast Thomson family fortune and its ties to one of the largest media organizations in the world.
These top 10 represent just a slice of the Canadian billionaire landscape—but together they control a vast amount of influence across tech, media, finance, and beyond. As global markets shift and digital wealth accelerates, expect new faces to rise—but for now, these titans reign at the top.
Originally published on Weekly Voice