Fact Ledger
- Henry Samueli was born Sept. 20, 1954, in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Los Angeles. — Source: Los Angeles Times; Samueli Foundation.
- As of Sept. 16, 2026, Samueli is 71 years old. Forbes lists his age as 71 in its September 2026 profile.
- He earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from UCLA in 1975, 1976 and 1980. — Source: Samueli Foundation/UCLA.
- He worked at TRW from 1980 to 1985 in engineering and management positions involving military communications. — Source: Samueli Foundation.
- Samueli joined the UCLA electrical engineering faculty in 1985 and later became a distinguished adjunct professor at UC Irvine. — Source: UCI and Samueli Foundation.
- He co-founded PairGain Technologies and served as its chief scientist. — Source: Broadcom and UCI.
- Samueli co-founded Broadcom with Henry Nicholas in 1991. Broadcom became publicly traded in 1998. — Source: UCI.
- He has been named inventor on more than 75 U.S. patents. — Source: UCI/Forbes.
- Broadcom was acquired by Avago Technologies in 2016 and the resulting company became Broadcom Inc. — Source: Samueli Foundation.
- Samueli served as Broadcom Inc.’s chairman from December 2018 until June 2026 and remains a director. — Source: Broadcom and Forbes.
- Forbes estimated Samueli’s real-time net worth at $32.7 billion on Sept. 15, 2026; the figure fluctuates with market conditions. — Source: Forbes.
- He and his wife, Susan Samueli, purchased the Anaheim Ducks in 2005 for $70 million. — Source: Forbes and Anaheim Ducks.
- The Samuelis also own the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ AHL affiliate. — Source: Samueli Foundation/Anaheim Ducks.
- The Samuelis have three daughters. — Source: Forbes and UCLA Alumni.
- Henry and Susan Samueli founded the Samueli Foundation in 1999. — Source: Samueli Foundation.
- The couple donated $200 million to UC Irvine in 2017, then the largest single gift in the university’s history. — Source: Forbes.
- The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine bears his name following his major donation to the school. — Source: UCI.
- Samueli received the 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor for pioneering work in broadband communications and networking and promotion of STEM education. — Source: IEEE.
- In February 2026, UC Irvine reported that Samueli was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. — Source: UCI.
- The Samuelis have pursued OCVIBE, a privately funded 100-acre development surrounding the Honda Center. — Source: Anaheim Ducks.
- In 2008, Samueli pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the SEC concerning his involvement in Broadcom’s stock-option process. — Source: U.S. Department of Justice.
- A federal judge rejected the proposed plea agreement in 2008, and the charge was later dismissed in December 2009. — Source: Los Angeles Times.
Henry Samueli Net Worth 2026: Career, Wealth & Life
Henry Samueli is an American electrical engineer, entrepreneur, Broadcom co-founder and owner of the Anaheim Ducks whose technology career has made him one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Henry Samueli’s net worth was estimated by Forbes at $32.7 billion as of Sept. 15, 2026, although the figure can move substantially with the value of his Broadcom holdings and other assets.
Born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Los Angeles, Samueli developed an early interest in electronics before earning three electrical-engineering degrees from UCLA. He later helped create Broadcom, built a substantial technology fortune and expanded his interests into professional sports, real estate development and philanthropy.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Henry Samueli |
| Born | Sept. 20, 1954 |
| Age in 2026 | 71 |
| Birthplace | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Engineer, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Education | UCLA — B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering |
| Spouse | Susan Samueli |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Known For | Co-founding Broadcom; owning the Anaheim Ducks |
| Estimated Net Worth | $32.7 billion, Forbes real-time estimate on Sept. 15, 2026 |
| Residence | Newport Beach, California |
How Henry Samueli Built His Technology Fortune
Samueli’s professional path began well before Broadcom. After earning his doctorate at UCLA in 1980, he spent five years at TRW, working in engineering and management roles connected to military communications. He also became a UCLA engineering professor in 1985, a position that established an academic career alongside his work in communications technology.
His entrepreneurial career expanded in the late 1980s when he co-founded PairGain Technologies and served as its chief scientist. The larger financial breakthrough came in 1991, when Samueli and his former UCLA student Henry Nicholas co-founded Broadcom in a Redondo Beach condominium.
Broadcom focused on semiconductor technology for communications, an area in which Samueli’s engineering research had already given him extensive expertise. The company went public in 1998, and its growth eventually placed Samueli among America’s richest technology entrepreneurs.
Broadcom Corporation was later acquired by Avago Technologies in 2016, creating the modern Broadcom Inc. Samueli continued in senior technical and board roles and served as chairman from December 2018 until June 2026. Broadcom’s current biography identifies him as a director.
For readers researching the company behind much of Samueli’s fortune, the official Broadcom biography provides his corporate history and current board role.
Henry Samueli Net Worth in 2026
The most useful way to discuss Henry Samueli net worth is to treat it as an estimate rather than a fixed bank balance.
Forbes listed his real-time fortune at $32.7 billion on Sept. 15, 2026. Forbes’ profile identifies semiconductors as his primary source of wealth and lists him as a self-made billionaire.
That number can change from one trading day to another because a major component of Samueli’s wealth is tied to his ownership of Broadcom shares. Consequently, an article published months from now could legitimately show a different estimate even if his underlying businesses have not changed.
Samueli’s wealth has also expanded beyond semiconductor technology. Forbes reports that he and Susan Samueli purchased the Anaheim Ducks for $70 million in 2005 and notes that the franchise is now valued at more than $1 billion.
It is therefore more accurate to describe his fortune as a combination of technology-related equity, sports ownership and other family investments rather than attributing his wealth to a single salary or business.
From Engineer to Anaheim Ducks Owner
Samueli’s connection to professional hockey began in 2005, when he and Susan purchased the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks from the Walt Disney Co. The couple also took over management of the Honda Center around that period.
The Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007, becoming the first California-based NHL team to win the championship. Samueli remains a co-owner, and the Ducks’ official website lists Henry and Susan Samueli as the team’s owners.
Their sports holdings extend to the American Hockey League. The Samueli family owns the San Diego Gulls, which serve as the Ducks’ minor-league affiliate.
The family’s business interests in Anaheim have also moved beyond hockey. OCVIBE is a planned 100-acre district surrounding the Honda Center, with the project designed to combine entertainment, residential, office, dining and public spaces. The Ducks organization has described the development as a privately funded project.
Education, Inventions and Major Awards
Samueli’s academic background remains central to his public biography. He received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UCLA in 1975, 1976 and 1980. He later became a professor at UCLA and a distinguished adjunct professor at UC Irvine.
His engineering record includes more than 75 U.S. patents. UCI also notes that he has extensive experience in communications systems engineering and digital signal processing.
His honors have continued into his 70s. In 2025, IEEE named Samueli its Medal of Honor recipient for pioneering research and commercialization involving broadband communication and networking technologies, along with his promotion of STEM education. The award’s monetary prize was $2 million, which IEEE says Samueli directed toward an endowment supporting future engineering leaders.
In February 2026, UC Irvine announced that Samueli had been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his contributions to advanced broadband communications.
Family Life and Philanthropy
Samueli is married to Susan Samueli, and the couple has three daughters. Forbes lists the family as based in Newport Beach, California.
The Samuelis’ philanthropic work has become another major part of their public profile. They established the Samueli Foundation in 1999, following Broadcom’s public-market success. The foundation says its work has supported areas including STEM education, youth services, integrative health and community programs.
Education has been a particularly visible focus. The Samuelis made a $200 million donation to UC Irvine in 2017, which Forbes described as the largest gift in the university’s history at the time. The university’s engineering school carries Henry Samueli’s name.
The Samueli Foundation’s official site provides additional information about the family’s philanthropic priorities and programs.
A Note on Samueli’s Broadcom-Era Legal Case
Samueli’s biography also includes a significant legal episode from the Broadcom era that should not be omitted when presenting his career history.
In 2008, federal prosecutors said Samueli had made a false statement to the SEC during an investigation into Broadcom’s stock-option practices. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Samueli pleaded guilty to one felony count involving that false statement.
The proposed plea agreement called for probation, a $250,000 fine and a $12 million payment, but a federal judge rejected the agreement. In December 2009, the judge dismissed the charge against Samueli. Separately, in February 2010, the SEC announced that it would not proceed further with its civil case against Samueli and the other Broadcom officers involved in that litigation.
These events belong to the historical record, but the allegations and later court developments should be distinguished carefully rather than compressed into a single description of the case.
Henry Samueli Net Worth: Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Earned B.S. in electrical engineering from UCLA |
| 1976 | Earned M.S. in electrical engineering from UCLA |
| 1980 | Earned Ph.D. and began engineering career at TRW |
| 1985 | Joined UCLA’s engineering faculty |
| 1988 | Co-founded PairGain Technologies |
| 1991 | Co-founded Broadcom |
| 1998 | Broadcom became publicly traded |
| 2005 | Samueli family purchased the Anaheim Ducks |
| 2007 | Ducks won their first Stanley Cup |
| 2016 | Broadcom Corporation became part of Broadcom Inc. following acquisition by Avago |
| 2025 | Received IEEE Medal of Honor |
| 2026 | Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame; stepped down as Broadcom chairman while remaining a director |
FAQs About Henry Samueli
What is Henry Samueli’s net worth in 2026?
Forbes estimated Henry Samueli’s real-time net worth at $32.7 billion on Sept. 15, 2026. Because much of his wealth is connected to publicly traded assets, the figure changes with market prices.
How did Henry Samueli make his money?
His fortune was primarily built through the semiconductor and communications industry. He co-founded Broadcom with Henry Nicholas in 1991, and the company became publicly traded in 1998.
Does Henry Samueli own the Anaheim Ducks?
Yes. Henry and Susan Samueli are the owners of the Anaheim Ducks. They purchased the NHL franchise in 2005.
What awards has Henry Samueli received?
Among his major honors, Samueli received the 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2026.
What is Henry Samueli’s educational background?
Samueli earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from UCLA. He later held teaching positions at UCLA and UC Irvine.
Conclusion
Henry Samueli’s financial story began with engineering rather than celebrity or entertainment. His work in communications technology led to the creation of Broadcom and ultimately to a multibillion-dollar fortune. By 2026, his public profile also included ownership of the Anaheim Ducks, major philanthropic commitments, academic involvement and some of the highest honors in engineering. Forbes’ $32.7 billion estimate in September 2026 places his wealth at a level that reflects decades of technology entrepreneurship, equity ownership and business expansion.