Here's how much B.C.'s richest billionaires are worth

Who are the richest B.C. billionaires?

According to the latest June 2025 data pulled from Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires list, dozens of Canada’s billionaires live across the country, but only a few have strong ties to British Columbia, whether they were born here, built their fortunes here, or still call the province home.

We went through the list to identify the 10 richest people currently based in B.C., using a mix of Forbes data, local real estate reports, and business profiles.

All net worth figures are in USD.

1. Changpeng Zhao – $65.2 billion

Changpeng Zhao, or “CZ,” is the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

He grew up in Vancouver after immigrating with his family from China in the late 1980s and still owns property here, though his primary residence is now believed to alternate between Vancouver and Dubai.

Despite legal troubles and a $50 million settlement with U.S. regulators in 2023, Zhao remains one of the world’s richest crypto figures, with an estimated 90% stake in Binance.

At 48, his net worth continues to fluctuate with the market, but currently sits at a staggering $62.9 billion.

2. Sherry Brydson – $18.1 billion

Canada’s richest woman — and heiress to the Thomson media fortune — is known to have ties to Victoria, B.C.

Brydson owns a significant portion of Woodbridge, the investment firm that controls Thomson Reuters. Despite her vast wealth, Brydson is intensely private and low profile, avoiding media appearances while overseeing several businesses quietly from the island.

3. David Cheriton – $14.6 billion

Cheriton was born in Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) before becoming a computer science professor at Stanford.

An early investor in Google, his 2004 windfall turned into one of Canada’s most enduring tech fortunes. In 2024, he donated $75 million to UBC for AI and computing research — a nod to his West Coast roots.

4. Jim Pattison – $11.9 billion

Jim Pattison is a true B.C. icon.

The 96-year-old Vancouver-based businessman still reportedly goes into the office daily to manage his vast empire, the Jim Pattison Group, which owns Save-On-Foods, Pattison Media, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and more.

His net worth rose to $12 billion in 2025, a slight increase from the previous year. His company remains one of the largest privately held firms in Canada.

5. Chip Wilson – $6.7 billion

The Lululemon founder remains one of Vancouver’s most recognizable billionaires.

Though no longer involved in the company’s operations, Wilson retains significant shares — and one of the most expensive homes in Canada, located in Vancouver’s elite Point Grey neighbourhood.

Wilson’s current net worth is $6.8 billion, placing him just outside the global top 500.

6. Bob Gaglardi & Family – $5.2 billion

The Gaglardi name is behind some of Canada’s biggest hospitality brands — including Sandman Hotels, Moxies, and Denny’s Canada. Based in Vancouver, the family-run Northland Properties also owns the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Bob Gaglardi, 84, founded the company in the 1960s. Forbes lists his net worth at $5.1 billion. He hails from Kamloops, B.C., according to his online profile on Northland Properties’ website.

7. Anthony von Mandl – $4.6 billion

You may not recognize the name, but you’ve definitely seen his drinks.

Von Mandl is the founder of Mark Anthony Brands, the company behind White Claw and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. He started his career in the Okanagan wine scene before building a global beverage empire and has grown his net worth to $5.7 billion.

8. Max Lytvyn – $1.9 billion

Lytvyn co-founded Grammarly, the AI writing assistant used by millions. While born in Ukraine, he has lived and worked in Vancouver for years. He currently ranks around 1,700th globally, with a net worth of $1.9 billion.

9. Stewart Butterfield – $1.6 billion

Born in tiny Lund, B.C., Stewart Butterfield made waves in the tech world after co-founding Slack, which was later acquired by Salesforce. He also co-founded Flickr, the early photo-sharing website.

Butterfield lives between the U.S. and Canada, with strong ties to B.C. and a current net worth of $1.7 billion.

10. Brandt Louie – $1.4 billion

Brandt Louie, chairman of London Drugs and CEO of H.Y. Louie Co., has deep family roots in B.C.’s business community. The Louie family company dates back over a century and remains a major player in retail and grocery across Western Canada.

He currently has a net worth of $1.4 billion and lives in Vancouver.

Let us know which B.C. billionaires surprised you on this list and who you think will be next.

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