Ever wondered who’s swimming in the most loonies and toonies in the Great White North? Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the bank vaults of Canada’s richest Canadians of all time. From 19th-century shipping magnates to 21st-century tech billionaires (and a healthy sprinkle of shady industrialists), these titans of industry built empires that make your piggy bank look like a joke. Here’s the definitive countdown of Canada’s top 10 wealthiest people EVER—ranked from 10 to 1—complete with where they’re from, how they made their cash, and just how fat those wallets are. Let’s get rolling!
🔟 Sir Hugh Allan
From: Montreal, QC (originally born in Scotland)
Made fortune by: Building the Allan Shipping Line—the biggest private shipping empire of its era.
Fortune: At his death in 1882, he was one of the richest Canadians ever.
9️⃣ K. C. Irving
From: Bouctouche, NB
Made fortune by: Expanding a family sawmill into an industrial empire (forestry, oil, media).
Peak fortune: Estimated US $12 billion around 2018, making him one of Canada's wealthiest.
8️⃣ Herbert Samuel Holt
From: Montreal, QC
Made fortune by: Running dozens of companies including Royal Bank of Canada during the Roaring Twenties.
Fortune: Believed to be the richest Canadian of all time—worth a fortune in the 1920s (exact modern equivalent not reliably documented yet).
7️⃣ Jim Pattison
From: Saskatoon, SK (grew up in Vancouver, BC)
Made fortune by: Building the Jim Pattison Group—covering auto dealerships, media, packaging, forestry, food & more.
Fortune: US $11.4 billion as of April 2025.
6️⃣ Joseph Tsai
From: Taiwanese‑Canadian; holds Canadian citizenship
Made fortune by: Co‑founding Alibaba and serving as its EVP—also owns the Brooklyn Nets.
Fortune: Around US $12 billion as of early 2025.
5️⃣ Tobi Lütke
From: Originally Germany; emigrated to Ottawa, ON
Made fortune by: Co‑founding Shopify, transforming from online snowboard shop to e‑commerce titan.
Fortune: Near US $9 billion as of 2025.
4️⃣ David Cheriton
From: Vancouver, BC
Made fortune by: Early investor in Google—turned $100K into over $1B.
Fortune: ~US $14.3 billion.
3️⃣ Changpeng “CZ” Zhao
From: Vancouver, BC (born in China)
Made fortune by: Founding Binance, now the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Fortune: Around US $60 billion (2025).
2️⃣ David Thomson & Family
From: Toronto, ON
Made fortune by: Inheriting and building the Thomson Reuters empire—media, publishing, newswire.
Fortune: Estimated US $68.6 billion as of Jan 2025.
🥇 1st Place: Drum roll...
David Thomson & Family again
Yep, it’s the same media dynasty—still the richest ever recorded in Canada with a net worth peaking around US $68.6 billion in January 2025—earning them (and him) the #1 spot.
So, there you have it—Canada’s wealthiest, from historical shipping tycoons to crypto kings. These people didn’t just make money; they practically invented new ways to flex. Whether it’s building empires from maple syrup dreams or buying basketball teams like they’re candy bars, these Canadians prove that sometimes the Great White North is just as great at stacking cash. Feeling a little poorer now? Yeah, me too. Stay tuned for more lists that’ll make you question your life choices—only at VOODEED.com. 💸🍁
