Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is worth $5.5 billion - here's how he spends his fortune, from a $36.4 million penthouse to a year-long trip around the world

Advertisement
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is worth $5.5 billion - here's how he spends his fortune, from a $36.4 million penthouse to a year-long trip around the world

Travis Kalanick

Reuters

Travis Kalanick is worth $5.45 billion.

Advertisement
  • Travis Kalanick's net worth is $5.45 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Kalanick keeps his personal life fairly under wraps, but it's clear he spends much of his fortune on real estate and travel.
  • He has no clear ventures into philanthropy.

Travis Kalanick co-founded Uber in 2009. But, after a series of scandals and a workplace culture where discrimination and sexual harassment were the norm, Kalanick resigned as CEO in 2017.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

Though he's no longer leading the global ride-hailing company, Kalanick remains wealthy. He's worth $5.45 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Here's how he spends his fortune:

Advertisement
{{}}

Travis Kalanick presently has a reported net worth of $5.45 billion. Much of that is from holding 7% of Uber's stock, a company now valued at $76 billion.

Travis Kalanick presently has a reported net worth of $5.45 billion. Much of that is from holding 7% of Uber's stock, a company now valued at $76 billion.
Source: Bloomberg

As Business Insider previously reported, he was, up until recently, relatively "cash-poor for a billionaire." But his liquid assets saw a boost after he sold $1.4 billion in Uber shares to Japanese tech giant SoftBank.

As Business Insider previously reported, he was, up until recently, relatively "cash-poor for a billionaire." But his liquid assets saw a boost after he sold $1.4 billion in Uber shares to Japanese tech giant SoftBank.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Kalanick grew up in the middle-income Los Angeles neighborhood of Northridge. He wanted to be a spy when he grew up.

Kalanick grew up in the middle-income Los Angeles neighborhood of Northridge. He wanted to be a spy when he grew up.

Source: Business Insider, LA Times

Kalanick went to UCLA, but didn't graduate. That's because he dropped out to help found Scour, a peer-to-peer search engine.

Kalanick went to UCLA, but didn't graduate. That's because he dropped out to help found Scour, a peer-to-peer search engine.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Far from wealthy at that point, Kalanick was collecting unemployment checks while working full-time on Scour. A group of entertainment companies sued Scour for $250 million, forcing the start-up to fold.

Far from wealthy at that point, Kalanick was collecting unemployment checks while working full-time on Scour. A group of entertainment companies sued Scour for $250 million, forcing the start-up to fold.

Source: Business Insider

Kalanick quickly rebounded with RedSwoosh, a networking software company that he called his "revenge business." He co-founded Red Swoosh in 2000, and then sold it for $23 million in 2007.

Kalanick quickly rebounded with RedSwoosh, a networking software company that he called his "revenge business." He co-founded Red Swoosh in 2000, and then sold it for $23 million in 2007.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

The earnings from Red Swoosh made Kalanick a millionaire. He took a year off in 2007, after selling the company, and went to Spain, Japan, Greece, Iceland, Greenland, Hawaii, France, Australia, Portugal, Cape Verde, and Senegal.

The earnings from Red Swoosh made Kalanick a millionaire. He took a year off in 2007, after selling the company, and went to Spain, Japan, Greece, Iceland, Greenland, Hawaii, France, Australia, Portugal, Cape Verde, and Senegal.

Source: Business Insider

The lavish lifestyle that followed Kalanick's sudden rise to millionaire status in the late 2000s also helped foster the idea for creating Uber. He and his friends spent $800 on a private driver one New Year's — so he started thinking about ways to make black cab service more economical.

The lavish lifestyle that followed Kalanick's sudden rise to millionaire status in the late 2000s also helped foster the idea for creating Uber. He and his friends spent $800 on a private driver one New Year's — so he started thinking about ways to make black cab service more economical.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

Uber was then founded in 2009. But nowadays, Kalanick has his own private driver. A series of accusations against the company's workplace and ethics eventually led to Kalanick leaving in 2017.

Uber was then founded in 2009. But nowadays, Kalanick has his own private driver. A series of accusations against the company's workplace and ethics eventually led to Kalanick leaving in 2017.

Source: The New York Times, Business Insider

After Kalanick left Uber, he headed to Tahiti.

After Kalanick left Uber, he headed to Tahiti.

Source: Business Insider, Recode

Advertisement

He sailed around the islands in a $70 million sailing vessel owned by media mogul Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. The boat, called Eos, is 305 feet long and can hold 16 guests and 21 crew members on board.

He sailed around the islands in a $70 million sailing vessel owned by media mogul Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. The boat, called Eos, is 305 feet long and can hold 16 guests and 21 crew members on board.

Source: Recode, Daily Mail

Back on dry land, Kalanick splits his time between New York and his hometown of Los Angeles.

Back on dry land, Kalanick splits his time between New York and his hometown of Los Angeles.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Advertisement

New York City, with its plentiful taxis, bike lanes, and public transit options is a good place for Kalanick to settle down... because, as of June 2016, the Uber co-founder reportedly only had an expired driver's license.

New York City, with its plentiful taxis, bike lanes, and public transit options is a good place for Kalanick to settle down... because, as of June 2016, the Uber co-founder reportedly only had an expired driver's license.

Source: The Verge

But Kalanick does own a 1999 BMW M3, albeit one with a broken alternator. If he bought when it was released, it would have been $45,000.

But Kalanick does own a 1999 BMW M3, albeit one with a broken alternator. If he bought when it was released, it would have been $45,000.

Source: The Verge, Autotrader

Advertisement

While we don't know much about Kalanick's Los Angeles pad, but we do know he just bought a $36.4 million apartment in Manhattan. It's the penthouse at the under-construction 565 Broome SoHo — a 30-story luxury apartment building.

While we don't know much about Kalanick's Los Angeles pad, but we do know he just bought a $36.4 million apartment in Manhattan. It's the penthouse at the under-construction 565 Broome SoHo — a 30-story luxury apartment building.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Elliman

Here's a rendering of what Kalanick's penthouse will look like. It's 6,655 square feet with a 2,500-square-foot private roof terrace. And there's a 20-foot heated outdoor pool with 360-degree views.

Here's a rendering of what Kalanick's penthouse will look like. It's 6,655 square feet with a 2,500-square-foot private roof terrace. And there's a 20-foot heated outdoor pool with 360-degree views.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Elliman

Advertisement

The penthouse has two floors, four bedrooms, and 4.5 bathrooms. There's even an outdoor kitchen.

The penthouse has two floors, four bedrooms, and 4.5 bathrooms. There's even an outdoor kitchen.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Elliman

Real estate is definitely the name of the game in Kalanick's post-Uber world. In March, he bought City Storage Systems, which redevelops underused industry, retail and parking sites, for $150 million. He then made himself CEO. "There are over $10 trillion in these real estate assets that will need to be repurposed for the digital era," he tweeted after the acquisition.

Real estate is definitely the name of the game in Kalanick's post-Uber world. In March, he bought City Storage Systems, which redevelops underused industry, retail and parking sites, for $150 million. He then made himself CEO. "There are over $10 trillion in these real estate assets that will need to be repurposed for the digital era," he tweeted after the acquisition.

Source: Mercury News

Advertisement

That acquisition was funded by Kalanick's new investment fund, 10100. It's dedicated to funding promising firms in e-commerce and real estate, as well as emerging tech in China and India.

That acquisition was funded by Kalanick's new investment fund, 10100. It's dedicated to funding promising firms in e-commerce and real estate, as well as emerging tech in China and India.

Source: Crunchbase

As for what Kalanick's own philanthropic efforts, it's not clear how he gives back with his $5.5 billion fortune, or what he intends to do with his money after he dies. A source close to Kalanick said he has "no interest, from what I can tell, in philanthropy."

As for what Kalanick's own philanthropic efforts, it's not clear how he gives back with his $5.5 billion fortune, or what he intends to do with his money after he dies. A source close to Kalanick said he has "no interest, from what I can tell, in philanthropy."

Source: New York Magazine

Advertisement

Instead, he seems intent on doing good through capitalism. He's mentioned Uber programs where gifts are delivered to less fortunate children during the holidays and supplies delivered to displaced people leaving Syria.

Instead, he seems intent on doing good through capitalism. He's mentioned Uber programs where gifts are delivered to less fortunate children during the holidays and supplies delivered to displaced people leaving Syria.

Source: Salesforce

In his new job leading investment fund 10100, he said in March that he's focusing on "large-scale job creation." But, as the LA Times pointed out, it's not clear what sort of jobs he plans on creating. "At Uber, Kalanick was criticized for kickstarting an entire sector of the tech industry reliant on contract workers rather than employees," the LA Times' David Pierson wrote. "Uber itself is expected to someday replace its drivers with autonomous vehicles."

In his new job leading investment fund 10100, he said in March that he's focusing on "large-scale job creation." But, as the LA Times pointed out, it's not clear what sort of jobs he plans on creating. "At Uber, Kalanick was criticized for kickstarting an entire sector of the tech industry reliant on contract workers rather than employees," the LA Times' David Pierson wrote. "Uber itself is expected to someday replace its drivers with autonomous vehicles."

Source: LA Times

Advertisement
Next StoryUPS Freight narrowly avoided a strike of 11,000 drivers - but not all of its employees are happy