Introduction
Henry Samueli is a defining figure in the global invention sector whose impact spans change, trade, and charity. As the creator of Broadcom, he played a central role in building a circuitry achiever that underpins modern broadband, wireless, and networking. Yet Samueli’s Legacy reaches well after the technology industry. Through major generous initiatives, ownership of an expert sports franchise, and sustained support for education, healthcare, and scientific development, he has translated engineering success into long-term societal impact. His work abridges how technical expertise, drill leadership, and firm giving can shape industries and companies alike.
Quick Facts
| Field | Detail |
| Full Name | Henry Samueli |
| Date of Birth | September 20, 1954 |
| Age (2026) | ~ 70–71 years |
| Birthplace / Early Home | Buffalo, New York; later grew up in Los Angeles |
| Education | B.S., M.S., Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, UCLA |
| Profession(s) | Engineer, Entrepreneur, Inventor, Philanthropist, Sports Team Owner |
| Spouse | Susan Samueli |
| Children | 3 |
| Known For | Cofounding Broadcom; semiconductors; philanthropy; owning the Anaheim Ducks |
| Patent Count | ~ 75 U.S. patents (approximate) |
| Honors / Memberships | IEEE Fellow, National Academy of Engineering, Marconi Prize, and other honors |
| Estimated Net Worth (2026) | Varies by source. See the net worth section below |
Early Life & Childhood
Family Origins & Early Years
Henry Samueli was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1954. His family later moved to Los Angeles, where they ran a small liquor store. His parents were Jewish immigrants who faced hardships during and after World War II. Those early struggles taught Henry about responsibility and hard work.
Growing up, he helped at the family store. Those chores taught actual life skills and a work ethic that later helped him in engineering and business.
A Radio Changed Everything
One story people tell about Henry is about his 7th-grade shop class. He asked his teacher if he could build a radio instead of the allotment project. He put together a Heathkit AM/FM shortwave radio, plugged it in, and was stupefied to hear music coming out of his own device. That moment fired his interest and set him on the path of electrical arrangement.
From that point, Henry liked to tinker with circuits and learn how things worked. He read, experimented, and slowly turned a hobby interest into a lifelong career.
High School & Growing Interest
During high school (Fairfax High in Los Angeles), Henry kept structure and studying devices. He took classes, joined clubs, and grew his interest in signals, circle, and transmission systems. By the time he closed high school, he was focused on arranging and preparing for college.
Education & Early Technical Career
UCLA Bachelor’s, Master’s & Ph.D.
Henry attended UCLA for all his higher education in electrical engineering. He earned:
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering (1975)
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering (1976)
- Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (1980)
His doctoral work was technical and specialized examples including research on digital filters and related signal processing topics. The formal training gave him great mathematical and practical skills that later helped him design advanced semiconductor chips.
TRW & Early Industry Experience
After his Ph.D., Henry worked for TRW, a company involved in aerospace, defense, and communications. At TRW, he worked on high-speed communications projects experience that exposed him to real technical challenges and big systems.
Returning to Academia
Henry later joined UCLA’s faculty in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department. He taught, did research, and published papers in areas like signal processing, analog/digital circuit design, and communications systems. His strong academic record later added credibility when he entered the business world.
He earned recognition in the engineering community through honors like becoming an IEEE Fellow and being elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
Founding Broadcom & Growth
The Start Small Money, Big Idea
While still a professor, Henry teamed up with one of his Ph.D. students, Henry T. Nicholas III. In 1991, they founded Broadcom Corporation with small personal investments (reported founder contributions were modest). They started from a tiny office and a big technical vision: to make integrated chips that could handle broadband communications fast, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
Their early goal was to design chips for cable modems, networking equipment, and other devices that move data quickly. The key idea was system integration: put analog, RF (radio frequency), and digital logic together on one chip so manufacturers could build faster, cheaper products.
Growing the Company
Broadcom moved quickly from a small startup to a bigger company through smart product development, strong engineering, and strategic acquisitions. The company focused on components for cable modems, wireless networking, routers, and more. Broadcom’s chips began to appear inside many consumer and telecom devices.
IPO and Rapid Scaling
In 1998, Broadcom went public. The IPO gave the company capital to grow, expand research, and buy other companies. Over the next decade, Broadcom became a major player in the semiconductor industry, known for combining many functions on single chips, a practice that helped lower costs, reduce power use, and simplify device design.
Later Roles, Merger & Leadership
Shift From Day-to-Day to Oversight
As Broadcom expanded, Henry’s role moved from hands-on engineering to strategic oversight. He served as Chief Technology Officer and later focused more on the board, guiding long-term tech strategy. In late 2018, he retired as CTO and took up a chairman role on the board.
Avago–Broadcom Merger
A major event was the 2015 Avago Acquisition of Broadcom. The deal, worth tens of billions, closed in 2016, creating a larger combined semiconductor company that continued under the Broadcom name (trading as AVGO). After the merger, Henry remained an important shareholder and board member.
Lasting Technical Impact
Henry’s Technical Legacy is the push to integrate analog/RF and digital functions in single, mass-produced chips. That approach is now a standard in many communication devices and has influenced how the industry designs systems.
Major Works, Honors & Awards
Patents and Innovation
Henry is named on many patents, roughly 75 U.S. patents (approximate figure). These patents cover circuit designs, mixed-signal techniques, RF circuitry, and other inventions in communications electronics. Being an inventor reinforces his image as an engineer who builds and invents, not just a manager.
Major Honors
Some prominent honors include
- National Academy of Engineering: elected for pioneering contributions.
- IEEE Fellow: recognition for outstanding technical work.
- Marconi Prize: awarded for advances in communications technologies.
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences: a mark of broad influence.
These awards add to his credibility and make his philanthropic pledges and university support more meaningful to academic and tech communities.
Sports Ownership Anaheim Ducks
Henry and his wife, Susan, bought the NHL team (then the Mighty Ducks) in the mid-2000s and rebranded them the Anaheim Ducks. They manage the team and the arena (Honda Center), and they’ve invested in surrounding real estate and civic development. Under their ownership, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
They also have interests in the minor league affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, and have promoted mixed-use developments near the arena projects that connect sports, real estate, and community development.
Philanthropy & the Samueli Foundation
Henry and Susan set up the Samueli Foundation to manage their giving. Their philanthropy focuses on:
- STEM education
- Health and integrative medicine
- Youth services and community programs
- Jewish community causes
Major gifts include large donations to universities to fund engineering and health programs, and the creation of research centers and scholarships. They are signatories of the Giving Pledge, committing to give away most of their wealth.
Net Worth & Financial Profile
Important note: Net worth figures change often. Always check current sources before publishing.
Why Estimates Differ
Estimates for Henry Samueli’s net worth vary because:
- Most of his wealth is in Broadcom (AVGO) stock, and stock price swings change net worth quickly.
- Public filings and insider reports show different share counts at different times.
- Some sources count private assets, philanthropy, and development projects differently.
Because of these reasons, various outlets give different numbers. A safe, general range many sources quote for 2026 is $25–$30 billion, but some places report lower or higher figures.
Sources of Wealth
- Broadcom / AVGO stock: The biggest part of his wealth.
- Real estate and development projects: Arena renovation and nearby developments.
- Sports team value: The Anaheim Ducks add to asset totals.
- Private investments and philanthropic funds: Some assets are in foundations or trusts.
Recent Financial Moves
Henry has used formal stock sale plans (like Rule 10b5-1) to sell portions of his holdings and to donate shares to charitable causes. These moves provide liquidity and also fund philanthropic commitments.
Personal Life
Henry lives in Newport Beach, California, with his wife, Susan. They have three children. Susan plays a central role in their philanthropic work and champions integrative health programs.
Despite his business Success, Henry remains connected to university, holding honorary faculty roles and supporting research. He keeps a relatively private life and is known for a humble, curious personality rooted in his early radio experiments.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event / Milestone |
| 1954 | Born September 20 in Buffalo, NY |
| 1960s | Family moves to Los Angeles; helps in the family liquor store |
| ~1966–67 | Built the first radio in the 7th grade |
| 1975 | B.S. in Electrical Engineering, UCLA |
| 1976 | M.S. in Electrical Engineering, UCLA |
| 1980 | Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, UCLA |
| 1980–85 | Works at TRW in defense and communications projects |
| 1985 | Joins the UCLA faculty in Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| 1991 | Co-founded Broadcom with Henry T. Nicholas III |
| 1992 | Early offices near UCLA; company grows |
| 1995 | Broadcom expands operations to Irvine; founders take active management roles |
| 1998 | Broadcom IPO |
| 2003 | Elected to the National Academy of Engineering; acquires management rights to the arena |
| 2005 | Purchases NHL franchise (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) |
| 2006 | Team rebranded as Anaheim Ducks; arena renamed |
| 2007 | Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup |
| 2015 | Avago announces acquisition of Broadcom (major industry consolidation) |
| 2016 | Merger closes; combined company continues as a major semiconductor firm |
| 2017 | Major donation to UC Irvine for health sciences |
| 2019 | Gift to UCLA to support the engineering school |
| 2026 | Public reporting shows net worth in the multi-billion range; invest in arena redesign projects |
FAQs
A: Henry Samueli is an American engineer, businessman, inventor, and backer. He co-founded Broadcom Corporation, owns the Anaheim Ducks hockey team, and has donated large sums to the institute and health initiatives.
A: Estimates vary, but many sources place him between $25 billion and $30 billion as of 2026.
A: In 1991, while at UCLA, he and his Ph.D. student, Henry Nicholas, started Broadcom with small seed capital, focusing on integrated circuitry designs. They grew the company through innovation, purchase, and by making powerful broadband transmission chips.
A: Some big contributions include $200M to UC Irvine (health sciences), $100M to UCLA engineering, and funding of the Samueli Foundation for STEM, health, and community causes.
A: Yes, he and his wife purchased the Anaheim Ducks NHL team in 2005 and manage arena and growth projects around it.
Conclusion
Henry Samueli’s story is a powerful nudge that alteration, Education, and giving can coexist in one life’s work. From building a basic radio in middle school to astonishing Broadcom, one of the world’s leading circuitry companies, Samueli has shown how curiosity and discipline can shape production. His influence goes far beyond technology through the Samueli Foundation; he’s funded in health, education, and section well-being for future generations.
As of 2026, Henry Samueli remains a symbol of how engineers can become inspired entrepreneurs and a humanitarian who uses their success for a larger purpose. His journey continues to inspire students, business leaders, and anyone who believes that long-term progress begins with peculiarity and sympathy.
