Live: Cliff Obrecht’s net worth
Real-time net worth: US$7.6 billion (Forbes estimate). Loading the latest figure…
Net worth over time
Profile
- Age
- 40
- Source of wealth
- Software, self-made
- Company
- Canva, cofounder and COO
- Residence
- Sydney, New South Wales
- Citizenship
- Australia
- Marital status
- Married to Melanie Perkins
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Western Australia
Key facts
- Obrecht is cofounder and chief operating officer of design software company Canva, which he launched in Sydney in 2013 with his now wife, Melanie Perkins, and Cameron Adams. Investors were sceptical because of where it was based.
- Like Perkins, he owns an estimated 18% of Canva. The couple has pledged to transfer more than 80% of their stake to the Canva Foundation for charitable causes.
- Canva was valued at US$42 billion in August 2025 and has 260 million monthly users. Obrecht and Perkins were No. 4 on Forbes’ 2026 list of Australia’s 50 Richest, worth a combined US$15.1 billion.
- In November 2026, Canva announced a restructure affecting about 1,271 roles, or 22% of the company, after what Perkins called its “hardest year yet”. Investors have marked down its value, with T. Rowe Price’s latest figure implying a valuation of US$30.4 billion.
- He first appeared on Forbes’ billionaires list in 2022.
- Obrecht proposed to Perkins in Turkey’s Cappadocia region with a $30 engagement ring.