Canada’s wealth landscape continues to evolve in 2025, with some familiar faces and notable shifts in the rankings. Here’s a straightforward look at the five wealthiest Canadians today, how they built their fortunes, and what they’re doing with their billions.
1. David Thomson & Family – $54.4 Billion
The Thomson family remains at the top of Canada’s wealth rankings through their controlling stake in Thomson Reuters, the global information and media company. David Thomson serves as the chairman of Thomson Reuters and oversees the family’s investment company, Woodbridge.
The family’s wealth originated with Roy Thomson (David’s grandfather), who started with a single radio station in Ontario before expanding into newspapers and media. Today, their investments span media, publishing, and financial services.
Unlike some billionaires, David Thomson maintains a notably private lifestyle despite his enormous wealth, rarely giving interviews or appearing at public events.
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2. Changpeng Zhao – $33.1 Billion
Known simply as “CZ” in the tech world, Changpeng Zhao founded Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Though he was born in China and has lived in various countries, he’s a Canadian citizen who completed his computer science degree at McGill University.
Despite regulatory challenges in the cryptocurrency space, Binance has maintained its position as a leading exchange, contributing to CZ’s substantial wealth. His rise represents the new generation of Canadian tech-based wealth.
CZ is known for his straightforward communication style on social media and his vision of increasing global financial freedom through cryptocurrency.
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3. Jim Pattison – $12.8 Billion
At 96 years old in 2025, Jim Pattison continues to lead the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately-held companies. Starting with a single car dealership in 1961, he’s built a diversified empire spanning automotive, media, packaging, food, and entertainment.
Pattison’s business approach has always been hands-on. Even well into his 90s, he maintains an active role in his companies and is known for his strong work ethic and simple lifestyle despite his billions.
His philanthropic efforts have become increasingly significant, with major donations to hospitals and medical research in British Columbia.
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4. Anthony von Mandl – $11.2 Billion
Von Mandl built his fortune through Mark Anthony Group, best known for creating White Claw hard seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. What started as a wine importing business operating out of his car has transformed into a beverage empire.
His success story is one of innovation and perfect timing – recognizing changing consumer tastes and capitalizing on the hard seltzer boom before most major beverage companies.
Beyond his business success, von Mandl has established several world-class wineries in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, helping put Canadian wines on the global map.
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5. Chip Wilson – $8.7 Billion
The founder of athletic apparel company Lululemon has maintained his position among Canada’s wealthiest individuals. Wilson’s vision of creating high-quality athletic wear that people would want to wear outside the gym helped create the now-ubiquitous “athleisure” category.
Though he’s no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of Lululemon, his stake in the company continues to be the primary source of his wealth. His family office, Hold It All, manages his investments across real estate, private equity, and apparel.
Wilson has turned significant attention to philanthropy, particularly focused on preserving wilderness areas in British Columbia and supporting research on muscular dystrophy.
How Canada’s Billionaire Landscape Is Changing
Canada’s wealthy elite continues to reflect the country’s evolving economy. While traditional industries like media and retail remain represented, new fortunes are increasingly built in technology, innovative consumer products, and financial services.
The geographic distribution of wealth in Canada remains concentrated in major cities, particularly Toronto and Vancouver, though wealth creation is becoming somewhat more distributed.
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Key Takeaways
- Diverse Industries: Canada’s top billionaires come from varied sectors including media, tech, retail, and beverages
- Private Business: Unlike some countries, many of Canada’s wealthiest built private companies rather than taking them public
- Longevity: Several of Canada’s top billionaires have maintained their wealth over decades
- Growing Philanthropy: All five have established significant philanthropic initiatives
While Canada has fewer billionaires than its southern neighbor, those who have reached this status have created businesses with remarkable staying power and international impact.
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