Guillaume Pousaz

$7.82 B

Ranked #453 in World

About Guillaume Pousaz

Swiss entrepreneur Guillaume Pousaz, with a net worth of US$7.2 billion as of April 2023, is the founder and CEO of Checkout.com. An Ecole Polytechnique and HEC Lausanne alumnus, Pousaz turned away from investment banking to build his payment empire. After acquiring Mauritius-based SMS Pay, he catapulted Checkout.com to a valuation of $15 billion by 2021. Residing in Dubai, Pousaz is also the founder of Zinial Growth and philanthropic venture Pousaz Philanthropies.

Born

August 15, 1981

Age

44 years

Source Of Wealth

Fintech

Industries

Finance & Investments

Citizenship

Switzerland

Residence

London

Guillaume Pousaz, a Swiss-born billionaire entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, was born outside of Geneva, Switzerland. He displayed a passion for mathematics and economics from a young age, leading him to pursue a mathematical engineering degree at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne. Simultaneously, he enrolled in an economics bachelor's degree at HEC Lausanne, with aspirations of becoming an investment banker. His potential was recognized, and he received an offer from Citibank London.

However, Pousaz's life took an unexpected turn in 2005 when his father was diagnosed with cancer. Determined to be close to his family during this challenging time, he made the difficult decision to leave HEC Lausanne and relocate to California, where he could pursue his love for surfing while still exploring career opportunities.

Guillaume Pousaz: Family

Guillaume Pousaz is a devoted family man. He is married and has three children, two sons, and a daughter. The family resides in Dubai, where Pousaz has established his business ventures.

Guillaume Pousaz: Career Highlights

Pousaz's career in the payments industry began in 2006 when he joined International Payments Consultants (IPC). Recognizing the potential for innovation in the field, he co-founded NetMerchant, a US to Europe money transfer service, with IPC's head of sales. This venture operated successfully until 2009.

In pursuit of his vision to revolutionize online payment processing, Pousaz acquired Mauritius-based SMS Pay for a modest sum of $300,000 over three years. This acquisition served as the foundation for building a next-generation payments gateway.

In 2009, Pousaz established Opus Payments in Singapore, enabling businesses in Hong Kong to seamlessly process payments on a global scale. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive solution, Opus Payments underwent a rebranding in 2012 to become Checkout.com, aiming to address the challenges of online payment processing.

As the CEO of Checkout.com, Pousaz holds an estimated two-thirds ownership of the company, driving its success and shaping the future of the payments industry.

Guillaume Pousaz: Companies

Checkout.com (CEO and founder)
NetMerchant (co-founder)
SMS Pay (acquired)
Opus Payments (founder)
Zinial Growth (founder)

Guillaume Pousaz: Major Achievements

Founded and built Checkout.com into a leading global payment platform.

Successfully raised significant funding, including a $2 billion Series A round in 2019 and a $1 billion fundraise in 2022.
Established Zinial Growth, a global investment firm focused on the European technology sector.
Made significant investments in various e-commerce startups and technology companies.

Guillaume Pousaz: Awards & Achievements

Ranked 5th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2022, with an estimated net worth of £19.259 billion.
Recognized as one of the most influential figures in the fintech industry.
Named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young in 2021.

Guillaume Pousaz: Personal Life & Legacy

Guillaume Pousaz is known for his dedication to his family and his passion for surfing. He resides in Dubai with his wife and three children. Pousaz is also actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, having founded Pousaz Philanthropies in 2022 to support the safety and education of children worldwide.

Guillaume Pousaz: Trivia

Pousaz is an avid surfer and spends his free time catching waves.
He is fluent in French, English, and German.
Pousaz is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Wealth History

Timeline

Guillaume Pousaz, a Swiss-born billionaire entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, is the CEO and founder of the payment platform Checkout.com.

Pousaz has an estimated net worth of US$7.2 billion as of April 2023.

Born outside of Geneva, Switzerland, Pousaz studied mathematical engineering at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne.

He enrolled in an economics bachelor's degree at HEC Lausanne and planned to become an investment banker, receiving an offer from Citibank London.

2005

Pousaz left HEC Lausanne due to his father's cancer and moved to California to pursue surfing.

2006

Pousaz joined the payments company International Payments Consultants (IPC).

He co-founded NetMerchant, a US to Europe money transfer service, with IPC's head of sales, which ran until 2009.

Pousaz purchased Mauritius-based SMS Pay for US$300,000 over three years to build a next-generation payments gateway.

2009

Pousaz founded Singapore-based Opus Payments, which enabled businesses in Hong Kong to process payments globally.

2012

Opus Payments rebranded as Checkout.com, aiming to solve online payment processing issues.

Pousaz is the CEO and owns an estimated two-thirds of Checkout.com.

2019

Checkout.com accepted outside capital for the first time, raising $230 million in a funding round.

The company was valued at $2 billion, making it the largest Series A funding round for a European fintech company at the time.

January 2021

Checkout.com raised a further US$450 million, valuing the company at US$15 billion.

Pousaz's net worth was estimated at US$9 billion as a result.

2022

Following a $1 billion fundraise, Pousaz's net worth was estimated at US$20 billion.

Pousaz ranked 5th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2022, with an estimated net worth of £19.259 billion.

May 2021

Pousaz established Zinial Growth, a global investment firm focused on the European technology sector.

Investments include e-commerce start-ups Ziina and Wayflyer, supply chain emissions monitoring platform Pledge, blockchain firm Snickerdoodle Labs, fintech startup Bloom Money, and others.

Pousaz lives in Dubai, is married, and has three children (two sons and a daughter).

2022

Pousaz founded Pousaz Philanthropies, focused on supporting the safety and education of children worldwide.

Guillaume Pousaz : FAQs

What is Guillaume Pousaz's current net worth?

Guillaume Pousaz's current net worth is $7.82 billion.

What is Guillaume Pousaz's current global rank among billionaires?

Guillaume Pousaz holds the 453rd position globally among billionaires.

What is Guillaume Pousaz's current ranking within the Switzerland?

Guillaume Pousaz holds the 7th position in Switzerland.

What was the change in Guillaume Pousaz's net worth compared to the previous year?

Guillaume Pousaz's net worth decreased by 0 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 7.82 billion dollars.

What are Guillaume Pousaz's main sources of wealth?

Guillaume Pousaz's main source of income comes from Fintech.

In which industry does Guillaume Pousaz primarily operate?

Guillaume Pousaz is primarily involved in the Finance & Investments industry.

How old is Guillaume Pousaz?

Guillaume Pousaz is 44 years old.

How many children does Guillaume Pousaz have?

Guillaume Pousaz has 3 children.

Who is Guillaume Pousaz and what is his role at Checkout.com?

Guillaume Pousaz is a Swiss-born billionaire entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who is the founder and CEO of the payment platform Checkout.com.

What are some of the milestones in Guillaume Pousaz's business career?

Guillaume Pousaz's career milestones include co-founding NetMerchant, acquiring SMS Pay to build Checkout.com, and leading the company to become a global online payment processing solution.

How has Guillaume Pousaz contributed to philanthropy and what causes does he support?

Guillaume Pousaz founded Pousaz Philanthropies in 2022, focusing on supporting the safety and education of children worldwide, demonstrating his commitment to charitable causes.