Henry Nicholas III

$21.76 B

Ranked #113 in World

About Henry Nicholas III

Henry Thompson Nicholas III is an eminent American entrepreneur with a net worth of $10 billion as of January 2024, best known as the co-founder and former head of Broadcom Corporation. Born in 1959 and an alumnus of UCLA School of Engineering, Nicholas faced dyslexia before pioneering semiconductor technology. His career began at TRW and transitioned to Broadcom, where he and partner Henry Samueli invested modestly yet took it public in 1998. Post-retirement in 2003, Nicholas remains active in philanthropy, championing educational initiatives through The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation while navigating personal challenges, including overcoming substance abuse issues and legal indictments, which have since been resolved.

Born

October 08, 1959 in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

Age

66 years

Source Of Wealth

Semiconductors

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Newport Coast, California

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of California, Los Angeles; Doctorate, University of California, Los Angeles; Master of Science, University of California, Los Angeles

Spouse

Stacey Nicholas (Married: 1987; Divorced: 2008)

Children

Parent

Henry T. Nicholas Jr., Marcella Nicholas Leach

Henry Thompson Nicholas III, an American businessman and co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1959. After his parents' divorce, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother and sister. Nicholas attended elementary schools in Malibu and later went to Santa Monica High School. Despite having dyslexia, he persevered and graduated from UCLA School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1982. He continued his education, earning a master's degree in 1985 and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UCLA in 1998.

Henry Nicholas III: Family

Henry Nicholas married Stacey, a former electrical engineer, in 1987. They had three children together. However, the couple later divorced. Nicholas has also been involved in relationships with Melissa Montero and Ashley Christine Fargo, but these relationships did not lead to marriage.

Henry Nicholas III: Career Highlights

Nicholas began his career at TRW in Redondo Beach, California, where he met Henry Samueli, his future business partner. He then moved to PairGain Technologies in Cerritos as the director of microelectronics. In 1991, he left PairGain to co-found Broadcom Corporation with Samueli.

Henry Nicholas III: Companies

Henry Nicholas is best known for co-founding Broadcom Corporation in 1991. He and Samueli invested $5,000 each to start the company, which they successfully floated in 1998. Nicholas retired from Broadcom in 2003.

Henry Nicholas III: Major Achievements

As co-founder of Broadcom, Henry Nicholas played a significant role in the company's growth and success. Broadcom became a leading provider of semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Nicholas's contributions to the technology industry have been widely recognized.

Henry Nicholas III: Awards & Achievements

Henry Nicholas has received numerous awards and recognitions for his achievements. These include the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1999, the UCLA Engineering Alumnus of the Year Award in 2000, and the Orange County Business Journal's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.

Henry Nicholas III: Personal Life & Legacy

Nicholas currently resides in Newport Coast, California.

He has been involved in various philanthropic efforts through the Henry T. and Stacey Nicholas Foundation, which later became The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation after their separation in 2006. Nicholas has made significant contributions to education, youth sports, technology, medical research, victims' rights, and national defense.

Henry Nicholas III: Trivia

Henry Nicholas has faced legal challenges throughout his career. In 2008, he was indicted for stock fraud, options backdating, and drug charges. However, the stock fraud and options backdating charges were dismissed in 2009, and the drug charges were dropped in 2010. In 2018, he was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of drug trafficking. He later entered an Alford plea to two felony drug-possession charges in 2019 and completed a drug treatment program, performed community service, and attended drug counseling. The case was later dismissed.

Wealth History

Timeline

1959

Henry Thompson Nicholas III was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1982

Graduated from UCLA School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.

1985

Earned a master's degree from UCLA.

1991

Co-founded Broadcom Corporation with Henry Samueli.

1998

Broadcom went public.

1998

Earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UCLA.

2003

Retired from Broadcom.

2003

Founded the Henry T. and Stacey Nicholas Foundation.

2006

Renamed The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation after separation.

2008

Opened the Nicholas Academic Center in Santa Ana, California.

2008

Indicted for stock fraud, options backdating, and drug charges.

2009

Stock fraud and options backdating charges dismissed.

2010

Drug charges dropped.

2018

Arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of drug trafficking.

2019

Entered an Alford plea to two felony drug-possession charges.

2019

Donated $1 million to a drug treatment program, performed community service, and went to drug counseling.

2024

Net worth of $10 billion (as of January).

Henry Nicholas III : FAQs

What is Henry Nicholas III's current net worth?

Henry Nicholas III's current net worth is $21.76 billion.

What is Henry Nicholas III's current global rank among billionaires?

Henry Nicholas III holds the 113th position globally among billionaires.

What is Henry Nicholas III's current ranking within the United States?

Henry Nicholas III holds the 49th position in United States.

What was the change in Henry Nicholas III's net worth compared to the previous year?

Henry Nicholas III's net worth decreased by 87.15 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 21.85 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Henry Nicholas III's net worth?

Henry Nicholas III's net worth increased by 671.22 million dollars recently, a 3.08% increase, with his net worth standing at 21.76 billion dollars.

What are Henry Nicholas III's main sources of wealth?

Henry Nicholas III's main source of income comes from Semiconductors.

In which industry does Henry Nicholas III primarily operate?

Henry Nicholas III is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Henry Nicholas III educational background?

Henry Nicholas III holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from the University of California from Los Angeles, a Doctorate from the University of California from Los Angeles and a Master of Science from the University of California from Los Angeles.

How old is Henry Nicholas III?

Henry Nicholas III is 66 years old.

How many children does Henry Nicholas III have?

Henry Nicholas III has 3 children.

What are the notable achievements of Henry Thompson Nicholas III in the tech industry?

Henry Thompson Nicholas III is an American businessman who co-founded Broadcom Corporation and served as its co-chairman, president, and CEO. He's credited with investing initial capital into the company and leading it to a successful public offering in 1998. Under his leadership, Broadcom became a key player in semiconductor technology.

What has Henry T. Nicholas III accomplished in terms of philanthropy?

Henry T. Nicholas III established The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation, focused on various social causes, including education, youth sports, and medical research. His philanthropic efforts include opening the Nicholas Academic Center, donating to schools like St. Margaret's Episcopal School, and supporting cultural and educational institutions such as the Bowers Museum and South Coast Repertory.

What legal challenges has Henry T. Nicholas III faced throughout his career?

Henry T. Nicholas III faced serious legal issues, including indictments for stock fraud, options backdating, and drug charges in 2008. Though the financial-related charges were dismissed, he entered an Alford plea for drug-possession charges in 2019, resulting in a donation to a drug treatment program, community service, and counseling. His case was later dismissed.