Tobi Lutke

$10.48 B

Ranked #300 in World

About Tobi Lutke

Tobias "Tobi" Lütke, Shopify's German-Canadian co-founder and CEO, ranks as the 11th wealthiest Canadian in 2022. A contributor to Ruby on Rails and creator of Active Merchant, Lütke was born in Koblenz, Germany, in 1981 and excelled in computer programming from a young age. After immigrating to Canada in 2002, he launched Shopify in 2006, transitioning from snowboards to a comprehensive e-commerce solution. With significant influence via a two-class voting system in Shopify, awards in Canada's tech sphere, and notable donations within the environmental sector, Lütke continues to impact both commerce and sustainability.

Born

July 16, 1980

Age

45 years

Source Of Wealth

E-commerce

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

Canada

Residence

Toronto

Tobias "Tobi" Lütke was born on July 16, 1981, in Koblenz, Germany. At the age of six, he received a Schneider CPC, a home computer, which sparked his interest in technology. Lütke began rewriting game code and modifying computer hardware as a hobby. He dropped out of school and entered an apprenticeship program to become a computer programmer. In 2002, he moved from Germany to Canada.

Tobi Lutke: Family

There is no information provided about Tobias Lütke's family.

Tobi Lutke: Career Highlights

In 2004, Lütke launched Snowdevil, an online snowboard shop. He built a new e-commerce platform for Snowdevil using the Ruby on Rails framework, which he had contributed to as part of the core team. In 2006, he shifted the focus of Snowdevil from snowboards to e-commerce and launched Shopify, an e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create their own online stores. Shopify has since become one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the world.

Tobi Lutke: Companies

Lütke is the co-founder and CEO of Shopify. He also owns 7% of Shopify and has a 40% voting interest due to the company's two-class voting structure.

Tobi Lutke: Major Achievements

In 2014, Lütke was named "CEO of the Year" by The Globe and Mail. In 2018, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for supporting Canadian tech industry growth. In 2019, he made the largest donation at the time, $1,000,001, to Team Trees, a fundraising campaign to plant 20 million trees. In 2021, he made the fourth-largest donation at the time, $1,200,001, to Team Seas, a fundraising campaign to remove 30 million pounds of trash from the ocean. In the same year, he invested $3 million in Creative Layer, a print-on-demand platform. In 2022, he joined the board of directors of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

Tobi Lutke: Awards & Achievements

Lütke has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the tech industry, including:

CEO of the Year (2014) - The Globe and Mail
Meritorious Service Cross (2018) - Government of Canada
Top 100 Most Influential People in the World (2019) - Time Magazine
11th Richest Canadian (2022) - Canadian Business Magazine

Tobi Lutke: Personal Life & Legacy

Lütke is married with two children.

He is known for his philanthropic efforts and has made significant donations to various environmental and social causes. He is also an advocate for open source software and has contributed to several open source projects.

Tobi Lutke: Trivia

Lütke is a fan of John Carmack, the co-founder of id Software, and was inspired by Carmack's .plan-files, which are text files that contain notes and ideas.

Wealth History

Timeline

1981

Tobias "Tobi" Lütke was born in Koblenz, Germany.

1987

Received a Schneider CPC at age six.

2002

Moved from Germany to Canada.

2004

Launched Snowdevil, an online snowboard shop.

2006

Launched Shopify, shifted focus from snowboards to e-commerce.

2014

Named "CEO of the Year" by The Globe and Mail.

2018

Awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for supporting Canadian tech industry growth.

2019

Donated $1,000,001 to Team Trees, largest donation at the time.

2021

Donated $1,200,001 to Team Seas, 4th largest donation at the time.

2021

Invested $3 million in Creative Layer, a print-on-demand platform.

2022

Joined the board of directors of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

Tobi Lutke : FAQs

What is Tobi Lutke's current net worth?

Tobi Lutke's current net worth is $10.48 billion.

What is Tobi Lutke's current global rank among billionaires?

Tobi Lutke holds the 300th position globally among billionaires.

What is Tobi Lutke's current ranking within the Canada?

Tobi Lutke holds the 6th position in Canada.

What was the change in Tobi Lutke's net worth compared to the previous year?

Tobi Lutke's net worth decreased by 3.42 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 13.91 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Tobi Lutke's net worth?

Tobi Lutke's net worth decreased by 21.81 million dollars recently, a 0.21% decrease, with his net worth standing at 10.48 billion dollars.

What are Tobi Lutke's main sources of wealth?

Tobi Lutke's main source of income comes from E-commerce.

In which industry does Tobi Lutke primarily operate?

Tobi Lutke is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

How old is Tobi Lutke?

Tobi Lutke is 45 years old.

How many children does Tobi Lutke have?

Tobi Lutke has 3 children.

Who is Tobias Lütke and what is his role at Shopify?

Tobias 'Tobi' Lütke is a German/Canadian entrepreneur, best-known as the co-founder and CEO of the e-commerce platform Shopify.

What contributions did Tobi Lütke make to Ruby on Rails and open source?

Tobi Lütke was part of the Ruby on Rails core team and has created several open source libraries, notably Active Merchant.

What notable achievements has Tobi Lütke attained in his career?

Tobi Lütke was the 11th richest Canadian as of 2022, awarded 'CEO of the Year' by The Globe and Mail in 2014, and received the Meritorious Service Cross in 2018.

How did Tobi Lütke's early life shape his career in technology?

Born in Koblenz, Germany, Tobi Lütke received a computer at age six, began coding and modifying hardware early, and after dropping out of school, he completed an apprenticeship in computer programming.

What are some key milestones in Tobi Lütke's professional career?

Tobi Lütke launched Snowdevil in 2004, Shopify in 2006, and has since driven the company's growth, including owning a 7% stake and joining Coinbase's board in 2022.