James Balsillie
Technology

James Balsillie Net Worth

James Balsillie, born in Canada in 1961, is a billionaire entrepreneur who co-founded Research In Motion (RIM) with Mike Lazaridis in 1984. RIM is best known for creating the BlackBerry, which revolutionized the way businesspeople communicate. RIM is now launching the PlayBook, a tablet device to compete with Apple's iPad, and Balsillie is in an active ego-match with Steve Jobs over whose device is better. Balsillie is also a sports nut and has tried three times to buy an NHL team to move to Ontario. He is also a member of the Trilateral Commission.
James Balsillie is a member of Technology

Age, Biography and Wiki

Birth Day February 03, 1961
Birth Place Canada
Age 62 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Pisces
Residence Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater Trinity College, Toronto Harvard Business School Wilfrid Laurier University

💰 Net worth: $1.8 Billion (2024)

James Balsillie, a renowned figure in the Canadian technology industry, is projected to have a net worth of $1.8 billion by 2024. With his significant contributions to the technology sector, Balsillie has grown into a prominent entrepreneur and business executive. He co-founded Research in Motion (RIM), now known as BlackBerry Limited, and played a key role in catapulting the company to global prominence with the invention of the BlackBerry smartphone. Balsillie's continued success and influence in the technology realm have solidified his status as one of Canada's most prominent business leaders.

2010 $2.3 Billion
2011 $1.8 Billion
2018 $1.8 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1966

Balsillie was born in Seaforth, Ontario, and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, where his family relocated in 1966 and he attended Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 1984. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1989. He received a PhD from Wilfrid Laurier University. In 2003, he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (FCA).

2006

Balsillie has been involved in three attempts to buy a National Hockey League franchise with the overt intention of moving it to Hamilton, Ontario. On October 5, 2006, Balsillie made a bid to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise for US$185 million from former player Mario Lemieux and his partners. On December 15, 2006, Balsillie withdrew his bid to buy the team after receiving notice from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that the league would negotiate the arena deal on his behalf and the league also wanted the right to take over the team if necessary.

2007

On March 5, 2007, Balsillie resigned his role as chairman of RIM as the firm reported over US$250 million in past stock option accounting errors after an extensive review. He retained his roles as co-chief executive and Director. On May 17, 2007, RIM announced that “Consistent with current best practices in corporate governance, the roles of Chairman and CEO have been separated.".

2009

In February 2009, as part of the penalties and sanctions approved by the OSC in settling the improper option practices, which the OSC called a “fundamental failure of governance”, Balsillie was forced to resign as a Director of RIM. In May 2010, almost immediately after the OSC sanctions expired, Balsillie was reappointed to the board, (ignoring strong shareholders and investor objections), notwithstanding RIM’s earlier public representations that the roles of Chairman and CEO were separated.

2012

On March 29, 2012, Research in Motion announced that Balsillie will be stepping down from the Board of Directors.

2019

Jim Balsillie is a philanthropist who supports numerous local and national initiatives. Balsillie’s success at RIM has allowed him to create CIGI, CIC, and contribute resources and time to organizations such as Waterloo Children’s Museum, Grand River hospital, Canadian Olympic Foundation and others. In 2007, Balsillie donated $50 million to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Centre for International Governance Innovation as part of a $100 million initiative to create the Balsillie School of International Affairs. In recent years Balsillie has made a number of donations across Canada and abroad anonymously.

Some James Balsillie images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.