• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
FinanceMichael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg May Be Even Richer Than You Thought

Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 26, 2016, 2:37 PM ET
Global Mayors Summit Addresses Climate Issues During COP21
Michael Bloomberg, United Nations special envoy for cities and climate change and founder of Bloomberg LP, reacts during a news conference at the United Nations COP21 climate summit at Le Bourget in Paris, France, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. France's Energy and Environment Minister Segolene Royal yesterday said the fate of the United Nations global warming talks hinges on the willingness of richer countries to pay poorer ones more for climate-related projects. Photographer: Christophe Morin/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesChristophe Morin—Bloomberg Bloomberg via Getty Images

Michael Bloomberg, founder of the self-named financial services and media company as well as former three-time New York City mayor, may have more wealth than anyone knew.

Though Forbes‘ real-time billionaire-tracking list records Bloomberg’s personal fortune at $36 billion, the tech news site Re/code argues that this figure is mistaken.

In fact, says Re/code reporter Edmund Lee, Bloomberg’s net worth is probably nearer to $48.8 billion—a difference of more than $10 billion.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

“Our number is different because the Forbes ranking is based on a 2013 analysis of Bloomberg’s company, Bloomberg LP,” Lee says, adding a disclosure that he worked as a reporter at Bloomberg News between 2011 and 2013. “We updated the estimate with our own reporting and a slightly different, I think better, analysis.”

Lee’s methodology factors in the share prices of publicly traded Bloomberg rivals FactSet (FDS) and Thomson Reuters (TRI) to arrive at an estimated valuation for Bloomberg. Averaging the two competitors, he pegs the company’s worth at 15 times profits.

For more on wealth management, watch:

Lee then works off the assumption that Bloomberg (the company) makes 40% in profit on $9 billion in revenue, citing unnamed sources familiar with the firm’s financials. Multiplying those pre-tax profits—$3.6 billion—by 15 yields $54 billion.

Now for Bloomberg’s share. If the man owns 88% of his business, then the portion he controls is worth $47.5 billion. Add to that $1.3 billion that Lee says the billionaire has in cash reserves and the final amount sums to almost $50 billion.

The revised figure would place Bloomberg at number five, rather then eleventh, on Forbes‘ list of the world’s richest people. (A Bloomberg spokesperson did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.)

The New York Times reported this weekend that Bloomberg is exploring the possibility of a presidential bid.

About the Author
Robert Hackett
By Robert Hackett
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

 The world’s 500 richest people made more than a quarter trillion yesterday as volatile markets react to fragile Iran war ceasefire
EconomyBillionaires
 The world’s 500 richest people made more than a quarter trillion yesterday as volatile markets react to fragile Iran war ceasefire
By Jacqueline MunisApril 9, 2026
8 hours ago
Only five ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, far below Iran’s pledge as negotiations begin
EnergyIran
Only five ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, far below Iran’s pledge as negotiations begin
By Eva RoytburgApril 9, 2026
10 hours ago
7 best debt relief companies 2026
Personal FinanceLoans
7 best debt relief companies 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 9, 2026
10 hours ago
iran
EnergyFood and drink
A global food emergency: Why the closed Strait of Hormuz puts half the world’s calories at risk
By Aya S. Chacar and The ConversationApril 9, 2026
12 hours ago
Willie Walsh, wearing a blue suit, looks to his right with his mouth slightly open.
EnergyAviation
Jet fuel supply disruptions are comparable to 9/11 and could take months to replenish even if Hormuz Strait is reopening, airline trade group warns
By Sasha RogelbergApril 9, 2026
12 hours ago
erewhon
EconomyFood and drink
Americans hate the economy so much, they’re buying $22 smoothies
By Yuanyuan (Gina) Cui, Patrick Van Esch and The ConversationApril 9, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
Economy
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
18 hours ago
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
Success
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforce
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
21 hours ago
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
AI
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
20 hours ago
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
Energy
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
By Fortune EditorsApril 7, 2026
2 days ago
White-collar workers are quietly rebelling against AI as 80% outright refuse adoption mandates
AI
White-collar workers are quietly rebelling against AI as 80% outright refuse adoption mandates
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
19 hours ago
Gen Z workers are so fearful AI will take their job they’re intentionally sabotaging their company’s AI rollout
AI
Gen Z workers are so fearful AI will take their job they’re intentionally sabotaging their company’s AI rollout
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.