Ripple Founder Net Worth (Updated 2025).
Chris Larsen, the co-founder and former CEO of Ripple, began his career in the tech industry in the late 1980s. After graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in Economics, Larsen started his first company, a digital mapping software firm called Runway Inc. His entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas caught the attention of investors, leading to the company’s successful acquisition in 1998.
Following the sale of Runway Inc., Larsen co-founded another company, E-Loan, in 1997. E-Loan was one of the first online mortgage lenders, and it quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly platform and efficient processes. Larsen’s leadership and visionary approach to digital finance earned him recognition in the industry, and he was named one of the “Top 25 Tech Entrepreneurs” by Forbes in 2000.
Ripple Founder’s Current Net Worth (2025)
As of 2025, the latest available information estimates the net worth of Ripple’s founder, Chris Larsen, to be around $3 billion. This significant wealth can be primarily attributed to his substantial ownership in Ripple, the company he co-founded in 2012.
Career
Before Ripple, Chris Larsen co-founded and served as the CEO of another prominent digital currency company, E-Loan. He then went on to co-create the blockchain-based payment protocol, Ripple, which uses XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Larsen served as the executive chairman of Ripple from 2012 until 2016.
Other Ventures
Besides Ripple, Larsen has been involved in various other ventures. He co-founded the digital asset management platform, Xpring, in 2019, which focuses on investing in and developing companies and projects that use the XRP Ledger. Additionally, Larsen has invested in several other tech startups and has been a prominent figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.
Assets
Larsen’s assets primarily consist of his stake in Ripple, which is estimated to be around 17% as of 2021. He also owns significant amounts of XRP, Ripple’s native cryptocurrency. Apart from his crypto holdings, Larsen’s assets include real estate investments, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he resides.
Annual Income
As a private individual and due to the fluctuating nature of cryptocurrency markets, it’s challenging to pinpoint Chris Larsen’s exact annual income. However, based on his net worth and the value of his Ripple and XRP holdings, it’s safe to assume that his annual income is substantial and likely in the tens of millions of dollars, especially during periods of significant crypto market growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ripple Founder
**1. Who is the founder of Ripple?**
The founder of Ripple is Chris Larsen.
**2. What is Chris Larsen’s net worth?**
As of the latest estimates, Chris Larsen’s net worth is approximately $2.6 billion.
**3. How did Chris Larsen make his fortune?**
Larsen made his fortune primarily through his involvement in Ripple and its cryptocurrency, XRP. He co-founded Ripple in 2012 and served as its executive chairman until 2016.
**4. What is Ripple?**
Ripple is a real-time gross settlement system, currency exchange, and remittance network. It’s known for its digital currency, XRP, which is used to facilitate cross-border payments.
**5. What is XRP?**
XRP is a digital asset built for payments. It’s the native cryptocurrency of the Ripple network and is used to facilitate cross-border payments and currency exchange.
**6. How much XRP does Chris Larsen own?**
As of the latest data, Larsen owns around 5.2 billion XRP tokens.
**7. What is Chris Larsen’s role in Ripple currently?**
After stepping down as executive chairman in 2016, Larsen remains a board member and a significant shareholder in Ripple.
**8. What other companies has Chris Larsen founded?**
Before Ripple, Larsen co-founded and served as the CEO of E-Loan, an online lending company, from 1996 to 2005. He also co-founded Prosper, a peer-to-peer lending marketplace, in 2005.
**9. What is Chris Larsen’s background?**
Larsen graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in sociology. He started his career in the mortgage industry before co-founding his first company, E-Loan.
**10. What is Chris Larsen’s philanthropic work?**
Larsen is known for his philanthropic efforts. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education and environmental conservation. In 2019, he and his wife pledged to donate 1 billion XRP to support education and poverty alleviation initiatives.
