When you think about the richest people in Canada, you probably picture some old-school oil tycoon in Calgary or maybe a real estate mogul in Toronto. You’re not entirely wrong. But honestly, the leaderboard for 2026 looks a lot weirder than it did ten years ago. It’s a mix of crypto outcasts, grocery store heirs everyone loves to hate, and quiet families who basically own the media you consume without you ever realizing it.
Money in Canada is weird. It’s often polite, tucked away in private holding companies with names like "Woodbridge" or "Power Corp," and rarely as flashy as the Silicon Valley crowd.
The Crypto King and the Media Royals
At the top of the heap is Changpeng Zhao, better known as "CZ." Even after all the legal drama with Binance and his time away from the spotlight, his net worth is hovering around $41 billion. It’s kind of wild when you think about it. A guy who spent part of his youth flipping burgers in Vancouver now sits on a fortune that dwarfs traditional Canadian dynasties.
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Then there’s the Thomson family. They are the definition of "old money" in this country. David Thomson and his siblings, including Sherry Brydson (who is actually the richest woman in Canada with about $19 billion to her name), control Thomson Reuters. They don't just have money; they have influence. Between the Globe and Mail and stakes in sports teams like the Winnipeg Jets, they are woven into the fabric of the country.
Who is Sherry Brydson?
Most Canadians couldn't pick her out of a lineup. That’s by design. She’s the largest shareholder in Woodbridge, the family’s investment arm. While David is the public face, Sherry is a massive force in the background. Her wealth isn't just sitting in a vault; it’s tied to massive telecommunications and media assets that keep the Canadian information economy running.
The Tech Rebels and Grocery Giants
You can't talk about wealth in 2026 without mentioning Tobi Lütke. The Shopify founder has had a roller coaster few years. When the pandemic hit, he was the golden boy. Then the markets cooled. Now? He’s back up around $13.7 billion. He’s the reason Ottawa is actually a tech hub and not just a city full of bureaucrats.
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And then we have to talk about Galen Weston Jr. Honestly, he might be the most "famous" person on this list for all the wrong reasons. As the face of Loblaws, he’s become the lightning rod for every Canadian’s frustration with grocery prices. His family’s net worth is estimated at over $20 billion. Whether it’s No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart, or Joe Fresh, the Westons are getting a piece of almost every dollar you spend on essentials.
- The Lululemon Factor: Chip Wilson is still crushing it. Even though he’s not running the show anymore, his stake in the yoga-wear giant keeps him firmly in the top tier with over $7 billion.
- The Irving Empire: If you live in the Maritimes, you're likely living in an Irving world. James K. and Arthur Irving (until his recent passing) controlled everything from oil refineries to paper mills. They are the closest thing Canada has to a feudal lordship.
- The Convenience King: Alain Bouchard. He started with one store and built Couche-Tard into a global monster. Every time you see a Circle K in Europe or the US, that's Canadian money at work.
Why Canadian Wealth is Different
In the US, billionaires are often celebrities. In Canada, they are usually "investors." Look at the Desmarais family. Through Power Corporation, they have fingers in insurance, wealth management (Wealthsimple), and even green energy. They’ve been advisors to Prime Ministers for decades.
It’s not just about how much they have, but how long they’ve had it. Canada’s tax laws and corporate structures favor these massive, multi-generational holding companies.
The Surprising Names You Missed
Have you heard of David Cheriton? Probably not. He’s a professor at Stanford, but he’s Canadian. He was one of the first people to write a check to two kids named Larry and Sergey who were starting a search engine called Google. That "small" investment turned into a $12.8 billion fortune. He still drives old cars and lives relatively modestly, which is the most Canadian billionaire thing ever.
Then there’s Jim Pattison. He’s 97 years old and still goes to the office. His conglomerate owns everything from grocery stores to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! He’s worth about $11.6 billion and is basically the Warren Buffett of the North.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of Us
You’re probably not going to inherit a media empire tomorrow. But looking at how the richest people in Canada stay rich offers a few lessons:
- Diversification is King: Families like the Richardsons (agriculture) and the Saputos (dairy) didn't just stick to one thing. They moved into finance, sports, and real estate.
- Private Equity over Public Hype: A lot of Canadian wealth is tucked into private companies. This protects them from the daily madness of the stock market.
- The "Boring" Industries Pay Best: Tech is flashy, but groceries, insurance, and cheese (looking at you, Lino Saputo) create more consistent billionaires in the Great White North.
If you want to track these movements yourself, keep an eye on SEDAR filings for public companies or the annual Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Wealth in Canada is shifting toward tech and crypto, but the old guard of "land, food, and media" isn't going anywhere yet.
Next Steps for Your Research
Check the latest quarterly earnings for George Weston Limited and Shopify to see how market shifts are impacting the net worth of Canada's top 1% in real-time. You can also look into the Woodbridge Company's recent acquisitions to understand where the Thomson family is placing their next big bets.