Top 5 richest persons from Iran
In this article, we explore the 5 richest persons in Iran (or of Iranian descent), their inspiring journeys, and how they earned their massive fortunes.
A Glimpse into Iran's Global Economic Influence
While Iran is the sixth-largest country in Asia and the second-largest in the Middle East, its influence extends far beyond geography. Despite political and economic challenges, several richest persons in Iran have built impressive businesses across tech, finance, space, and entertainment industries.
Many of these billionaires may reside abroad, but their roots remain Iranian. Let's now take a look at the top richest Iranians in 2025 and explore their net worth and business ventures.
1. Pierre Omidyar – Net Worth: $10.4 Billion
Founder of eBay and Global Philanthropist
Pierre Omidyar | Credit: Forbes
Topping the list of the richest persons from Iran is Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay. Born to Iranian parents, Omidyar launched eBay in 1995, which went on to become a global giant in online auctions.
PayPal Acquisition: Under Omidyar's leadership, eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 and spun it off in 2014.
Under Omidyar's leadership, eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 and spun it off in 2014. Philanthropy: Through the Omidyar Network, he has donated over $1.5 billion to charities and social enterprises.
Through the Omidyar Network, he has donated over $1.5 billion to charities and social enterprises. Investments: He owns resort properties in California and Mexico, along with real estate development in Cabo San Lucas.
He owns resort properties in California and Mexico, along with real estate development in Cabo San Lucas. Media Ventures: He also launched First Look Media, which owns The Intercept and Topic Studios.
Omidyar's wealth makes him not only the richest person from Iran but also one of the most influential philanthropists in the world.
2. Behdad Eghbali – Net Worth: $4.4 Billion
The Private Equity Powerhouse
Behdad Eghbali | Credit: Forbes
Second on the list of richest Iranians is Behdad Eghbali, cofounder of Clearlake Capital. Born in Iran and raised in the US, Eghbali has made a massive mark in the investment world.
Clearlake Capital: The firm manages over $90 billion in assets and is known for high-performing investments in software and industrial sectors.
The firm manages over $90 billion in assets and is known for high-performing investments in software and industrial sectors. Sports Investment: In 2022, Clearlake co-purchased English football club Chelsea FC.
In 2022, Clearlake co-purchased English football club Chelsea FC. Background: Before founding Clearlake, Eghbali worked with TPG Capital, another global private equity firm.
His success highlights how Iranians have become influential figures in global finance.
3. Farhad Moshiri – Net Worth: $2.8 Billion
Football, Finance and International Deals
Farhad Moshiri | Credit: Forbes
Farhad Moshiri, another prominent name among the richest persons in Iran, built his fortune through smart investments in mining, telecom, and football.
Business Partner: Moshiri partnered with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and invested in Metalloinvest and Megafon.
Moshiri partnered with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and invested in Metalloinvest and Megafon. Football Ventures: He sold his stake in Arsenal FC and invested in Everton FC, making him a key figure in European football.
He sold his stake in Arsenal FC and invested in Everton FC, making him a key figure in European football. Background: Formerly an accountant at Deloitte and Ernst & Young, Moshiri used his financial skills to enter the billionaire league.
Moshiri's journey showcases the global footprint of Iranian-born billionaires.
4. Kam Ghaffarian – Net Worth: $2.5 Billion
Rocketing to Success Through Space and Nuclear Energy
Kam Ghaffarian | Credit: IBX
Kamal 'Kam' Ghaffarian is a serial entrepreneur who has built companies in space technology, nuclear energy, and aerospace engineering.
Space Projects: He co-founded Intuitive Machines, which made headlines in 2024 when its Odysseus lander successfully completed America's first moon mission since 1972.
He co-founded Intuitive Machines, which made headlines in 2024 when its Odysseus lander successfully completed America's first moon mission since 1972. Nuclear Energy: In 2009, he launched X-Energy, which is working on nuclear reactors for Dow Chemical.
In 2009, he launched X-Energy, which is working on nuclear reactors for Dow Chemical. Commercial Space Station: Ghaffarian's company Axiom Space is developing the world's first commercial space station set to launch in 2031.
Ghaffarian's company Axiom Space is developing the world's first commercial space station set to launch in 2031. Previous Venture: He sold SGT, a major NASA contractor, for $355 million in 2018.
Ghaffarian is a shining example of how the richest Iranians are transforming the future of science and space.
5. Isaac Larian – Net Worth: $1.1 Billion
The Toy Tycoon Who Took On Barbie
Isaac Larian | Credit: Forbes
Isaac Larian, the founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment, is a legendary name in the toy industry.
Bratz Dolls: In 2001, MGA launched the hugely popular Bratz dolls, which outsold Barbie in 2005.
In 2001, MGA launched the hugely popular Bratz dolls, which outsold Barbie in 2005. Legal Battle with Mattel: The company had a famous legal battle with Mattel over Bratz, eventually resulting in MGA being awarded $310 million.
The company had a famous legal battle with Mattel over Bratz, eventually resulting in MGA being awarded $310 million. Other Products: MGA also owns Little Tikes and created the hit doll line Lalaloopsy in 2010.
MGA also owns Little Tikes and created the hit doll line Lalaloopsy in 2010. Expansion: Larian has built MGA into the largest privately owned toy company in the world.
His journey from an Iranian immigrant to a US billionaire makes him one of the most inspiring richest people from Iran.
Please note: The source of net worth from Forbes as of June 18, 2025
Iran's Billionaire Influence Goes Beyond Borders
Despite the ongoing Israel Iran war and political instability, these richest persons in Iran show how talent, resilience, and innovation can build global legacies. From tech and toys to finance and space, these richest Iranians have created massive empires and left their mark on the world.
Their stories inspire not just Iranians but aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
29 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet man who overtook Gautam Adani on global rich list, came to US at 21, didn't know English, his name is..., net worth is Rs...
Thomas Peterffy (R) overtook Gautam Adani on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. (File) The United States is known as the 'land of opportunity' as millions of immigrants pour into the country each looking for a better life and wider opportunities. The US has scores of immigrant billionaires who built their fortune from scratch, with some being broke and lacking basic language skills when they arrived in the country. One such individual is Thomas Peterffy, a Hungarian-American billionaire who has overtaken Indian industrialist Gautam Adani on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as the 21st richest person on the planet. Who is Thomas Peterffy? Born during the second world war in Hungary in 1944 in Hungarian capital Budapest, Thomas Peterffy moved to the US in 1965 at the age of 21, as he realized that there was no way to build a better life for himself in the Eastern European country, which had been under Soviet occupation since the 1956 uprising. Peterffy came to the US in search of better opportunities, but was hindered by several impediments as he was essentially broke and struggled with communication because he did not know English. However, despite the hurdles, Peterffy persevered and managed to land a job at an engineering firm in New York, and later volunteered to learn computer programming because he felt it was easier than learning English. How Thomas Peterffy became one of America's wealthiest men? Peterffy's first introduction to Wall Street was as a computer consultant at Aranyi Associates, a company engaged in stock and bond valuation programming. In 1977, over a decade after he came to the US, Peterffy started his first business venture and bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) aka the American Stock Exchange for options trading. Within a year, Peterffy began working on automation to improve the chances of making profitable bids on contracts, and in 1982, established a marketing firm, Timber Hill, which used handheld computers developed by him to track and calculate trades. However, Peterffy's big break came in 1995 when he founded Interactive Brokers, which is today the world's largest online brokerage firm, offering electronic trading facilities for individual investors. The company, headquartered in Greenwich, went public in 2007, leading to a surge in Peterffy's wealth as he owns a three-quarter stake in the firm via IBG Holdings. Peterffy started Interactive Brokers in 1995, which provides electronic trading facilities for individual investors. In 2007, he took the company public. Peterffy, who is 90 years old, now lives in Palm Beach, Florida. His company is headquartered in Greenwich. He has a nearly three-quarter stake in it through his own company IBG Holdings. Thomas Peterffy net worth Today, Thomas Peterffy, 90, who serves as the chairman of Interactive Brokers, is one of the wealthiest individuals in the US and the 21st richest globally, boasting a net worth of $75.8 billion. The veteran stock broker saw his wealth increase by a whopping $22.6 billion in 2025, and has overtaken Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on the global rich list. Notably, Peterffy is considered as being close to US President Donald Trump and had donated $100,000 to Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. He also owns a 18% stake in Newsmax, a pro-Trump news channel, through his holding company Conyers Investments.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Microsoft's new return to office plan: Three-day office attendance or employees can…
Microsoft is set to require employees to work from the office at least three days per week starting January 2025. The new policy will affect employees living within 50 miles of Microsoft's Redmond headquarters, where most of the company's 228,000 global workforce is based. Some teams may face stricter requirements of four or five days in-person, depending on executive decisions, Business Insider reports. The company plans to announce the changes in September, giving workers several months to adapt to the new expectations. While Microsoft will allow employees to apply for exceptions, the approval process and criteria remain unclear. This marks a sharp shift from Microsoft's pandemic-era flexibility, which allowed most workers to spend up to half their time working remotely without manager approval. The Verge notes that many employees had been working from home even more frequently under the relaxed interpretation of company policy. Microsoft joins Big Tech's office comeback wave by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo The move puts Microsoft in line with other tech giants tightening their remote work policies. Amazon now demands five full days in the office, while Google and Meta require three-day attendance. The Verge reports the timing comes as employee morale sits at historic lows following roughly 15,000 layoffs this year, despite Microsoft posting $27 billion in quarterly profits. Industry observers and Microsoft employees are viewing the policy as a form of "stealth layoff," a way to encourage departures without formal terminations, according to sources cited by Business Insider. Workers unwilling to comply with the new attendance rules may choose to leave rather than fight the requirements. The situation creates an awkward contradiction for Microsoft, which markets software enabling remote collaboration and previously promoted hybrid work as beneficial for productivity and employee retention. Practical challenges loom large, with sources reporting that Microsoft's offices already struggle with limited space, power shortages, and insufficient meeting rooms despite a $5 billion campus expansion effort. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
From Kolkata Shop To Global Brand, The Untold Journey Of Manyavar
Ravi Modi founded Manyavar after a disagreement with his father regarding their clothing store in Kolkata. When it comes to wedding outfits and ethnic wear, Manyavar is one of the leading brands in the sector. But few know how Manyavar was established. The story behind the company serves as an inspiration to many budding entrepreneurs. A video going viral on Instagram highlights how the company was started and slowly became a big name in India. Shankar Bhalla, the host of the podcast shankar_unravelled, explained Manyavar's rise. Manyavar: How The Brand Was Founded The owner of the company, Ravi Modi, was a teenager when he started visiting his father's retail clothing store in Kolkata. While understanding the ins and outs of the business, he had an idea – Ravi believed that selling kurtas could be a big opportunity for the shop to earn more profits. His father disagreed. Modi decided to branch out and leave his father's business. He founded Manyavar with only Rs 10,000. One of his strategies to increase sales was not to open his own store, but to convince chains like Big Bazaar to stock his products. The plan worked. Sales increased, and Modi earned over Rs 4 crore in three years. How Manyavar Overcame Problems Soon, Modi realised that companies were not sharing data on changing tastes in attire with him, leaving him with no clarity about what worked and what did not. He then decided to open exclusive Manyavar outlets that collected data by state, city and even pin code. The result? Manyavar became a leading business in the retail sector. Mod has focused on four key values in his business ꟷ the use of technology, transparency, efficiency, and inclusive growth of all stakeholders. According to Forbes, Ravi Modi started Vedant Fashions, the conglomerate under which Manyavar falls, in 2002 in Kolkata. Named after his son, the company manufactured traditional Indian garments. The company has over 660 stores in India and 17 international stores in countries like Canada, the UAE and the US. Modi took Vedant Fashions public in 2022, but being media-shy, did not attend the listing ceremony at the National Stock Exchange. In 2023, he sold 10 per cent of his stake to boost the public holding in Vedant Fashions to 25 per cent, as required by the stock market regulator. Modi has a net worth of $2.1 billion. He was listed at the 96th position in the Forbes list of India's richest in 2024. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
