If you’ve ever slapped together a quick Instagram post or a work presentation using a template that didn't make you want to pull your hair out, you've probably used Canva. And if you've used Canva, you’re part of the reason Melanie Perkins net worth has become one of the most talked-about numbers in the tech world.
Right now, as we move through early 2026, the numbers are staggering. We aren't just talking about "comfortable" money. We are talking about "top of the Forbes list" money. But here’s the thing—Melanie doesn't really seem to care about the cash in the way you’d expect a billionaire to.
Breaking Down the $7.6 Billion Figure
Honestly, tracking a private tech founder’s wealth is a bit like trying to pin a tail on a moving donkey. Since Canva isn't trading on the New York Stock Exchange (yet), her wealth is tied to private valuations.
As of January 2026, Melanie Perkins net worth is estimated at approximately $7.6 billion USD.
Wait. Let’s back up.
A few months ago, in late 2025, Canva did a massive employee share sale. That move valued the company at roughly $42 billion. Because Melanie and her husband, Cliff Obrecht, own a combined stake of about 30% (with Melanie holding roughly 18% personally), her paper wealth shot up. In Australia, the Financial Review often lists the couple together, and their joint wealth is currently hovering around $18.5 billion AUD.
Why the numbers keep jumping
- Secondary Market Growth: Even without an IPO, investors are clamoring for Canva shares. In early January 2026, secondary market data suggested the company’s internal value jumped another 14%, pushing the implied valuation toward $48 billion.
- The "Magic" of AI: Canva’s aggressive push into "Magic Studio" and AI design tools hasn't just kept them relevant; it’s made them a genuine threat to Adobe.
- Profitability: Unlike a lot of tech "unicorns" that just burn cash, Canva actually makes money. Like, a lot of it. They cleared $3.3 billion in revenue in 2025.
From Handmade Scarves to the Giving Pledge
It’s kinda wild to think this all started because Melanie was frustrated while tutoring students on how to use InDesign and Photoshop. She thought those tools were too hard. She was right.
But before the billions, she was a 14-year-old in Perth selling handmade scarves. Then came Fusion Books, a yearbook business she started in her mom’s living room. People often forget that Fusion Books was the "pilot" for Canva. It proved that people wanted simple, drag-and-drop design.
Success didn't happen overnight.
Melanie famously faced over 100 rejections from investors. She even learned how to kitesurf just to fit in with a specific group of venture capitalists (including Bill Tai) at a retreat. Talk about commitment.
The $16 Billion Giveaway
Here is the part most people get wrong about her wealth: she isn't planning on keeping most of it.
In 2021, Melanie and Cliff joined The Giving Pledge. They’ve committed to giving away more than 80% of their stake in the company. Their "Two-Step Plan" is pretty famous in the business world now:
- Become one of the most valuable companies in the world.
- Do the most good they can do.
They aren't waiting until they're 90 to start, either. Through the Canva Foundation, they’ve already poured millions into programs like GiveDirectly, which provides unconditional cash transfers to people living in poverty.
The Anticipated 2026 IPO: The Next Big Leap
The big "if" regarding the future of Melanie Perkins net worth is the IPO.
There has been heavy chatter about Canva finally going public in 2026. If that happens, those paper billions become "real" billions very quickly. Market analysts at firms like Secfi have been tracking the "strike price" and "Fair Market Value" of Canva shares, which have been trending upward significantly.
If Canva debuts on the public market at a valuation of $50 billion or higher—which isn't out of the question given their 240 million monthly active users—Melanie’s net worth could easily eclipse the $10 billion mark individually.
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What Most People Miss About the Canva Empire
It's not just about pretty templates.
Canva has been on an acquisition spree. They bought Affinity (a direct Adobe rival) for about $380 million and snagged Leonardo.ai to bolster their generative AI capabilities.
This isn't just a "design tool" anymore. It’s a full-blown "Visual Worksuite." They are going after Google Docs and Microsoft PowerPoint. When you realize the scale of the "workplace" market, you realize why the valuation is so high.
Is she actually the richest woman in Australia?
It depends on the day and the iron ore prices. She frequently trades spots with Gina Rinehart. While Rinehart’s wealth is built on mining and resources, Perkins represents the "New Australia"—tech-heavy, global, and incredibly fast-moving.
Actionable Insights for Entrepreneurs
You don't get to a multi-billion dollar net worth by accident. Looking at Melanie’s trajectory, there are a few things you can actually apply:
- Solve a "Point of Pain": Melanie didn't set out to "build a unicorn." She set out to make design less annoying for her students.
- The Power of "No": If she had quit after the 50th rejection, Canva wouldn't exist. Rejection is often just a data point, not a stop sign.
- Focus on the Product, Not the Exit: One reason Canva is so valuable is that they focused on being a "local" company in every country. They localized languages, fonts, and templates before their competitors did.
- Equity as a Tool: By launching employee share sales, she’s ensured that "Canvanauts" (their employees) are getting rich alongside her. This builds insane loyalty in a competitive tech market.
The story of Melanie Perkins net worth is really a story about the democratization of design. Whether she ends up worth $5 billion or $50 billion, the impact of the tool she built is already permanent.
If you're looking to track her wealth movement, keep a close eye on the secondary market transactions over the next six months—that’s where the real valuation of Canva is being written before the bell rings on Wall Street.