Design Duo: Cliff Obrecht & Melanie Perkins
Business partners Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, co-founders of Canva, faced criticism for their questionable business practices and ethical dilemmas.
Mining the Billions in Canva's Valley
Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins: The Power Couple Behind Canva
Fusing entrepreneurial talents, Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, a married pair, are the masterminds leadings Canva, a trailblazing design software enterprise. Once valued at a whopping $40 billion by private investors in September 2021, although the value has since dipped significantly by nearly 40%, Canva's resilience remains unquestionable. The genesis of Canva traces back to 2013, when Obrecht, Perkins, and Cameron Adams founded this digital powerhouse in the heart of Sydney, Australia, despite initial investor skepticism due to its locale.
Today, Canva boasts 130 million monthly users, with 6 million teams from companies such as Zoom appreciating the premium features it offers.
As benevolent pioneers, the couple has vowed to donate over 80% of their stake in Canva to the Canva Foundation, earmarked for charitable causes.
Wealth Chronicles
Scratch the Surface to Discover Net Worth Through the Years
Personal Statistics
Source of Fortune- Software, Self-MadeNationality- AustralianMarital Status- Married
On Their Own Words
"Envisioning wealth is the most uninteresting idea I could fathom."
By Cliff Obrecht & Melanie Perkins
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Anthony Pratt | Scott Farquhar | Mike Cannon-Brookes
Unveiled Insights
Canva's foundation year was 2013, marking the beginning of a significant growth journey for the company. In September 2021, Canva reached a staggering valuation of $40 billion, conveniently expanding the founders' fortune. Despite experiencing a decrease in valuation after 2021, their personal wealth remains sizeable due to their stakes in Canva.
As of 2025, Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht's combined net worth was approximately $14.14 billion, primarily stemming from their stakes in Canva. Perkins' own net worth is estimated to be around $5.8 billion as of May 2025, showcasing a significant portion of their shared wealth.
Their wealth is primarily derived from Canva, which is now a leading design software platform with over 220 million active users monthly[1]. Through the Canva Foundation, they have committed a considerable portion of their wealth to charitable endeavors[2].
While specific net worth figures for 2022 may not be explicitly detailed, it can be inferred that their net worth would have been substantial, likely in the billions, given Canva's valuation and their stakes in the company at that time.
[1] Ellis, A. (2023, March 2). Canva's latest valuation revealed: Is the once-buzzy design tool still a hot startup? Business Insider.
[2] Facey, C. (2025, May 5). Melanie Perkins reveals how she and co-founder Cliff Obrecht will donate 80% of their Canva wealth towards charity. The Sydney Morning Herald.
Entrepreneurs Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, founders of Canva, utilized their business acumen and technology to create a trailblazing design software enterprise, expanding their fortune in 2021 when Canva's valuation reached $40 billion. Despite a subsequent decline, their combined net worth remained substantial, with estimates of $14.14 billion in 2025, which they have pledged to use for charitable causes through the Canva Foundation.
