Cliff Obrecht

Cliff Obrecht
Born1985 or 1986 (age 39–40)[1]
EducationUniversity of Western Australia
TitleCo-founder and COO, Canva
Spouse
(m. 2021)

Clifford Obrecht (born 1985 or 1986) is an Australian technology entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder of Canva, which he founded with Melanie Perkins and Cameron Adams. Obrecht owns 18% of the company and serves as its chief operating officer (COO).[1]

Early life and education

Clifford was born to Stan Obrecht, a government employee and Mary Obrecht, a school teacher.[2] He grew up in Kingsley, a suburb to the north of Perth.[2]

Obrecht earned a degree in Arts and Education from the University of Western Australia.[1][3]

Personal life

In January 2021, he married Melanie Perkins on Rottnest Island.[1][2]

Net worth

Obrecht first appeared on The Australian Financial Review Rich List in 2020 with a net worth of A$3.43 billion.[note a][4] As of May 2025, the Australian Financial Review assessed his and Perkins' joint net worth as A$14.14 billion, on the 2025 Rich List; making them the sixth wealthiest Australians.[5] As of February 2026, Forbes assessed his net worth at US$7.6 billion.[1]

Year Financial Review
Rich List[note a]
Forbes
Australia's 50 Richest
Rank Net worth (A$) Rank Net worth (US$)
2019[6][7] n/a not listed n/a not listed
2020[4] 26 $3.43 billion
2021[8] 10 $7.98 billion
2022[1] 8 $13.80 billion $6.5 billion
2023[9] 9 $13.18 billion
2024[10] 10 $13.62 billion
2025[5] 6 $14.14 billion
Legend
Icon Description
Has not changed from the previous year
Has increased from the previous year
Has decreased from the previous year

Notes

  • ^[note a] : Obrecht's net worth is assessed in Financial Review Rich List as being held jointly with his spouse and business partner, Melanie Perkins.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Forbes profile: Cliff Obrecht". Forbes. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Sier, Jessica (25 February 2022). "The yin and yang that made Canva a $55b behemoth". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Cliff Obrecht talks Canva, start-ups and the road to success". www.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (30 October 2020). "The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed". The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Redrup, Yolanda (30 May 2025). "Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed, fortunes blow past $667b". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  6. ^ Bailey, Michael (30 May 2019). "Australia's 200 richest people revealed". The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. ^ "2019 Australia's 50 Richest". Forbes Asia. January 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  8. ^ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (27 May 2021). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  9. ^ Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (26 May 2023). "The 200 richest people in Australia revealed". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  10. ^ Redrup, Yolanda; Bailey, Michael (30 May 2024). "Australia's wealthiest 200 now control $625b". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 18 September 2024.