Ross Perot: Net Worth, Business Legacy, and Political Influence

What Was Ross Perot’s Net Worth?

At the time of his death in 2019, Ross Perot had a net worth of $4 billion. His fortune stemmed primarily from founding and selling major tech companies, as well as strategic investments. Perot was also a two-time U.S. presidential candidate and an influential businessman.

Early Life and Education

• Born: June 27, 1930 – Texarkana, Texas
• Renamed: Changed his name to “Ross” at age 25 to honor his father
• Education:
  • Attended Texarkana Junior College
  • United States Naval Academy (Class of 1953)
• Military Service:
  • Served as a junior officer (1953-1957)
  • Worked on destroyers and aircraft carriers

Business Career & Fortune

IBM to Founding EDS (Electronic Data Systems)

• 1957: Became a top-performing IBM salesman
• 1962: Founded Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
• 1968: EDS went public—share price rose from $16 to $160
• 1984:Sold EDS to General Motors for $2.5 billion
  • Perot personally made $700 million from the sale

Perot Systems & Dell Buyout

• 1988: Founded Perot Systems after leaving GM
• 2009:Sold Perot Systems to Dell for $3.9 billion
  • Perot personally earned $800 million from the deal

Missed Microsoft but Invested in Steve Jobs

• Declined an early investment in Microsoft, which could have made him one of the world’s richest men
• 1988: Invested $20 million in Steve Jobs’ NeXT, which later helped bring Jobs back to Apple

Political Career & Presidential Campaigns

1992 Presidential Run (Independent Candidate)

• Ran against Bill Clinton & George H.W. Bush
• Key platform:
  • Opposed NAFTA (job outsourcing)
  • Advocated for a balanced federal budget
  • Anti-Gulf War stance
• Polls:
  • Led with 39% at one point
  • Finished with 18.9% of the popular vote—highest for a third-party candidate in modern U.S. history

1996 Presidential Run (Reform Party)

• Less successful campaign
• After 1996, stopped running for office and endorsed Republican candidates

Real Estate & Investments

• Dallas Mansion: 8,200 sq. ft., worth $21 million (16-acre property)
• Dallas Properties: Family owns $59 million in real estate
• Bermuda Homes: Owned two oceanfront mansions
• Bel-Air Mansion (Sold to George Lucas in 2017):
  • Bought for $18M (2013), sold for $33.9M (2017)
  • 10,000 sq. ft., originally built in 1929

Death and Legacy

• Died: July 9, 2019 (Leukemia, aged 89)
• Survived by: Wife Margot, five children, and 19 grandchildren
• Legacy: A billionaire entrepreneur, political disruptor, and outspoken advocate for fiscal conservatism

Final Thoughts

Ross Perot was a self-made billionaire and one of America’s most successful businessmen. His presidential campaigns changed U.S. politics, and his business acumen built two billion-dollar companies. While he never became President, his legacy as a business mogul and political maverick remains significant.