David Gardner
- Net worth $60 million
- Status -
- Country United States
- Source(-s) of wealth Author, Investor
How much is David Gardner Worth? David Gardner Net Worth in 2026
David Gardner’s net worth is estimated at $60 million as of November 2026, within a range of $25 million to $120 million. The Motley Fool began in 1993 as a print newsletter in a backyard shed in Alexandria, Virginia, and an April Fool’s joke in 1994 put it on the map. The company is private, and nobody has published its revenue. This is a rough estimate: little of the money is documented, and it rests on headcount.
| Net worth | $60 million (rough estimate, range $25 million to $120 million) |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Known for | Co-founding The Motley Fool with his brother Tom Gardner |
| Main income sources | Co-ownership of the company, subscription revenue, books |
How much is David Gardner worth in 2026?
We put Gardner at about $60 million. The firm is a private limited company with no published accounts. We assume a revenue figure from headcount, value the company on it, and give David a share. He stopped making stock picks for its subscriber services in 2021 and stays on as a board member and host of its Rule Breaker Investing podcast.
How David Gardner built it
- Started with a newsletter. The Motley Fool began in July 1993 as a print newsletter written in a backyard shed in Alexandria, Virginia.
- Switched to subscriptions. The company moved to a subscription model in February 2002 and launched Stock Advisor.
- Kept adding products. The Ascent launched in August 2018 and Millionacres in September 2019.
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Get the Alux appHow we got to $60 million
| Source | Our estimate | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|
| David’s share of The Motley Fool | $50 million | Assumption, built from headcount. Wikipedia lists more than 300 employees worldwide. At about $400,000 of revenue per employee, which is our guess for a subscription publisher, that is about $120 million a year. Valued at roughly 2.5 times revenue that is $300 million, and we give David one sixth. |
| Books and speaking | $3 million | Assumption. The Motley Fool Investment Guide came out in 1996 and Rule Breaker Investing in 2025. Royalties are not public. |
| Savings and other holdings | $7 million | Assumption. Nothing is disclosed. |
| Total | $60 million | Sum of the three rows. |
The headcount is documented. Revenue per employee, the multiple and the ownership share are our assumptions, which is why the range is wide.
Why one sixth
The company was started in July 1993 by David and Tom Gardner with Todd Etter and Erik Rydholm, per Wikipedia, and it is privately owned. Four founders do not mean four equal shares, and we found no ownership table. We assume the brothers together hold about a third, split evenly, with the other founders, staff and any outside holders owning the rest. That gives David one sixth, and one sixth of $300 million is $50 million (our calculation: $300 million divided by 6). If the brothers held two thirds between them, his row would double to $100 million.
The subscription turn
The Fool cut 80 percent of its staff in three rounds during the dot-com bust, then moved to a subscription model in February 2002, launching Stock Advisor at the same time. Later products included The Ascent in August 2018 and Millionacres in September 2019. The company’s own site describes it as fully remote and as serving millions of people. Its profile of David also names him chairman of The Motley Fool Foundation and an advisor at Motley Fool Ventures.
Why other estimates disagree
Public figures for Gardner rarely explain how they were reached, and the company publishes no accounts to check them against. We state the headcount, the guesses and the multiple, so you can change them and see the effect.
What would move the figure
A disclosed revenue figure for The Motley Fool would replace our biggest guess. We found no public sale or outside round. The latest dated fact we could document is his 2025 book, Rule Breaker Investing, rather than any 2026 event.
David Gardner net worth FAQ
When was The Motley Fool founded?
In July 1993 by David and Tom Gardner, with Todd Etter and Erik Rydholm. The 1994 April Fool’s hoax put the company on the map.
Who owns it?
It is privately owned by The Motley Fool, LLC. Ownership percentages are not public.
How many people work there?
Over 300 worldwide, according to Wikipedia, which gives no date, so the number may be out of date.
What books has David Gardner written?
The Motley Fool Investment Guide in 1996, with his brother Tom, and Rule Breaker Investing in 2025.
When did it become a subscription business?
In February 2002, when Stock Advisor also launched.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: November 2026.