Chris Larsen, co-founder and chairman of Ripple, has officially secured a spot among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with his fortune now surpassing $15 billion. This surge comes as Ripple has seen strong performance, largely due to the favorable resolution of its legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the increasing appeal of cryptocurrency in the global market.
The company recently completed a $500 million strategic investment round, led by top financial institutions like Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, raising Ripple’s valuation to $40 billion.
This, combined with a 9% increase in XRP’s price this year, has significantly contributed to Larsen’s growing wealth, solidifying his place among the world’s top 200 richest people.
Larsen’s Wealth Driven by Ripple’s Success and Growing Influence
Larsen’s wealth is largely tied to his 18% stake in Ripple and 2.7 billion XRP holdings, worth approximately $6.3 billion. In addition, his real estate and other investments amount to about $1.8 billion. Larsen’s involvement with Ripple dates back to 2012 when he co-founded the company, originally called OpenCoin.
Chris Larsen served as CEO until 2016 and then moved to the role of executive chairman. Under his leadership, Ripple has experienced significant growth, with a rapidly expanding customer base and an increasing adoption of its solutions.
The company’s strong performance is also attributed to growing regulatory clarity in the U.S. and a rising demand for stablecoin-based payments. These factors have further enhanced Ripple’s acceptance in both domestic and international markets.
Ripple’s Growing Influence and Future Outlook
Ripple’s expansion has accelerated since the SEC settlement in 2023, which cleared the way for further XRP trading in the U.S. The settlement revived investor confidence and attracted significant institutional interest. XRP’s transaction volume surged by 32.3% month-over-month, as Ripple strengthens its partnerships with central banks and fintech companies.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has indicated plans for a potential IPO by 2026, which could further boost Larsen’s wealth. The company’s recent collaborations with major players like Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini to launch XRP Ledger-powered fiat credit card payments highlight Ripple’s expanding presence in the financial sector.
Chris Larsen’s impressive financial growth is not just a reflection of Ripple’s success but also of his strategic investments, positioning him as one of the wealthiest individuals globally.