Melanie Perkins is an Australian technology entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Canva, the visual communication and design platform. She co-founded Canva with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, turning an early idea about making design easier into a global technology business.
Melanie Perkins Net Worth
Melanie Perkins’ net worth is not a fixed public figure because much of her wealth is connected to her ownership interest in private company Canva. Current estimates vary depending on Canva’s valuation and the value attributed to her stake.
A September 2026 estimate from Grizzly Bulls puts Perkins’ net worth at approximately $7.56 billion. Forbes-based reporting cited by that source also places her among Australia’s wealthiest technology entrepreneurs.
Other recent reporting has produced different figures, highlighting why celebrity and billionaire net-worth estimates should be treated as estimates rather than exact personal financial statements. For example, Inside Philanthropy reported in August 2026 that Perkins and her husband, Cliff Obrecht, had a combined estimated wealth of about $15.1 billion.
Melanie Perkins Business Career
Perkins’ entrepreneurial journey started before Canva. At age 14, she began selling handmade scarves at shops and markets in Perth. She later became interested in simplifying graphic design and co-founded Fusion Books, a web-based yearbook publishing business.
The experience with Fusion Books helped Perkins develop the idea for a broader online design platform. Canva launched publicly in 2013, with Perkins serving as CEO alongside co-founders Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams.
Canva Business
Canva’s business focuses on making visual creation accessible to individuals, businesses, educators, nonprofits, and organizations. The platform has expanded beyond traditional graphic design into presentations, documents, websites, visual content, AI-powered tools, and business collaboration features.
Canva has also increasingly focused on enterprise customers. Fortune reported that Canva’s business segment grew significantly in 2025, while the company continued expanding its AI and productivity products under Perkins’ leadership.
Canva’s private-company valuation has changed over time. The company reached a $1 billion valuation after a 2018 funding round, and later funding rounds placed its valuation substantially higher.
How Melanie Perkins Made Her Money
Perkins’ wealth is primarily associated with her ownership in Canva rather than a conventional executive salary. As Canva’s valuation increased, the value of her private-company stake increased as well.
Because Canva remains a private company, the exact value of Perkins’ current ownership stake and her personal liquid assets are not publicly disclosed in the same way as those of executives at publicly traded companies.
Melanie Perkins and Philanthropy
Perkins and Cliff Obrecht have also committed significant resources to philanthropy. Fortune reported in 2026 that the couple had committed to donating the vast majority of their shares, representing roughly 30% of Canva’s total value, to the Canva Foundation.
Canva also provides programs for nonprofits and educational institutions. The company says its social-impact work includes free access to Canva for qualifying nonprofits and education users.
Melanie Perkins’ Business Lessons
Melanie Perkins’ career demonstrates how a relatively focused business idea can develop into a much larger technology company. Her experience with Fusion Books helped identify a broader problem in the design market, which eventually led to Canva.
Her business story includes several major stages: launching Fusion Books, developing the concept for Canva, finding co-founders and investors, launching Canva globally, and expanding the platform into business collaboration and AI-powered creative tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Melanie Perkins’ net worth?
Current estimates vary. A September 2026 estimate places Melanie Perkins’ net worth at approximately $7.56 billion, but private-company wealth estimates can change with Canva’s valuation and ownership calculations.
What business does Melanie Perkins own?
Melanie Perkins is the co-founder and CEO of Canva, a global visual communication and design platform.
How did Melanie Perkins start her business career?
She started selling handmade scarves at age 14 and later co-founded Fusion Books, a yearbook publishing business, before creating Canva.
When was Canva founded?
Canva was launched publicly in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams.
Is Melanie Perkins a billionaire?
Yes. Current wealth estimates place her in the billionaire category, although the exact figure varies because Canva is privately held.
