Behdad Eghbali Net Worth

Behdad Eghbali has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Behdad Eghbali profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $2 billion in 2020.

Behdad Eghbali is an Iranian-American businessman and investor known for cofounding Clearlake Capital. He started in investment banking in Morgan Stanley's technology group, then moved into private equity at TPG Capital, where he worked on buyouts and turnarounds for several years. In 2006, he and Jose E. Feliciano launched Clearlake. The firm grew into a major player in finance and investments, with a focus on software, industrial, and consumer products companies.

His wealth comes from private equity and from helping build Clearlake into a large investment firm. Forbes tracks him as self-made. Clearlake manages more than $185 billion in assets and became widely known for strong returns. The firm also entered sports in 2022, when it joined Todd Boehly in the purchase of Chelsea FC. Eghbali is also one of the more visible owners tied to that deal and serves on several portfolio company boards.

How Behdad Eghbali built his fortune

Eghbali made his money in private equity. After working in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, he joined TPG Capital in San Francisco and focused on buyouts and turnarounds. That background helped set up his next move. In 2006, he cofounded Clearlake Capital with Jose E. Feliciano. The firm went on to invest across software, industrial, and consumer products businesses, which became the center of his career and wealth.

Clearlake expanded far beyond a small buyout shop. Forbes notes that the firm has more than $185 billion in assets under management and is known for some of the industry's best returns. Eghbali also sits on boards across Clearlake's portfolio, including Chelsea Football Club, Confluence, Constant Contact, Cornerstone OnDemand, DigiCert, Diligent, EagleView, Ivanti, Newfold Digital, Perforce, and Quest. In 2025, Clearlake also launched Clearlake Credit and acquired Pathway Capital Management.

Forbes net worth and money snapshot

Forbes has tracked a big rise in Eghbali's fortune over time. It estimated his net worth at $2 billion in 2020, then $3 billion in 2021, $3.4 billion in 2022, and $4.3 billion in 2023. The next year, Forbes put him at $3.8 billion before lifting the estimate again. Those moves line up with his ownership in Clearlake, a fast-growing private equity firm with a broad investment footprint.

The latest Forbes estimate is $4.5 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026. Forbes also placed him at $4.4 billion in 2025 and $3.9 billion on its 2026 World's Billionaires list. His money story is closely tied to Clearlake's size, returns, and deal activity, including large acquisitions and its push into new areas like credit. Forbes categorizes his wealth in finance and investments.