Peter Sperling’s net worth over time
Only dates with a published estimate are shown. Nothing is filled in between. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| 2019 | $1.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $1.5 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $1.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $1.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $1.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $1.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $1.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $2 billion | Forbes Real-Time Billionaires · Forbes real-time estimate |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Peter Sperling’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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Peter Sperling has an estimated net worth of $2 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Peter Sperling profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $1.4 billion in 2019.
Peter Sperling is an American businessman best known for leading Apollo Education Group. He joined the company in 1983, about a decade after his father founded it. Apollo became widely known for the University of Phoenix and its online network. Sperling later took over as chairman in 2001 when his father retired. That role made him a central figure in one of the biggest names in for-profit education.
Most of Sperling’s wealth is tied to education. Apollo Education Group was taken private in a $1.1 billion deal in February 2017, and he stepped down as chairman at that point. After Apollo, he became chairman of CallWave, a communication services company, and held a 19% stake. Forbes tracks his fortune in the service industry and ties it to education, with a current estimate of $2 billion on October 20, 2026.
How Peter Sperling built his fortune
Sperling’s money story starts with Apollo Education Group. He joined the business in 1983, after his father had already launched the University of Phoenix in 1973. Over time, Apollo became closely associated with the school’s online network, which made the company a major name in for-profit education. When his father retired in 2001, Sperling moved into the chairman role and stayed there until the company changed hands.
A major turning point came in February 2017. Apollo Education Group was taken private in a $1.1 billion deal, and Sperling stepped down as chairman. That transaction marked the end of his long run leading the company. He later became chairman of CallWave, a communication services company, where he also held a 19% ownership stake. Those roles explain why Forbes places his wealth in education and the broader service industry.
What Forbes says about his wealth
Forbes has shown a gradual rise in Sperling’s wealth over time. It estimated him at $1.4 billion in 2019, then $1.5 billion in 2020. The estimate moved to $1.6 billion in 2021 and stayed at that level in 2022 and 2023. That pattern points to a fortune that remained substantial even after his exit from Apollo, with education still serving as the main source behind the estimate.
The later updates were higher. Forbes put Sperling at $1.7 billion in 2024, and the same figure appeared again in 2025. On Forbes’ real-time billionaires tracker, he was listed at $2 billion as of October 20, 2026. The available record ties his wealth to education, especially Apollo’s connection to the University of Phoenix, along with his later position at CallWave after the 2017 private deal.
Career and money timeline
- 1973
John Sperling founded the University of Phoenix.
- 1983
Peter Sperling joined Apollo Education.
- 2001
He became chairman when his father retired.
- 2017
Apollo was taken private, and he stepped down as chairman.
- 2026
Forbes' real-time tracker estimated his net worth at $2 billion.
Peter Sperling net worth FAQ
What is Peter Sperling's net worth?
Peter Sperling's net worth is an estimated $2 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Peter Sperling profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Peter Sperling get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Education.
Is Peter Sperling a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Peter Sperling is worth $2 billion.
How has Peter Sperling's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $1.4 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $2 billion (October 20, 2026).
What is Peter Sperling best known for?
He is best known for leading Apollo Education Group as chairman. The company became widely known for the University of Phoenix and its online network.
How did Peter Sperling make his money?
His wealth is mainly tied to education through Apollo Education Group. He later became chairman of CallWave and held a 19% stake there.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Peter Sperling profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Peter Sperling profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Peter Sperling profile (April 7, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Peter Sperling profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Peter Sperling profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Peter Sperling profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Peter Sperling profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Peter Sperling profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Peter Sperling profile (March 10, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Peter Sperling (accessed October 25, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.