James Truchard’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 |
| 2018 | $1.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018 |
| 2019 | $1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2024 | $1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $1.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $1.2 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.
James Truchard’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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James Truchard has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, James Truchard profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $1.1 billion in 2018.
James Truchard is an American electrical engineer and the cofounder of National Instruments, a maker of test and measurement equipment and software for scientists and engineers. Born on June 25, 1943, in Austin County, Texas, he was the fourth of seven children. He earned degrees in physics and a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, finishing his doctorate in 1974.
After his studies he worked as managing director of the acoustical measurements division at the university's applied research lab. Seeing little room to move up, he decided to build his own job. In 1976, working in the garage of his home with colleagues Jeff Kodosky and Bill Nowlin, he cofounded National Instruments. Employees came to know him as Dr. T, a down to earth boss who sat in a cubicle. He has also been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences for his engineering work.
How James Truchard made his money
Truchard's fortune comes from National Instruments. The company began by designing an interface board, and by 1979 sales had reached $300,000, enough for him to leave the university and work on the business full time. In 1986 he and Kodosky played a key role in creating LabVIEW, graphical software that let engineers quickly build measurement and automation tools.
LabVIEW helped secure the company's future, and National Instruments grew for decades with Truchard as its only CEO. He retired as president and CEO on January 1, 2017, and later left the chairman role. In 2023 the company was acquired by manufacturing giant Emerson Electric, turning his long held stake into a large payout.
How Forbes has valued James Truchard
Forbes first listed Truchard as a billionaire in 2018 at $1.1 billion. A year later his estimate was $1 billion. He then dropped off the list for several years before returning in 2024 at $1 billion, and Forbes held him at that level again in 2025.
His figure edged up on the 2026 list to $1.2 billion, and the real-time tracker still showed $1.2 billion as of October 20, 2026. Outside business he is known for honors such as election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007. He also loves gardening and photography and published a book about his Hill Country garden in 2013.
Career and money timeline
- 1974
Truchard earned a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
- 1976
He cofounded National Instruments in his garage with two colleagues.
- 1986
He helped develop LabVIEW graphical development software.
- 2007
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
- 2017
He retired as president and CEO of National Instruments.
- 2023
Emerson Electric acquired National Instruments.
James Truchard net worth FAQ
What is James Truchard's net worth?
James Truchard's net worth is an estimated $1.2 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, James Truchard profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did James Truchard get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: software.
Is James Truchard a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates James Truchard is worth $1.2 billion.
How has James Truchard's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $1.1 billion (2018, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018). The latest is $1.2 billion (October 20, 2026).
What is LabVIEW?
LabVIEW is graphical development software from National Instruments that lets scientists and engineers quickly build measurement and automation solutions. Truchard helped create it in 1986.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, James Truchard profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2018, James Truchard profile (March 6, 2018)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, James Truchard profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, James Truchard profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, James Truchard profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, James Truchard 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, James Truchard (accessed October 28, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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.