Charles Zegar’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 | $2.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $2.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $2.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $3.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $3.9 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $3.8 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $4.1 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $3.6 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.
Charles Zegar’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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Charles Zegar has an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Charles Zegar profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $2.2 billion in 2019.
Charles Zegar is an American businessman and computer programmer best known as one of the four cofounders of Bloomberg LP. He met Michael Bloomberg while both worked at Salomon Brothers. In 1982, Zegar helped launch Innovative Market Systems, the company that later became Bloomberg LP. He led early software development and built the first software used for the company’s terminals. That work helped shape the product that became central to the business.
His wealth comes from Bloomberg LP, a financial information and media company in finance and investments. Zegar earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Long Island University and a master’s degree in computer science from New York University. Forbes currently values him at $3.6 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026. He is also a signatory of the Giving Pledge and gives to Jewish causes and inner-city education through the Zegar Family Foundation.
How Charles Zegar built his fortune
Zegar made his money through Bloomberg LP, where he was one of the four founding partners. The company started in 1982 as Innovative Market Systems and later took the Bloomberg name. Zegar initially led software development. A key part of his role was creating the first software for Bloomberg terminals, which became a core product for the business. His fortune is tied to the company he helped build from its early days.
His education and early career fit that role closely. After earning a master’s degree in computer science at New York University, he worked in finance and met Michael Bloomberg at Salomon Brothers. That connection helped bring him into the founding team. Zegar is also on the board of trustees for New York University. Outside business, he signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.
How Forbes' estimate changed
Forbes has tracked Zegar’s fortune across its annual billionaire rankings. Its estimate was $2.2 billion in 2019 and then $2.1 billion in 2020. After that, the figure moved up to $2.6 billion in 2021, $3 billion in 2022, and $3.4 billion in 2023. Those year-to-year changes followed Forbes’ view of the value of his stake in Bloomberg LP, the company behind his wealth.
The estimate kept rising in later annual lists, reaching $3.9 billion in 2024, slipping to $3.8 billion in 2025, and then climbing to $4.1 billion in 2026. Forbes now shows $3.6 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026. Because his money comes from Bloomberg LP, changes in the estimate reflect how Forbes values that business and Zegar’s ownership interest.
Career and money timeline
- 1982
Zegar became a founding partner of Innovative Market Systems, later renamed Bloomberg LP.
- 2001
He married Merryl Snow, who later joined him in giving through the Zegar Family Foundation.
- 2020
He was ranked No. 353 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America.
- 2026
Forbes' real-time tracker listed his net worth at $3.6 billion on October 20, 2026.
Charles Zegar net worth FAQ
What is Charles Zegar's net worth?
Charles Zegar's net worth is an estimated $3.6 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Charles Zegar profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Charles Zegar get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Bloomberg LP.
Is Charles Zegar a billionaire?
Yes. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires estimates Charles Zegar is worth $3.6 billion.
How has Charles Zegar's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $2.2 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $3.6 billion (October 20, 2026).
What is Charles Zegar known for at Bloomberg?
He is known as one of Bloomberg LP’s four cofounders and for building the first software for the company’s terminals.
Where does Charles Zegar's money come from?
His fortune comes from Bloomberg LP, the financial information and media company he helped start in 1982.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Charles Zegar profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Charles Zegar profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Charles Zegar profile (April 7, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Charles Zegar profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Charles Zegar profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Charles Zegar profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Charles Zegar profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Charles Zegar profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Charles Zegar 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, Charles Zegar (accessed October 24, 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.