Dan Cathy’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 | $6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019 |
| 2020 | $3.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020 |
| 2021 | $8.3 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021 |
| 2022 | $4.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022 |
| 2023 | $6.6 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023 |
| 2024 | $11.2 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024 |
| 2025 | $11.4 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025 |
| 2026 | $13.7 billion | Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026 |
| Oct 2026 | $12 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.
Dan Cathy’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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Dan Cathy has an estimated net worth of $12 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Dan Cathy profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $6 billion in 2019.
Dan Cathy is an American businessman best known as chairman of Chick-fil-A. He grew up around the restaurant business and did small jobs in his father’s restaurants as a kid. In the late 1960s, he also made radio commercials for the original Dwarf House in Hapeville, Georgia. After earning a business administration degree from Georgia Southern University in 1975, he joined the family company full time as Chick-fil-A kept expanding.
His wealth is tied to Chick-fil-A, the chicken chain his father founded in 1967. Cathy started in operations and later moved into the top job. He became chairman and CEO in 2013, then stepped down as CEO in late 2021 while staying on as chairman. His brother Bubba Cathy serves as executive vice president, and his son Andrew Cathy became CEO in 2021. Forbes put Cathy’s net worth at $12 billion on its real-time tracker on October 20, 2026.
How Dan Cathy built his fortune
Cathy’s money comes from Chick-fil-A, the fast-food company his father, Truett Cathy, founded in 1967. He was involved early, first helping with basic restaurant work and later doing radio ads for the family’s original Dwarf House. After college in 1975, he went to work for the company full time. That gave him a direct role in a growing restaurant chain that expanded across Georgia and beyond.
Inside the business, Cathy rose from director of operations to chairman and CEO in 2013. He spent much of his time visiting the chain’s 2,000 restaurants, staying close to operators and day-to-day performance. In late 2021, he stepped down as CEO but remained chairman of the board, while Andrew Cathy took over the chief executive role. His fortune remains closely connected to the value and strength of Chick-fil-A.
Forbes net worth picture
Forbes has shown big swings in Cathy’s estimated wealth over time. It placed him at $6 billion in 2019, then $3.4 billion in 2020. The estimate jumped to $8.3 billion in 2021, moved to $4.6 billion in 2022, and rose again to $6.6 billion in 2023. Those changes track the market’s view of a large private restaurant business and Cathy’s stake in it.
The estimate moved sharply higher after that. Forbes listed Cathy at $11.2 billion in 2024, then $11.4 billion in 2025, and $13.7 billion in 2026 on its annual billionaires list. As of October 20, 2026, Forbes showed him at $12 billion on its real-time tracker. His money story is still centered on one company: Chick-fil-A, a major name in food and beverage.
Career and money timeline
- 1967
Chick-fil-A was founded by his father, Truett Cathy.
- 1975
He earned a business administration degree and joined the company full time.
- 2013
He became chairman and CEO of Chick-fil-A.
- 2021
He stepped down as CEO, and Andrew Cathy took over that role.
- 2022
He was inducted as a Georgia Trustee.
Dan Cathy net worth FAQ
What is Dan Cathy's net worth?
Dan Cathy's net worth is an estimated $12 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Dan Cathy profile (October 20, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Dan Cathy get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Chick-fil-A.
How has Dan Cathy's net worth changed?
The earliest published estimate we track is $6 billion (2019, Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019). The latest is $12 billion (October 20, 2026).
What company is Dan Cathy known for?
He is best known for Chick-fil-A. He serves as chairman of the chicken chain founded by his father.
Is Dan Cathy still running Chick-fil-A day to day?
He is no longer CEO. He stepped down in late 2021 and remained chairman of the board.
Sources
- Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Dan Cathy profile (October 20, 2026)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2019, Dan Cathy profile (March 5, 2019)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2020, Dan Cathy profile (April 8, 2020)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2021, Dan Cathy profile (April 6, 2021)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2022, Dan Cathy profile (April 5, 2022)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2023, Dan Cathy profile (April 4, 2023)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2024, Dan Cathy profile (April 2, 2024)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2025, Dan Cathy profile (April 2025)
- Forbes World's Billionaires List 2026, Dan Cathy 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, Dan Cathy (accessed October 21, 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.