Tom Golisano Net Worth

Tom Golisano has an estimated net worth of $6.1 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Tom Golisano profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $3.5 billion in 2019.

Tom Golisano is an American businessman best known for starting Paychex, a company that provides payroll and human resources services to businesses. He founded the company in 1971 with $3,000 and a credit card. He led Paychex as president and chief executive officer until 2004, and he stayed involved as a director. Over time, Paychex became the center of his fortune and the main reason he is known in business.

His wealth grew from the payroll services business he built at Paychex, along with later investments and team ownership. He owned the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits from 2003 to 2011, then sold the Sabres in 2011 for $189 million. He also owned Greenlight Networks from 2019 to 2022 after backing its expansion with a $100 million investment. Forbes put his net worth at $6.1 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker as of October 20, 2026.

How Tom Golisano built his fortune

Golisano made his money by creating Paychex and turning it into a large payroll and human resources company. He started it in 1971 with a small amount of money and a credit card, then ran it for decades before stepping down as chief executive officer in 2004. He remained part of the company as a director. Forbes ties his wealth to payroll services, which shows how central Paychex has been to his financial success.

His business activity went beyond Paychex. He owned the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits from 2003 to 2011, and in 2011 he sold the Sabres to Terry Pegula for $189 million. He later owned Greenlight Networks from 2019 to 2022, helping fund its growth with a $100 million investment before selling his controlling equity shares to Oak Hill. He also ran for governor of New York 3 times under the Independence Party of New York.

How Forbes' estimate changed

Forbes has shown large swings in Golisano's fortune over time. On the World's Billionaires List, Forbes estimated him at $3.5 billion in 2019 and $3.2 billion in 2020. The estimate then rose to $4.2 billion in 2021 and $5.4 billion in 2022. After that, Forbes placed him at $4.9 billion in 2023 and $5.6 billion in 2024. Those changes reflect how billionaire estimates can move from year to year.

The biggest recent jump in the Forbes figures came in 2025, when the World's Billionaires List put him at $6.9 billion. In 2026, that list showed $4.9 billion, while Forbes' real-time tracker later placed him at $6.1 billion as of October 20, 2026. The main through line is consistent: his fortune is rooted in the payroll company he founded, with additional value connected to later investments and past sports ownership.