Henry Samueli

Henry Samueli
Name	Henry Samueli
Caption	Samueli in 2010
Birth date	20 September 1954
Birth place	Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles (BS, MS, PhD)
Occupation	Electrical engineer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Known for	Co-founding Broadcom, ownership of the Anaheim Ducks
Spouse	Susan Samueli
Net worth	$7.9 billion (April 2024)

Henry Samueli is an American electrical engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known as the co-founder of the global semiconductor giant Broadcom and as the owner of the National Hockey League franchise the Anaheim Ducks. A prolific inventor holding dozens of patents, his technical innovations in radio frequency and mixed-signal integrated circuit design were foundational to the modern Wi-Fi and broadband communications industries. His significant philanthropic efforts, often conducted jointly with his wife Susan Samueli, have profoundly impacted education, healthcare, and the arts, particularly in Southern California.

Early life and education

Born in Buffalo, New York to Jewish parents who were Holocaust survivors, he demonstrated an early aptitude for electronics and engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees all in electrical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, completing his doctorate in 1980. His doctoral research focused on phase-locked loops and frequency synthesizers, areas that would become critical to his future commercial success. Following his graduation, he remained at UCLA as a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he taught and conducted research for over a decade.

Career and Broadcom

In 1991, while still a professor, he co-founded the consulting firm Broadcom Corporation with one of his former UCLA graduate students, Henry T. Nicholas III. The company was formally incorporated in 1995 to commercialize their pioneering work in cable modem technology. Under his leadership as Chief Technology Officer, Broadcom became a dominant force in designing highly integrated semiconductor solutions for the data transmission, digital cable, and wireless networking markets. The company's initial public offering in 1998 was a major event in the dot-com bubble, and its technologies became essential components in products from Apple, Samsung, and numerous other global electronics firms. He served as the company's Chairman and Chief Technology Officer until its acquisition by Avago Technologies in 2016, which subsequently operated under the Broadcom Inc. name.

Philanthropy and community involvement

Through the Samueli Foundation, established with his wife, he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes. A major beneficiary has been his alma mater, UCLA, including a landmark $30 million donation that named the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Other significant gifts have supported the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute at the University of California, Irvine and the Samueli Academy, a college-preparatory charter school in Orange County. His philanthropy also extends to Jewish charities, the performing arts, and numerous civic and cultural institutions throughout Orange County.

Sports ownership

He, along with his wife, purchased the National Hockey League's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from The Walt Disney Company in 2005. The couple immediately changed the franchise's name to the Anaheim Ducks and were instrumental in the team's on-ice success, culminating in a Stanley Cup championship in 2007. He serves as the organization's Alternate Governor to the NHL and has overseen significant investments in the team's home arena, now known as the Honda Center. His tenure is widely credited with bringing stability and a winning tradition to the franchise.

Legal issues and controversies

In 2008, he faced legal scrutiny related to stock option backdating practices at Broadcom Corporation. He was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and faced a criminal trial. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the SEC but maintained the false statement was unintentional. In 2009, a federal judge rejected the plea agreement and took the extraordinary step of dismissing all criminal charges against him, citing prosecutorial misconduct. The SEC civil charges were later settled without any admission of guilt.

Personal life

He is married to Susan Samueli, a prominent philanthropist and advocate for integrative medicine, with whom he has two children. The family resides in Newport Beach, California. An avid yachtsman, he is the owner of the luxury superyacht Aquila. His personal and professional achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the National Academy of Engineering and the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame.

Category:American electrical engineers Category:American billionaires Category:American philanthropists Category:National Hockey League owners Category:1954 births Category:Living people