richest in canada

Ontario family worth a staggering $71 billion just keeps getting richer

The Ontario family overseeing one of the world's largest media empires ranks among the wealthiest in the world, and managed to accumulate over $10B in additional riches over just the past few months alone.

British-Canadian media magnate David Thomson (3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet) and his family rank as the 22nd richest on Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list, a position the Thomsons have held since 2023 on the running index of the wealthiest individuals and families around the globe.

Back in January 2024, the Thomson family empire was worth $60.4 billion (all figures in USD). That figure had increased to $67.8B by April.

As of May 7, the Thomson empire's value has swollen even more to $71B, cementing the family's position as the richest in Canada. Over $10B has been added to the family fortune so far this year.

The Thomson family has amassed this wealth through its control of The Woodbridge Company, the parent company of the Thomson Reuters media empire founded by Roy Thomson 90 years ago.

Thomson's business has since grown to span the globe, with media interests around the world that contribute to the family's ever-increasing wealth.

Despite his role as the patriarch in Canada's richest family, the 66-year-old David Thomson has kept a low profile since assuming the helm of the empire following his father's passing in 2006.

A Financial Post profile described the media baron as the "mysterious" and "reluctant" head of the Thomson empire, a role most of us would happy to take for just a tiny fraction of that $71 billion, if he's offering.

Lead photo by

eskystudio/Shutterstock


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Toronto's Love Park pond just got drained because of someone's dumb stunt

Family of flies native to Ontario has a potent neurotoxic bite and even eats birds

These Ontario companies were voted among best places to work in Canada for 2024

Toronto just agreed on a solution to nightmare gridlock traffic on Spadina

Man walks on water in giant bubble to protest the loss of a Toronto beach

Canadians could cash in on proposed prescription antibiotics class action

Toronto to spend a combined $135 million on new island ferries and other upgrades

Toronto might be getting 'relief' ferries to handle overwhelming island crowds