Ryan Smith

Age: 47

Source of Wealth: Cloud computing, Self Made

Residence: Provo, Utah

Citizenship: United States

Marital Status: Married

Children: 5

Education: Bachelor of Science, Brigham Young University

Key Milestones: Co-founded Qualtrics (2002), sold to SAP ($8B, 2019), led Utah Jazz acquisition ($1.66B, 2020), Qualtrics taken private by Silver Lake (2023).

Ryan Smith’s personal profile reflects a disciplined, family-oriented approach to wealth creation and stewardship. At 47, he has already navigated multiple high-stakes exits and reinvestments, a rarity among self-made billionaires. His educational background at Brigham Young University — known for its emphasis on entrepreneurship and ethics — likely shaped his long-term, community-focused strategy. Married with five children, Smith’s personal life appears anchored in Utah, where he has chosen to build both his business empire and civic legacy.

His decision to acquire the Utah Jazz — and commit to keeping it in the state — signals a departure from the typical tech founder playbook. Rather than relocating to Silicon Valley or New York, Smith has doubled down on Utah’s tech and sports ecosystem, positioning himself as a regional power broker. This choice carries both financial and reputational risks: sports franchises are capital-intensive, subject to league dynamics, and require constant reinvestment. However, it also offers unique advantages — local loyalty, media exposure, and the ability to shape a brand narrative that transcends traditional tech metrics.

Smith’s involvement in initiatives like the Utah Hockey Club and partnerships with figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds suggest a broader ambition: to use his platform to influence culture, technology, and community development. His recent pivot to AI-driven frontline worker tools (via Mura) further demonstrates a pattern of identifying underserved markets and applying tech solutions — a skill honed during his Qualtrics years. Whether in cloud software, professional sports, or workforce innovation, Smith’s career is defined by a consistent theme: building systems that scale, then leveraging their success to create new opportunities.

Ryan Smith’s net worth, as of April 2025, is estimated at approximately $1.5 billion, placing him at #1546 on the global billionaire list. This valuation is derived primarily from his ownership stake in Qualtrics, the cloud-based experience management software company he co-founded in 2002, and his controlling interest in the Utah Jazz NBA franchise, acquired in 2020 for $1.66 billion. While public filings do not disclose the exact percentage of Qualtrics Smith retains after its acquisition by SAP in 2019 and subsequent spin-out and private equity buyout in 2023, it is widely reported that he retained a significant equity position. The valuation of his stake in Qualtrics is subject to private market fluctuations and is not publicly traded, making precise net worth calculations speculative. His ownership of the Utah Jazz, a team with strong local fan support and a growing national profile, adds substantial value to his portfolio, though NBA team valuations are typically based on revenue multiples, media rights, and arena economics rather than direct public market pricing.

Smith’s wealth is also influenced by his role as the founder of LeafLink, a cannabis industry wholesale marketplace valued at $800 million before he exited the business. Although he no longer holds equity in LeafLink, the sale likely contributed to his liquid capital and provided a foundation for subsequent investments. His current ventures, including Mura, an AI-driven platform for blue-collar workers, suggest a continued focus on technology-enabled marketplaces and scalable software solutions. Unlike traditional asset-based wealth, Smith’s net worth is largely tied to equity in private and public companies, making it sensitive to market sentiment, revenue growth, and macroeconomic conditions. His wealth is not derived from dividends or passive income but from capital appreciation and strategic exits, a hallmark of tech entrepreneurship.

It is important to note that ’ net worth estimates are based on publicly available information and may not reflect private transactions, undisclosed holdings, or non-liquid assets. Smith’s wealth is also affected by his personal expenditures, philanthropy, and family obligations — he is married with five children and resides in Provo, Utah. His educational background from Brigham Young University, combined with his entrepreneurial track record, positions him as a self-made billionaire with deep roots in Utah’s tech ecosystem. While his net worth may fluctuate with market conditions, his diversified portfolio across tech, sports, and emerging sectors provides a degree of resilience against sector-specific downturns.

Ryan Smith’s wealth trajectory is a textbook case of tech entrepreneurship leading to generational wealth creation. His journey began in 2002 when, at the age of 24, he co-founded Qualtrics with his brother Jared and father Scott. The company, initially bootstrapped and focused on customer and employee feedback software, grew steadily over the next decade, becoming a leader in the experience management (XM) space. By 2019, Qualtrics was preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) with a projected valuation of $8 billion. However, just three days before the scheduled IPO, German software giant SAP acquired the company for $8 billion in cash. This acquisition marked Smith’s first major liquidity event, likely netting him hundreds of millions of dollars, though the exact amount is not publicly disclosed.

Following the SAP acquisition, Smith retained a significant equity stake in Qualtrics. In 2021, SAP spun out Qualtrics as a standalone public company, listing it on the Nasdaq under the ticker “XM.” This move allowed Smith to potentially monetize his shares through secondary offerings or market sales, though no public filings confirm such transactions. In 2023, private equity firm Silver Lake acquired Qualtrics in a $12.5 billion deal, taking the company private once again. This transaction likely provided Smith with another liquidity opportunity, either through a partial or full sale of his shares. The exact terms of his participation in the Silver Lake deal are not publicly available, but given his co-founder status and long-term involvement, it is reasonable to assume he received a substantial payout.

Simultaneously, Smith expanded his portfolio into sports ownership. In October 2020, he led a group to acquire the Utah Jazz NBA franchise for $1.66 billion, making him one of the youngest NBA team owners at the time. The acquisition was notable not only for its size but also for its timing — it occurred during the pandemic, when many sports franchises were facing financial uncertainty. Smith’s ability to secure financing and complete the deal underscored his credibility as a business leader and his deep ties to Utah’s business community. The Jazz’s value has since appreciated, with NBA team valuations rising due to increased media rights deals and expanded revenue streams from digital platforms and sponsorships.

Smith’s wealth history also includes his founding of LeafLink, a B2B cannabis marketplace that reached an $800 million valuation before he exited the business. While the exact financial details of his departure are not public, the sale likely contributed to his liquid capital and provided a foundation for subsequent investments. His current ventures, including Mura, an AI-driven platform for frontline workers, suggest a continued focus on technology-enabled marketplaces and scalable software solutions. Unlike traditional asset-based wealth, Smith’s net worth is largely tied to equity in private and public companies, making it sensitive to market sentiment, revenue growth, and macroeconomic conditions. His wealth is not derived from dividends or passive income but from capital appreciation and strategic exits, a hallmark of tech entrepreneurship.

Smith’s wealth history is also shaped by his personal life and philanthropy. He is married with five children and resides in Provo, Utah, where he has invested in local infrastructure and community initiatives. His involvement in the Utah Jazz extends beyond ownership — he has positioned the team as a “front door to Utah,” leveraging its platform to promote social causes and economic development. His wealth is not static; it is actively managed through a combination of strategic investments, exits, and reinvestments in high-growth sectors. While his net worth may fluctuate with market conditions, his diversified portfolio across tech, sports, and emerging sectors provides a degree of resilience against sector-specific downturns.

Dietmar Hopp & family: German software entrepreneur and co-founder of SAP. Hopp’s early investment in SAP and subsequent philanthropy in sports (notably TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) parallels Smith’s blend of tech success and sports ownership. Both leverage corporate wealth to influence local communities through sports.

Hans-Werner Hector: Another SAP co-founder, Hector’s career trajectory — from enterprise software to venture investing — mirrors Smith’s post-exit activities. Both have transitioned from operational roles to strategic capital allocation, focusing on growth-stage companies and experiential assets.

Hasso Plattner & family: SAP co-founder and major shareholder, Plattner’s ownership of the San Jose Sharks (NHL) and investment in sports technology aligns with Smith’s Utah Jazz ownership. Both combine tech infrastructure expertise with sports management, using data and analytics to enhance fan engagement and team performance.

Scott Smith: Ryan’s father and co-founder of Qualtrics, Scott represents the family entrepreneurship model. His involvement in the company’s early stages and continued association with its success underscores the role of familial collaboration in building scalable tech ventures.

Ryan Smith was born and raised in Utah, where he developed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship. He attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His educational background provided him with a strong foundation in business and technology, which he would later apply to his entrepreneurial ventures. Smith’s early exposure to the tech industry, combined with his family’s entrepreneurial spirit, shaped his approach to business and innovation. His father, Scott Smith, and brother, Jared Smith, were instrumental in the founding of Qualtrics, a company that would become the cornerstone of his wealth.

Smith’s early career was marked by a focus on solving real-world problems through technology. His work at Qualtrics began as a small, bootstrapped operation, but it quickly grew into a global leader in experience management software. His ability to identify market gaps and build scalable solutions set him apart from his peers. Smith’s early success with Qualtrics was not just a result of technical expertise but also of his ability to build and lead high-performing teams. His leadership style, characterized by a focus on customer experience and employee engagement, became a hallmark of his business philosophy.

Smith’s early life also included a strong emphasis on family and community. He is married with five children and has remained deeply rooted in Utah’s business and social fabric. His commitment to his family and community has influenced his business decisions, including his acquisition of the Utah Jazz and his involvement in local philanthropy. Smith’s early experiences, both personal and professional, have shaped his approach to wealth creation and management, emphasizing long-term value over short-term gains.

Ryan Smith’s path to wealth is a story of entrepreneurial vision, strategic timing, and disciplined execution. He co-founded Qualtrics in 2002 with his brother Jared and father Scott, initially focusing on customer and employee feedback software. The company’s early success was driven by its ability to address a growing market need — businesses were increasingly seeking ways to measure and improve customer and employee experiences. Smith’s leadership and technical expertise helped Qualtrics scale rapidly, attracting major clients and venture capital investment. By 2019, Qualtrics was preparing for an IPO with a projected valuation of $8 billion. However, just three days before the scheduled IPO, German software giant SAP acquired the company for $8 billion in cash. This acquisition marked Smith’s first major liquidity event, likely netting him hundreds of millions of dollars.

Following the SAP acquisition, Smith retained a significant equity stake in Qualtrics. In 2021, SAP spun out Qualtrics as a standalone public company, listing it on the Nasdaq under the ticker “XM.” This move allowed Smith to potentially monetize his shares through secondary offerings or market sales, though no public filings confirm such transactions. In 2023, private equity firm Silver Lake acquired Qualtrics in a $12.5 billion deal, taking the company private once again. This transaction likely provided Smith with another liquidity opportunity, either through a partial or full sale of his shares. The exact terms of his participation in the Silver Lake deal are not publicly available, but given his co-founder status and long-term involvement, it is reasonable to assume he received a substantial payout.

Simultaneously, Smith expanded his portfolio into sports ownership. In October 2020, he led a group to acquire the Utah Jazz NBA franchise for $1.66 billion, making him one of the youngest NBA team owners at the time. The acquisition was notable not only for its size but also for its timing — it occurred during the pandemic, when many sports franchises were facing financial uncertainty. Smith’s ability to secure financing and complete the deal underscored his credibility as a business leader and his deep ties to Utah’s business community. The Jazz’s value has since appreciated, with NBA team valuations rising due to increased media rights deals and expanded revenue streams from digital platforms and sponsorships.

Smith’s path to wealth also includes his founding of LeafLink, a B2B cannabis marketplace that reached an $800 million valuation before he exited the business. While the exact financial details of his departure are not public, the sale likely contributed to his liquid capital and provided a foundation for subsequent investments. His current ventures, including Mura, an AI-driven platform for frontline workers, suggest a continued focus on technology-enabled marketplaces and scalable software solutions. Unlike traditional asset-based wealth, Smith’s net worth is largely tied to equity in private and public companies, making it sensitive to market sentiment, revenue growth, and macroeconomic conditions. His wealth is not derived from dividends or passive income but from capital appreciation and strategic exits, a hallmark of tech entrepreneurship.

Smith’s path to wealth is also shaped by his personal life and philanthropy. He is married with five children and resides in Provo, Utah, where he has invested in local infrastructure and community initiatives. His involvement in the Utah Jazz extends beyond ownership — he has positioned the team as a “front door to Utah,” leveraging its platform to promote social causes and economic development. His wealth is not static; it is actively managed through a combination of strategic investments, exits, and reinvestments in high-growth sectors. While his net worth may fluctuate with market conditions, his diversified portfolio across tech, sports, and emerging sectors provides a degree of resilience against sector-specific downturns.

Ryan Smith’s empire spans two distinct but strategically aligned domains: enterprise SaaS and professional sports. As co-founder and CEO of Qualtrics, he built a feedback analytics platform that became a cornerstone of customer experience management, eventually fetching an $8 billion acquisition by SAP in 2019. The subsequent spin-out and private equity buyout by Silver Lake in 2023 signal a deliberate shift toward operational control and long-term value extraction over public market volatility. Simultaneously, his acquisition of the Utah Jazz for $1.66 billion in 2020 represents a bold diversification into asset-backed, community-rooted capital — a move that leverages local loyalty while insulating against tech-sector cyclicality. The empire’s core strength lies in its dual-pillar structure: one rooted in scalable, data-driven software, the other in emotionally resonant, geographically anchored sports ownership.

Qualtrics’ moat rests on its embedded position in enterprise workflows — not just as a survey tool, but as a decision-making layer for HR, marketing, and product teams. Its integration with SAP’s ecosystem during ownership created sticky enterprise relationships, while its post-spin-out independence under Silver Lake allows for aggressive M&A and vertical expansion. The Jazz, meanwhile, benefit from NBA’s revenue-sharing model, local fanbase loyalty, and the growing monetization of digital content and arena experiences. Together, these assets form a hybrid model: one that balances high-growth tech with stable, cash-generating physical assets — a structure increasingly favored by modern entrepreneurs seeking resilience amid macroeconomic uncertainty.

Smith’s leadership is defined by familial collaboration, operational pragmatism, and long-term capital discipline. Co-founding Qualtrics with his father and brother suggests a governance model rooted in trust and shared vision — a structure that can reduce internal friction but may also concentrate decision-making power. His willingness to walk away from a public listing in 2019 — just days before IPO — demonstrates a rare appetite for strategic patience, prioritizing long-term value over short-term liquidity. This aligns with his later move to take Qualtrics private again under Silver Lake, signaling a preference for controlled growth over Wall Street scrutiny.

As Jazz owner, Smith has emphasized community investment and modernization — from arena upgrades to digital fan engagement — positioning the team not just as a sports franchise but as a civic institution. His leadership style blends Silicon Valley efficiency with Midwestern values: data-driven, but deeply attuned to human capital and local identity. This duality allows him to navigate both the fast-paced tech world and the emotionally charged arena of professional sports — a rare combination that enhances his credibility across sectors.

Smith’s capital allocation strategy reflects a deliberate balancing act between growth and preservation. The $8 billion sale to SAP in 2019 was not an exit, but a strategic pivot — using the proceeds to fund further expansion while retaining operational control. The 2023 buyout by Silver Lake, reportedly valued at $12.5 billion, suggests a belief in Qualtrics’ ability to scale beyond its public market valuation, leveraging private equity’s longer time horizons and operational support. This move also insulates the company from quarterly earnings pressure, allowing for deeper R&D investment and international expansion.

His $1.66 billion acquisition of the Jazz represents a significant allocation into a non-correlated asset class — one with predictable revenue streams, strong brand equity, and potential for ancillary monetization (e.g., arena naming rights, media rights, and esports). The Jazz’s value is likely to appreciate with NBA’s global expansion and media rights renegotiations, making it a hedge against tech-sector volatility. Smith’s capital deployment thus reflects a portfolio approach: high-growth tech paired with stable, asset-backed investments — a model that enhances overall empire durability.

Smith’s empire faces several concentration risks. Qualtrics’ reliance on enterprise clients exposes it to economic downturns and IT budget cuts. Its integration with SAP during ownership created dependency, and while the spin-out restored independence, legacy ties may still influence strategic decisions. The private equity ownership under Silver Lake introduces pressure to deliver returns, potentially leading to aggressive cost-cutting or divestitures that could erode long-term value.

The Jazz ownership carries reputational and regulatory risks. NBA teams are increasingly scrutinized for labor practices, arena development impacts, and social justice stances. Smith’s public silence on certain issues may be perceived as avoidance, risking fan alienation. Geopolitically, Qualtrics’ global operations — particularly in Europe and Asia — expose it to data sovereignty laws (e.g., GDPR, China’s PIPL) and potential sanctions. Additionally, the concentration of power within the Smith family — with father and brother as co-founders — raises governance questions about succession and board independence.

While not widely publicized, Smith’s philanthropic efforts appear to be community-focused, particularly in Utah. His investment in the Jazz includes commitments to local youth programs and arena-based community initiatives. The team’s “Jazz in the Community” platform supports education, health, and social justice causes — though specific funding levels or impact metrics are not publicly disclosed. His alma mater, Brigham Young University, likely benefits from his support, given his deep ties to the institution and the Mormon community.

Philanthropy in Smith’s model appears less about global giving and more about local embeddedness — reinforcing his brand as a civic leader. This approach mitigates reputational risk by aligning with community values and enhancing fan loyalty. However, the lack of transparency around giving amounts and strategic goals may limit broader impact and public recognition. As his empire grows, a more structured philanthropic framework — perhaps through a family foundation — could enhance legacy and stakeholder trust.

Smith’s political influence is indirect but growing. As a major employer in Utah and owner of a high-profile NBA team, he wields significant soft power in state and local politics. His ties to Brigham Young University and the Mormon community further amplify his influence in conservative-leaning circles. While not an overt political donor or activist, his business decisions — such as arena development or workforce policies — can shape local policy agendas.

At the federal level, his tech background positions him as a potential voice on data privacy, AI regulation, and tech workforce development. His private equity backing may also align him with broader industry lobbying efforts on tax policy and capital gains. However, his low public profile on national issues suggests a preference for influence through action rather than advocacy — a strategy that minimizes political risk while maximizing operational freedom.

Ryan Smith’s legacy will likely be defined by his ability to bridge two worlds: the hyper-competitive tech sector and the emotionally resonant realm of professional sports. He represents a new breed of entrepreneur — one who builds scalable software empires while simultaneously investing in community institutions. His decision to take Qualtrics private twice — first with SAP, then with Silver Lake — signals a long-term vision that prioritizes control and value creation over public market validation.

His ownership of the Jazz may prove even more enduring — transforming a regional sports team into a global brand while anchoring it in local identity. If he successfully navigates the transition to next-generation leadership — whether within his family or through professional management — his legacy could include a model for sustainable, multi-sector empire-building. The key question is whether his empire can outlive his personal involvement — a challenge that will test the durability of his governance structures and succession planning.

• Profile: Ryan Smith —
• Qualtrics Acquisition by SAP — 2019
• Qualtrics Spin-Out and Silver Lake Buyout — 2021–2023
• Utah Jazz Acquisition — December 2020