Elizabeth Holmes’ net worth has seen a dramatic decline over the years. Once the youngest self-made female billionaire in Silicon Valley, her wealth was built on the promises of Theranos, a blood-testing startup.
In 2025, after a series of legal challenges and a prison sentence, her financial situation has changed drastically. Let’s explore the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes’ wealth and salary.
Elizabeth Holmes Quick Facts
| FACT | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Elizabeth Anne Holmes |
| Popular Name | Elizabeth Holmes |
| Birth Date | February 3, 1984 |
| Age | 41 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | Stanford University (Chemical Engineering, dropped out) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Billy Evans (2019–) |
| Children | 2 (Son and Daughter) |
| Dating | N/A |
| Siblings | Christian Holmes IV (Brother) |
| Parents | Christian Holmes IV, Noel Holmes |
| Height (meters) | 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) |
| Net Worth | $0 (2023) |
| Source of Wealth | Former CEO and Founder of Theranos |
What is the Net Worth of Elizabeth Holmes in 2025?
Elizabeth Holmes’ net worth in 2025 is significantly lower than it once was. At the peak of her success, she was valued at around $4.5 billion. However, after the collapse of Theranos, her net worth plummeted to $0 according to recent reports.
Her journey from Silicon Valley’s golden child to a convicted fraudster has deeply impacted her finances.
Compared to other entrepreneurs who have had similarly high-profile rises and falls, Holmes’ financial story is one of the most dramatic. Her once-promising health-tech company is now a cautionary tale.
In contrast, figures like Ramesh Sunny Balwani, her former partner, have also seen similar financial and legal repercussions.
Other notable figures tied to her story include:
- Theranos
- Ramesh Sunny Balwani
- Stanford University
- Walgreens
- John Carreyrou
- Fortune Magazine
- Forbes
- Silicon Valley Startups
- Federal Court
- Bad Blood (Book)
You can read more about the wealth of the richest public figures here.
Elizabeth Holmes Wealth, Salary and Financial Overview
How Did Elizabeth Holmes Amass Her Wealth?
Elizabeth Holmes’ journey to wealth started early in life. Born in Washington, D.C., she was an ambitious child, often filling notebooks with plans and ideas. After high school, she made a bold decision to attend Stanford University where she would study chemical engineering. During her time at Stanford, she became fixated on the idea of revolutionizing blood testing, leading to the formation of Theranos.
Theranos’ first few years were marked by significant investment. By 2004, Holmes had secured around $6 million in venture capital funding. Over the next decade, this figure grew exponentially, with the company raising around $700 million by 2014. As a result, Holmes was crowned the youngest self-made female billionaire at age 30 by Forbes.
Her success was largely due to her ability to sell a dream: a blood-testing device that could diagnose illnesses from a small sample of blood, revolutionizing healthcare. At its peak, Theranos was valued at $9 billion, with Holmes personally owning a large portion of the company.
Despite the public persona of success, much of Theranos‘s technology was flawed, and by 2015, investigative reports from John Carreyrou of the Wall Street Journal began to reveal that Holmes had misled investors, patients, and doctors about the capabilities of her devices.
What Was Elizabeth Holmes’ Salary at Theranos?
As the CEO of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes’ salary was significant, but hard numbers are scarce due to the company’s private status. However, it’s believed that she earned a substantial compensation package, including base salary and equity in the company. Theranos offered attractive perks and stock options to retain top talent, and Holmes likely benefited greatly from these arrangements.
At her peak, Holmes was thought to be worth $4.5 billion, most of which came from her holdings in Theranos. However, it’s worth noting that much of her wealth was tied up in the company’s stock, which became worthless after the company’s collapse.
This highlights a major issue in the world of private startups: equity in non-public companies can be volatile, especially when the company’s business model or technology doesn’t work as promised.
The Role of Investors in Elizabeth Holmes’ Financial Journey
Throughout the early years of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes had no shortage of high-profile investors. Among the most prominent were names like Walgreens, Larry Ellison, and Rupert Murdoch, who believed in her vision. She managed to raise massive sums for Theranos—around $700 million by 2014.
However, investors were kept in the dark about the company’s true capabilities. Holmes was known to be extremely secretive, and Theranos never publicly disclosed details about its technology. This secrecy led to significant financial backing from major investors, but it also left them vulnerable to being misled.
The investors believed they were backing an innovative medical technology that would revolutionize healthcare. Unfortunately, their faith in Holmes and Theranos was misplaced, and the company eventually collapsed due to its fraudulent practices.
How Did Elizabeth Holmes’ Financial Journey End with Legal Issues?
In 2018, after a series of investigations revealed that Theranos’s technology was not only faulty but also dangerous, Elizabeth Holmes was charged with wire fraud and conspiracy. She and her former partner Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani faced criminal charges for deceiving investors, doctors, and patients.
Holmes was convicted of three counts of wire fraud in 2022, and she was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. The legal and financial repercussions were massive. As a result of the conviction, Holmes’ financial holdings became practically worthless, and her net worth dropped to zero.
This fall from grace is a sobering reminder of the dangers in the startup ecosystem, particularly for those in Silicon Valley, where hype and promises often overshadow reality. The scandal has also led to major shifts in the way investors view new technologies.
Where is Elizabeth Holmes Now?
As of 2025, Elizabeth Holmes is serving her prison sentence at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Despite her fall from grace, Holmes still remains a controversial figure. Her story has been widely covered in the media, including books like Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, and through documentaries and a series on Hulu, titled The Dropout.
The former tech mogul’s life has been shaped by both her business success and legal troubles. She is now focused on serving her sentence while trying to rebuild some semblance of a normal life, away from the spotlight.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Holmes’ financial journey is a tale of success, deception, and downfall.
Her story serves as a cautionary tale for future entrepreneurs. For more insights into celebrity finances, feel free to leave a comment, share this article, or explore more content on Pennbook here.
