Latest Update: David Packard's Total Wealth - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, David Packard has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What was David Packard's net worth?

Bill Hewlett was no slouch himself, when it came to philanthropy. In 1966, two years after David founded his foundation, Bill founded The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. When Flora Hewlett died in 1977 she earmarked a huge grant of equity and funds for the foundation. By the time the funds were delivered in 1981, the foundation received $300 million from Flora's estate. That's the same as $850 million today. With continued contributions and stock appreciation, by the mid-1990s the foundation controlled $800 million. When Bill died in 2001, he was worth $9 billion. He left approximately $8.5 million of his assets to the foundation. Today The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation controls $10 billion in assets.

David was philanthropic almost from the moment he became wealthy but truly began to dedicate himself to philanthropy in the early 1980s. In 1986 they donated $40 million to establish the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. The newly-built hospital opened in 1991. At the urging of his daughters, they donated the funds needed to create the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, eventually committing $55 million to build the aquarium which opened in 1984.

David Packard and Bill Hewlett (Photo courtesy of Hewlett-Packard/Newsmakers)

David Packard was an American electrical engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who had a net worth of $4 billion at the time of his death in 1996. That's the same as having around $6.6 billion in today's dollars. He was best known for being the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. He also served as the 13thUnited States Deputy Secretary of Defense under PresidentRichard Nixonfrom January 1969 to December 1971.

Packard's journey took him from a small-town boy in Pueblo, Colorado, to a pioneer in the global technology industry. His contributions extended far beyond the sphere of business, reaching into realms of public service, environmental conservation, and philanthropy. His legacy, encompassing the famed HP Way management philosophy and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, continues to influence modern corporate culture and philanthropic endeavors.

Born to Sperry and Ella Packard, David developed a fascination for technology and engineering early in life, often tinkering with radios and appliances. After high school, he pursued his passion at Stanford University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1934. At Stanford, he also met Bill Hewlett, starting a friendship that would eventually turn into one of the most successful business partnerships in history.

Packard received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1988. He also received the Sylvanus Thayer Award and the Public Welfare Medal. David Packard passed away on March 26, 1996 at 83 years old.

In 1964 he and wife Lucile established the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. At the time of his death, David donated the bulk of his $4 billion estate to the foundation. Today the foundation's assets are worth more than $8 billion. It is one of the 20-largest foundations in the US.

In 1994, David and his co-founderBill Hewlettdonated $77 million to establish the David Packard Electrical Engineering Building at Stanford University.

In summary, the total wealth of David Packard reflects strategic moves.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.