David Thomson Net Worth 2025: Inside the Life of Canada’s Richest Billionaire.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: David Kenneth Roy Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet

• Born: June 12, 1957 (67 years old), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Net Worth: Roughly $50 billion USD (as of June 2025)

• Profession: Business magnate, media executive, art collector

• Nationality: Canadian

• Best Known For: Chairing Thomson Reuters, curating a world-class art collection, and flying under the radar.

• Education: Upper Canada College and the Hall School, Toronto; later earned a BA in History (1978) from Selwyn College, Cambridge, upgraded to MA (Cantab).

How Much is David Thomson Worth in 2025?

It’s hard to imagine just how vast David Thomson’s fortune really is. As of mid-2025, he’s sitting on an estimated $50 billion USD. That puts him squarely at the top of Canada’s richest list and comfortably among the world’s wealthiest billionaires.

Most of his fortune comes from his family’s stake in Thomson Reuters, a global powerhouse in media and information services. When his father, Kenneth Thomson, passed away back in 2006, David inherited not just wealth but responsibility—becoming the new chairman of Thomson Corporation and later of the merged Thomson Reuters. The family’s holding company, Woodbridge, still controls the majority stake.

David Thomson's art collection is estimated to be worth over $500 million USD.

Growing Up Thomson: Early Life and Education

Born into one of Canada’s most powerful families, David grew up in Toronto’s elite circles. He was the eldest child, with siblings Taylor and Peter, and was sent to top-tier schools like Upper Canada College and The Hall School.

After finishing school in Canada, he crossed the Atlantic to study at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in History. It was during these years that he developed a deep interest in art—a passion that would later rival his business ambitions.

David Thomson attended the prestigious Selwyn College, Cambridge

From Retail Floors to Corporate Boardrooms

David didn’t immediately leap into the family’s top ranks. He cut his teeth as a junior associate at McLeod Young Weir before moving into family-owned businesses. One of his early gigs was managing a Bay store in Etobicoke and serving as president of Zellers, the now-defunct Canadian retail chain.

Wanting a bit more independence from the family business, David started Osmington Incorporated, a real estate investment firm. The company made headlines in 2010 when it sold off $336 million in assets to the Canada Pension Plan. These days, Osmington has fingers in a lot of pies—from FarmersEdge in precision agriculture to True North Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Winnipeg Jets. And yes, he’s even bringing Shake Shack to Canada, with plans for 35 locations.

In 2024, David Thomson spearheaded the much-anticipated return of Shake Shack to Canada.

Running Thomson Reuters: Business, Family, and Frustration

After his father’s death, David became the chairman of Thomson Corporation and led the major 2008 merger with Reuters Group to form what we now know as Thomson Reuters. It’s one of the largest information services companies in the world, and under David’s leadership, it’s expanded into countless sectors.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. After selling a controlling stake in its financial division back in 2018, David voiced his frustration with the company’s direction. Rumors in 2025 suggest he’s thinking about stepping back from the family business entirely to focus more on his art and real estate ventures.

After the acquisition of Reuters in 2008, Thomson became the chairman of the merged entity, Thomson Reuters

An Eye for Art: Masterpieces and Milestones

David Thomson isn’t just a businessman; he’s also one of the world’s most passionate—and private—art collectors. His collection is staggering, including works by Rembrandt, J.M.W. Turner, Edvard Munch, and Egon Schiele, plus the largest collection of John Constable works anywhere.

Here are some of his standout purchases:

• 1984: Turner’s Seascape: Folkestone for £7.3 million

• 1985: Rembrandt’s Christ Presented to the People for £561,000

• 2002: Rubens’ Massacre of the Innocents for $76.7 million

• 2016: Lawren Harris’s Mountain Forms for C$11.2 million

• And let’s not forget his big buys in Indigenous and Canadian art, like that $1.8 million face mask.

Peter Paul Rubens’ 1612 masterpiece Massacre of the Innocents—which David and his father famously purchased for $76.7 million USD

His contributions to the Art Gallery of Ontario top $276 million, and he’s also established a $20 million endowment. His art ventures extend to the Archive of Modern Conflict and AMC Books, which help preserve global photography and publish unique works.

Real Estate, Jets, and Yachts: A Peek Behind the Curtain

Though David Thomson isn’t one to broadcast his personal life, whispers from insiders and property records suggest he lives a life steeped in quiet luxury. His Toronto home in Rosedale is said to be a sprawling estate, worth at least $25 million USD, complete with a discreet underground gallery housing his massive art collection—think Rembrandt, Turner, and Constable masterpieces tucked away beneath the surface.

David Thomson House. 200 Roxborough Drive Toronto

Across the pond, David reportedly splits his time between Toronto and a grand townhouse in London, which insiders estimate at £20 million. Perfectly placed near top auction houses and art galleries, it’s no surprise he’d choose a spot that makes collecting just a little more convenient.

When it comes to travel, Thomson is believed to favor comfort and privacy over showiness. Rumor has it he’s the quiet owner of a Gulfstream G650 jet, valued at around $65 million USD, perfect for quick business trips or slipping away to check out an art sale overseas. And while he’s not one to flaunt a flashy lifestyle, there’s talk of a superyacht worth upwards of $100 million USD—complete with a private gallery and luxe suites. The yacht’s name? Well, that’s anyone’s guess.

Rumor has it he’s the quiet owner of a Gulfstream G650 jet similar to the one pictured.

Between his prime real estate, rumored private jet, and whisper-worthy yacht, David’s assets paint the picture of a man who enjoys life’s finer things, but on his own terms. He’s not out to impress the world; he lets his collection—and his quiet presence—do the talking.

Personal Life: Privacy, Family, and the Occasional Drama

David’s personal life has its fair share of twists. He has seven kids from four relationships—including with Mary Lou La Prairie, Laurie Ludwick, actress Kelly Rowan, and his current partner, Severine Nackers. His sprawling estate in Toronto’s Rosedale neighborhood even includes an underground gallery to house his priceless art collection.

Sotheby’s art expert Severine Nackers

He doesn’t court attention, but his family has occasionally found itself in the headlines. In 2017, his eldest daughter Thyra filed a lawsuit over the family trusts—though it was quietly settled.

David rarely gives interviews, but in one rare chat with The New York Times back in 2006, he summed up his views on wealth and life:
"When you try to live a more balanced life, traditional businessmen think that you are not a real man. But who is not the real man? You have not taken a weekend with your wife, you have no spare time that you use constructively, you do not have any hobbies, you do not know how to spell Mozart. And here you are telling me that I am weak?"

David Thomson in 2025: Quietly On Top

With a 2025 net worth of $50 billion USD, David Thomson remains Canada’s richest person, though you wouldn’t catch him flaunting it. Instead, he prefers the company of his art, his family, and a quieter life far removed from the public eye. His influence stretches across media, real estate, art, and philanthropy—but you’ll rarely hear it from him.

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