Melanie Perkins, the co-founder and CEO of Canva, with a net worth of 4.4 billion USD, is a remarkable entrepreneur who has built an empire from her passion for simplifying graphic design. Born in 1988 in Perth, Western Australia, to multicultural parents, Melanie showed early signs of entrepreneurial spirit. She studied communications, psychology, and commerce at the University of Western Australia but dropped out to pursue her business dreams. In 2013, at the age of 26, Melanie co-founded Canva, a graphic design platform aimed at making design accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level. Despite facing numerous rejections while seeking funding, her persistence paid off, leading Canva to become a globally recognized brand with millions of users. Today, Melanie Perkins is one of Australia’s richest women, with a net worth in the billions, and continues to lead Canva in revolutionizing the design industry.
The Woman Who Built a Billion-Dollar Empire from Her Living Room
The Beginnings of a Dream
Melanie Perkins was born in 1988 in Perth, Western Australia. Her upbringing was shaped by her multicultural roots, with her father being of Malaysian, Filipino, and Sri Lankan descent, and her mother a proud Australian. Her father worked as an engineer, while her mother was a dedicated teacher. From a young age, Melanie showed signs of her entrepreneurial spirit. At just 14, she started her first business, selling handmade scarves at local markets. But this was only the beginning of her journey.
From College to Canva
After high school, Melanie enrolled at the University of Western Australia, majoring in communications, psychology, and commerce. It was here that her frustration with complex design software like Adobe Photoshop sparked an idea. She noticed how students struggled to learn these tools and knew there had to be a better way.
Determined to create a simpler design platform, Melanie, alongside her boyfriend (and future husband) Cliff Obrecht, dropped out of college to pursue their dream. They started Fusion Books, an online tool that allowed students to create and design their yearbooks. The business quickly gained traction, with Melanie’s mother’s living room serving as their first office.
The Birth of Canva
Melanie’s determination didn’t stop at yearbooks. She envisioned a design platform that anyone could use, regardless of their technical skills. For three years, she and Cliff tirelessly pitched their idea to potential investors. Finally, in 2010, at a conference in Perth, their perseverance paid off. Silicon Valley investor Bill Tai saw potential in their idea and invited Melanie to San Francisco to present her vision.
This was the turning point. With the help of Tai and other influential contacts, including Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps, Melanie secured $1.5 million in funding for Canva. The Australian government matched this amount, bringing their total to $3 million. By 2013, Canva went live, changing the world of design forever.
Canva quickly became a global sensation. By 2019, the company had raised an additional $85 million, boosting its valuation to $3.2 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic further fueled Canva’s growth, with a $6 billion valuation in 2020 as remote work skyrocketed. Today, Canva boasts over 55 million users from 190 countries, with 85% of Fortune 500 companies using the platform.
A Legacy of Giving
Despite their enormous success, Melanie and Cliff remain grounded. They have pledged to give away a significant portion of their wealth, focusing on causes like climate change and global wealth inequality. As of now, Forbes estimates that each holds stakes worth around $2 billion, making Melanie Perkins one of Australia’s richest women