David Steward worth is $12.4 billion as of mid-2026, making him the richest African American in the country and one of only a handful of Black billionaires in the world.
He built that fortune from the ground up, starting World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 with a used desk and a folding chair, and turning it into a company that now brings in roughly $20 billion a year in sales.
This guide walks through how he got there, what his company does, who is in his family, and what his wealth looks like today.
David Steward Profile Summary
| Full Name | David Lloyd Steward |
| Net Worth (2026) | $12.4 billion (real-time, as of mid-2026) |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1951 |
| Age | 75 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois |
| Raised In | Clinton, Missouri |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Central Missouri State University (BS, Business, 1973) |
| Spouse | Thelma Steward |
| Children | 2, including Kimberly Steward |
| Source of Wealth | World Wide Technology (WWT), Self-Made |
| Company Founded | 1990 |
| Residence | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Forbes Rank (2026) | #243 in the U.S., #256 in the world (real-time) |
What Is David Steward Net Worth and How It Works
David Steward’s fortune comes almost entirely from one place: his ownership stake in World Wide Technology, the company he co-founded and still chairs.
WWT is privately held, which means its value is not traded on a public stock exchange the way Apple or Amazon shares are. Instead, Forbes and other outlets estimate his net worth by looking at WWT’s revenue, profit margins, and how similar IT services companies are valued when they do get bought or sold.
WWT is not a small operation.
The company pulls in about $20 billion a year in revenue and employs more than 12,000 people. It works with major clients including Citi, Verizon, and various U.S. federal agencies, building and managing the behind-the-scenes technology that keeps large organizations running.
Because Steward owns the majority of the company, his personal net worth rises and falls with how well WWT performs.
This is different from a lot of billionaire wealth stories you read about. Steward’s money is not tied to a stock ticker that jumps around every day based on Wall Street sentiment.
It is tied to a real business that sells real services to real companies, which is part of why his estimated worth has climbed steadily rather than swinging wildly year to year.
Why David Steward’s Net Worth Matters in 2026
Steward’s story matters for a few reasons beyond just the size of the number. He is currently the wealthiest Black person in the United States, ahead of well-known names like Robert F. Smith.
Only a small handful of Black billionaires appear on the Forbes 400 each year, and Steward has been near the top of that short list for several years running.
His path to that position also stands out. Forbes gives him a self-made score of 10, its highest rating, reserved for people who built their wealth from modest beginnings with no real financial head start.
Steward grew up poor in Clinton, Missouri, one of eight children, in a family that dealt with segregation and everyday discrimination.
He did not inherit a company or come from money. He built WWT from nothing after a career in sales at companies like Federal Express.
In 2026, with his net worth sitting around $12.4 billion, his rise also matters as a business case study. WWT is proof that a systems integration company, essentially a business that helps other companies plan, buy, and manage their technology, can scale into a $20 billion enterprise without ever going public.
Key Features and Milestones of Steward’s Career
Early Career and Foundation
After graduating from Central Missouri State University in 1973 with a business degree, Steward took sales jobs at Missouri Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific, and eventually Federal Express.
At FedEx he earned salesman of the year honors and was inducted into the company’s hall of fame in 1981, a track record that gave him the confidence and the contacts to eventually go out on his own.
Founding World Wide Technology
Steward co-founded World Wide Technology in 1990 alongside Jim Kavanaugh, who still serves as CEO today. The early years were rough.
By his own account, there were stretches where he skipped his own paycheck to keep the company afloat, and at one point his car was repossessed right from the office parking lot.
The company grew slowly at first as a systems integrator, helping large organizations design and install their technology infrastructure.
Scaling to a $20 Billion Company
Over the following three decades, WWT expanded well beyond its original niche. By 2018 the company’s revenue had already crossed $11 billion. Today it sits at roughly $20 billion in annual sales, making it one of the largest privately held companies in the country and the largest Black-owned business in America.
Telcobuy and Other Ventures
In 1999, Steward spun off WWT’s telecommunications division to create Telcobuy.com, expanding his footprint into telecom equipment and services alongside the core IT integration business.
Common Misconceptions About David Steward’s Wealth
- Assuming WWT is publicly traded. It is not. This is why net worth figures are estimates rather than numbers pulled from a stock price.
- Confusing ‘David Steward’ with ‘David Steward II’ or ‘David Stewart’ with a different spelling. His son, David Steward II, runs Lion Forge and Polarity, entertainment companies focused on animation and comics, and is a separate public figure.
- Thinking his wealth came from inheritance. Forbes rates him a 10 out of 10 on its self-made scale, its top score, meaning he built the fortune with no significant financial head start.
- Assuming his net worth is static. Real-time trackers adjust his figure regularly based on how WWT and comparable companies are performing, so the number moves throughout the year.
Expert Tips for Understanding Billionaire Net Worth Figures
A few things are worth keeping in mind whenever you read a net worth figure for someone like Steward whose main asset is a private company. First, these numbers are always estimates.
Forbes and similar outlets use valuation models based on comparable public companies, since there’s no stock price to point to directly.
Second, look at the trend over time rather than one single number. Steward’s estimated worth moved from $6 billion in 2022 to $7.6 billion in 2023, then jumped to $11.4 billion in 2024 and has held in that range into 2026, currently sitting around $12.4 billion. That trajectory tells you more about the health of his business than any single snapshot does.
Third, remember that different outlets sometimes show slightly different numbers at the same time because they use slightly different valuation timing and methods. That’s normal for any privately held business, not a sign that one source is wrong.
Steward Family, Philanthropy, and Civic Work
David Steward is married to Thelma Steward, and the couple has two children, including daughter Kimberly Steward, who worked as a producer on the 2016 film Manchester by the Sea.
His son, David Steward II, leads Lion Forge and Polarity, companies built around comics, animation, and other entertainment aimed at diverse audiences.
Beyond his business career, Steward has put money and time into education and the arts. In 2018, he donated $1.3 million to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to establish the David and Thelma Steward Institute for Jazz Studies.
He also serves as a trustee at Washington University in St. Louis and has been recognized with honors including the Horatio Alger Award in 2014, given to people who overcame significant obstacles on their way to major success.
Steward is also known as the author of Doing Business by the Good Book, a book that lays out business principles he says are drawn from his faith and his experience building WWT from scratch.
Tools and Resources for Tracking Billionaire Wealth
If you want to follow how David Steward’s net worth changes over time, Forbes’ real-time billionaires tracker is the most commonly cited source, and it updates its estimate as new information about WWT’s performance and comparable company valuations comes in.
The annual Forbes 400 list, released each fall, is another useful checkpoint, since it captures a fixed snapshot of where he ranks among the wealthiest people in the country each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is David Steward worth in 2026?
As of mid-2026, David Steward’s real-time net worth is estimated at $12.4 billion, based on Forbes tracking. That places him at roughly #243 on the U.S. list and around #256 globally.
How did David Steward make his money?
He built his fortune through World Wide Technology (WWT), a systems integration and IT services company he co-founded in 1990. He owns the majority stake, and the company now generates around $20 billion a year in revenue.
Is David Steward the richest Black person in America?
Yes. As of recent Forbes rankings, Steward holds that position, ahead of other Black billionaires such as Robert F. Smith of Vista Equity Partners.
Who is David Steward’s wife?
His wife is Thelma Steward. The couple has been married for decades and have two children together.
What company did David Steward found?
He co-founded World Wide Technology (WWT) in 1990 alongside Jim Kavanaugh, who remains the company’s CEO. Steward serves as chairman.
Wealth History at a Glance
| Year | Estimated Net Worth |
| 2022 | $6.0 billion |
| 2023 | $7.6 billion |
| 2024 | $11.4 billion |
| 2025 | $11.4 billion |
| 2026 (real-time) | $12.4 billion |
Key Takeaways
- David Steward’s estimated net worth stands at $12.4 billion as of mid-2026.
- His fortune comes from his majority ownership of World Wide Technology, a privately held IT services company generating about $20 billion a year in sales.
- Forbes rates him a perfect 10 on its self-made scale, reflecting his rise from a childhood marked by poverty and segregation in Clinton, Missouri.
- He is the wealthiest Black person in the United States and one of a small number of Black billionaires worldwide.
- Outside of business, he is active in philanthropy and education, including a $1.3 million gift that created a jazz studies institute at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
David Steward’s climb from a repossessed car in a company parking lot to a $12.4 billion fortune is a reminder that some of the biggest business success stories happen quietly, far from Wall Street headlines, one client and one contract at a time.
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