Nick Hanauer Net Worth

Overview

Nick Hanauer is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. He earned a degree in Philosophy from the University of Washington and began his career with his family’s company, Pacific Coast Feather Company, where he is currently the co-chair and CEO. He co-founded Museum Quality Framing Company, a West Coast franchise. Hanauer was an early investor in Amazon.com and served as an advisor until 2000. He founded gear.com, which later merged with Overstock.com, and Avenue A Media, which was acquired by Microsoft for $6.4 billion in 2007 under the name aQuantive. He also co-founded Second Avenue Partners, a Seattle-based venture capital firm. Beyond his business ventures, Hanauer is actively involved in politics, advocating for progressive causes such as increasing the minimum wage and taxing the wealthy more heavily. He co-founded the League of Education Voters (LEV) and The True Patriot Network. Hanauer serves on the boards of various organizations, including the Cascade Land Conservancy and the University of Washington Foundation. He has gained recognition for his views on income inequality and his belief that supporting the middle class is crucial for job creation.

Pacific Coast Feather Company

Co-chair and CEO

What Is Nick Hanauer Net Worth’ Net Worth?

Nick Hanauer, an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist, has an estimated net worth of $1 billion as of March 2025. This valuation is primarily derived from his early investments, successful ventures, and strategic acquisitions over several decades.

Key Sources of Nick Hanauer’s Wealth

Hanauer’s wealth accumulation can be attributed to several key milestones throughout his career:

Early Investment in Amazon.com: Hanauer was one of the first non-family investors in Amazon in the mid-1990s. His initial investment of $45,000, according to a 2018 Forbes article, granted him stock options equivalent to approximately 1% to 2% of the company. The returns from this early investment contributed significantly to his overall net worth.
Acquisition of aQuantive by Microsoft: In 2007, Microsoft acquired aQuantive, a digital advertising company co-founded by Hanauer, for $6.4 billion. Hanauer’s stake in aQuantive, reported to be 5.6%, yielded him around $350 million from this deal alone.
Pacific Coast Feather Company: Hanauer began his business career with his family-owned company, Pacific Coast Feather Company, serving as co-chair and CEO. While the specifics of his earnings from the company aren’t publicly detailed, his leadership in revamping manufacturing operations and marketing strategies contributed to its success. In 2003, the company’s sales were estimated at $350 million. Hanauer and his brother eventually sold Pacific Coast Feather Company in 2018.
Second Avenue Partners: As a co-founder of Second Avenue Partners, a Seattle-based venture capital firm established in February 2000, Hanauer has been instrumental in advising and funding early-stage companies. The firm focuses on diverse sectors like the internet, consumer and social media, software, and clean energy. Investments made by Second Avenue Partners include companies like Market Leader (acquired by Trulia for $350 million) and Insitu Group (purchased by Boeing for $400 million). More recent investments include Knack, a custom gifting company, which secured a $3.5 million Series A equity investment led by Second Avenue Partners in November 2021.

Business Ventures and Investments

Nick Hanauer’s career spans multiple industries, and he has managed, founded, or financed over 30 companies across manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, digital media, advertising, software, aerospace, healthcare, and finance. Some of his notable ventures and investments include:

Museum Quality Framing Company: Co-founded in the 1980s, this West Coast franchise contributed to Hanauer’s early entrepreneurial success.
Gear.com: Hanauer founded gear.com, which later merged with Overstock.com, further diversifying his business interests in the e-commerce sector.
The True Patriot Network: Co-founded with Eric Liu, this political action tank reflects Hanauer’s engagement in policy and civic activism.
League of Education Voters (LEV): As a co-founder of LEV, Hanauer demonstrated his commitment to improving public education in Washington State.
Civic Ventures: Founded by Hanauer, this public policy incubator in Seattle focuses on catalyzing significant social change, reflecting his progressive economic views.
Seattle Bank: Hanauer and his friends co-own this bank, which is another addition to his investment porfolio.

Other notable companies that Hanauer has invested in or founded include Juno Therapeutics, Flexe, RealSelf, Qliance, and Newsvine.