Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ken Kendrick’s Net Worth?
Ken Kendrick is an American billionaire businessman with an estimated net worth of $1.12 billion as of February 28, 2025, according to Grizzly Bulls Billionaire Index. He is the principal owner and managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. His wealth stems from his successful career in technology, finance, and professional sports ownership.
Early Career and Datatel Success
Born Earl Gentry “Ken” Kendrick Jr. on September 2, 1943, in Princeton, West Virginia, Kendrick’s early career began after graduating from West Virginia University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He initially worked at IBM before venturing into entrepreneurship. In 1973, he co-founded Datatel, a software development company that became a leading provider of infrastructure technology for colleges and universities. Datatel’s growth led to serving over 800 client institutions across the United States and Canada. In 2005, the executive team acquired Datatel from Kendrick and his partner. By 2011, Datatel acquired SunGard Higher Education for $1.75 billion. The combined companies were renamed Ellucian and were sold in 2015 for $3.5 billion to TPG Capital. The financial details of Kendrick’s initial investment in Datatel and the specific returns he received from the sale in 2005 and the subsequent acquisitions remain private.
Financial Ventures and Arizona Diamondbacks Ownership
During the 1980s, Kendrick served as the president of a Texas-based financial services technology company. In 1989, he became the principal investor in Woodforest National Bank, a $9 billion entity with 5,000 employees. Woodforest National Bank is a subsidiary of Woodforest Financial Group. In 1995, Kendrick became a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks upon the team’s inception. His role evolved, and in 2004, he became the managing general partner and principal owner. Under his leadership, the Diamondbacks have achieved significant milestones, including NL West championships in 2007 and 2011. In 2023, the team competed in the NLCS in 2007 and 2023 and made their first World Series appearance in 22 years. Kendrick has also overseen the elimination of over $350 million in team debt through equity and debt restructures. According to Forbes, the Diamondbacks were valued at $1.45 billion in 2024, a significant increase from $840 million in 2015.
Philanthropic Contributions
Kendrick’s philanthropic efforts are noteworthy. As chairman of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, he has overseen the donation of more than $80 million to charity since its inception. He has also served on the boards of various charitable organizations, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Following the 2016 floods in West Virginia, Kendrick established a relief program that raised over $1 million. In 2020, he guided more than $2 million in charitable donations to nonprofits assisting those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and created a fund for Chase Field staff unable to work during the shutdown. In 2022, he pledged $20 million to West Virginia University to expand its economics education programs.
Other Ventures and Investments
Beyond his primary business and philanthropic activities, Kendrick is an avid collector of baseball cards. He owns the T206 Honus Wagner card, considered the most valuable trading card in the world. This card and other rare baseball cards from his collection have been displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2020, Kendrick was appointed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s board of directors. He also owns Bumble Bee Ranch and the Ironbridge Golf Club. Specific financial details regarding the value of his baseball card collection, Bumble Bee Ranch, and the Ironbridge Golf Club are not publicly available.
