J.B. Straubel Net Worth [The Only Other Billionaire Tesla Co-Founder]

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Net Worth:	$1.3 billion
Profession/Career:	Engineer, Entrepreneur
College:	Stanford University
Major/Degree:	BS in Energy Systems Engineering, MS in Energy Engineering
Full Name:	Jeffrey Brian Straubel
Date of Birth (Age):	December 20, 1975 (46 years old)
Place of Birth:	Des Moines, Iowa
Height:	6 ft 0 in

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Net Worth of J.B. Straubel

J.B. Straubel’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $1.3 billion in 2022.

The majority of J.B. Straubel’s net worth can be attributed to his shares in Tesla Motors. He served as CTO to Tesla up until 2019, when he left to found Redwood Materials, a battery recycling startup. It’s been reported that at Tesla IPO, he had roughly 367,000 shares. However, unlike the other three original co-founders of Tesla (Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Ian Wright), he did not sell the majority of his holdings. Since IPO, his shares have increased, either through further purchases, compensation, and/or stock splits. He has sold some shares along the way to lock in profits as well. At its peak, his total shares were potentially worth around $1.3 billion.

As of 2022, he still owns over 4.1 million shares of Tesla which themselves equate to over $700 million of his overall net worth. Other contributors to his overall net worth include shares that he potentially sold at Tesla’s peak valuation, and any profits and/or salary he’s made, if any, from Redwood Materials since its inception.

How much does J.B. Straubel earn in a year?

J.B. Straubel is estimated to earn roughly $50 million a year.

It’s hard to pinpoint just how much J.B. Straubel makes on a yearly basis, as most of his earnings have come in enormous spurts at a time. If we assume $1 billion in assets invested with a conservative 5% rate of return per year, he will make roughly $50 million a year in earnings. He is currently serving as CEO of his company Redwood Materials, and we can safely assume that any salary he makes from it pales in comparison to any earnings he is making from his $1 billion or so invested in stocks, bonds, and other investment products.

Who is J.B. Straubel?

J.B. Straubel, whose full name is Jeffrey Brian Straubel, is an American engineer and entrepreneur known for his significant contributions to the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Here are some key points about J.B. Straubel:

Early Life and Education: J.B. Straubel was born on December 20, 1975, in California, United States. He developed an early interest in electronics and technology. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Systems Engineering from Stanford University.

Co-Founder and Former CTO of Tesla, Inc.: One of J.B. Straubel’s most notable achievements is his role as a co-founder and former Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Tesla, Inc., an electric vehicle and clean energy company. Straubel joined Tesla in 2004 and played a crucial role in the development of the company’s electric vehicles, including the Tesla Roadster, Model S, Model X, and Model 3.

Technical Innovations and Contributions: As CTO, Straubel led many of Tesla’s technical initiatives and was instrumental in the company’s battery technology advancements and electric vehicle powertrain development. He was involved in designing and optimizing the battery systems, charging infrastructure, and overall energy management strategies for Tesla vehicles.

Renewable Energy Advocacy: Beyond his work at Tesla, J.B. Straubel is an advocate for sustainable energy solutions. He has shown a keen interest in promoting renewable energy sources and has been involved in projects related to solar power and energy storage.

Redwood Materials: In 2017, J.B. Straubel co-founded Redwood Materials, a recycling and materials recovery company focused on developing sustainable solutions for electric vehicle batteries and other electronic waste. The company aims to recycle and repurpose valuable materials from discarded batteries, contributing to the circular economy and reducing environmental impact.

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Investments: J.B. Straubel is also involved in various entrepreneurial ventures and investments related to clean technology, energy storage, and sustainable transportation. He has supported and mentored startups in the EV and renewable energy sectors.

J.B. Straubel’s expertise in electric vehicle technology and his dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions have made him a highly influential figure in the industry. His contributions have helped shape the trajectory of electric mobility and have had a significant impact on the global transition to cleaner transportation options.

Did J.B. Straubel grow up rich or poor?

It’s not clear whether J.B. Straubel grew up rich or poor. In fact, not much is known about his parents or family either. All we know is that he grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and likely grew up in a middle-class family with a reasonably comfortable upbringing financially.

He has never mentioned growing up in poverty nor has he ever mentioned any other sort of significant struggles he has had along the way to success. For all we know, he was always highly-driven and the path to success for him was relatively straightforward.

When did J.B. Straubel leave Tesla?

J.B. Straubel officially left Tesla in August 2019. He was one of the co-founders of Tesla and played a crucial role in the company’s early development and success. Straubel was Tesla’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and was responsible for overseeing the technical and engineering aspects of the company’s electric vehicles and energy products.

While he stepped down from his role as CTO in 2019, Straubel didn’t completely sever ties with Tesla. After his departure, he transitioned to a senior advisor role, maintaining a connection with the company he helped build. His departure as CTO marked the end of an era, but his contributions to Tesla’s innovations and advancements in electric vehicle technology remain significant.

What is Redwood Materials?

Redwood Materials is dedicated to establishing a circular supply chain to foster a more sustainable world. The company recognizes the pressing global need to transition away from fossil fuels and sees lithium-ion batteries as a pivotal solution.

However, a significant challenge lies in the current supply chain for these batteries. Essential metals for these batteries traverse over 50,000 miles before arriving at a cell factory, leading to an expensive and unsustainable process. Furthermore, the primary components of these batteries, the cathode and anode, are not produced in North America.

This gap in production means that by 2030, U.S. cell manufacturers are projected to spend over $600 billion on these materials from overseas sources. Redwood Materials aims to revolutionize this system. They are working on transforming the battery supply chain by providing domestic sources of anode and cathode materials. These materials are produced from an increasing number of recycled batteries and are directly supplied to U.S. cell manufacturers.

The company’s vision is supported by partnerships with major entities like Volkswagen Group of America, Panasonic, Southern Company, Volvo, Lyft, Toyota, ERI, and Ford.