Richard Uihlein Net Worth

What is Richard Uihlein's net worth?

Richard Uihlein is an American businessman who has a net worth of $6 billion. That makes him one of the richest people in Illinois.

Richard Uihlein is the founder of Uline, a shipping and packaging supply company that he built into one of the largest privately held businesses in the United States. Together with his wife, Elizabeth Uihlein, he controls Uline and has become one of the most influential conservative donors in American politics.

Uihlein's fortune is derived almost entirely from his majority ownership of Uline, which generates billions in annual revenue. Known for its thick product catalogs and extensive distribution network, the company has grown into a dominant force in packaging supplies. While Uihlein has achieved success in business, he is equally well-known for his financial contributions to right-wing candidates, super PACs, and political groups, placing him among the top individual political donors in the country.

Richard Uihlein's legacy is twofold: as a successful entrepreneur who built one of America's largest privately held companies, and as one of the most influential conservative donors of his generation. His business acumen turned a small basement operation into a multibillion-dollar empire, while his political spending has reshaped Republican primaries and policy debates.

Early Life and Family Background

Richard Ellis Uihlein was born in 1945 into the wealthy Uihlein family of Wisconsin. The Uihleins made their fortune as part of the Schlitz brewing dynasty, one of America's most successful beer companies in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Growing up with significant family resources, Richard pursued a business education and entered the corporate world after college.

Despite his family's brewing legacy, Uihlein chose not to follow in the beer business. Instead, he charted his own path in logistics and distribution, industries that would later form the foundation of his wealth.

Founding of Uline

In 1980, Richard and his wife, Elizabeth, launched Uline from their basement in Lake Forest, Illinois. Their idea was straightforward: to provide high-quality shipping and packaging materials to businesses in a consistent, reliable way. They started with just one product — a carton of 500 shipping boxes — and gradually expanded their offerings into tape, bubble wrap, labels, cleaning supplies, and industrial equipment.

From the beginning, Uline emphasized customer service, fast shipping, and comprehensive product availability. The company became widely recognized for its iconic paper catalogs, which could run hundreds of pages long and served as a go-to resource for office managers and warehouse operators. Over time, Uline's product line ballooned to include more than 40,000 items, and the company built an extensive network of distribution centers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Today, Uline generates an estimated $8 billion or more in annual revenue and employs over 9,000 people. It remains wholly privately held by the Uihlein family, which has allowed Richard and Elizabeth to maintain tight control over the business.

Political Influence

Richard Uihlein is just as well-known for his political spending as for his business success. A staunch conservative, he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes over the past two decades. He and Elizabeth have funded both state and federal campaigns, often backing socially conservative and populist candidates outside the Republican mainstream.

His biggest political contributions have gone to super PACs supporting figures such as Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, and a wide range of candidates aligned with the Tea Party and later the MAGA movement. Uihlein has also bankrolled organizations opposed to labor unions, abortion rights, and government regulation.

In 2018 alone, Richard and Elizabeth gave more than $37 million to conservative causes, placing them among the largest political donors in the country. By 2020, their lifetime political giving had surpassed $100 million, cementing their role as kingmakers in conservative politics.

Critics argue that the Uihleins' outsized financial influence has reshaped Republican politics in the Midwest and beyond, pushing candidates toward more hardline positions. Supporters see them as principled donors backing candidates who reflect their values.

Personal Life

Richard Uihlein lives in Lake Forest, Illinois, with his wife Elizabeth, who serves as Uline's president. The couple is deeply involved in the company's daily operations and continues to oversee its expansion. Despite their immense fortune, they have kept the company private, preferring control and long-term stability over a public listing.

In addition to politics, the Uihleins are active in philanthropy, supporting conservative think tanks, religious organizations, and causes aligned with their worldview. Their giving has often mirrored their political philosophy, with a focus on traditional values and free-market principles.

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