David Neeleman Net Worth – Deeper Look at His Ventures

David Neeleman is a Brazilian-American entrepreneur who works in the aviation industry. He is the founder of five business airlines: Breeze Airways, Azul Brazilian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, WestJet, and Morris Air. In addition to Aigle Azur and Humberto Pedrosa. Additionally, he is a co-owner of that nation's flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal.

Neeleman is not like other CEOs and stands apart from the other airline founders in the market. He has a stronger sense of purpose; he feels that his life should be dedicated to serving others. The business tycoon thinks it's crucial to discover the reason for life.

Now, you must be curious about one of the best CEOs, David Neeleman net worth and the achievements in his life. Let’s discuss about his professional career earnings and personal life secrets.

David Neeleman Net Worth

David Neeleman's net worth is estimated at $516 million. JetBlue CEO David Neeleman's salary was $200,000 plus a $90,000 incentive in 2002. He gave his whole salary to the JetBlue Crewmember Crisis Fund, which was set up to help JetBlue workers who have experienced financial difficulties.

In 1988, while serving as executive vice president, Neeleman managed the $130 million sale of his company to Southwest Airlines, of which he kept $25 million.

Personal Life

Vicki Vranes and Neeleman were married in 1980. After having ten kids together, they finally got divorced in 2013. The American healthcare company HealthEquity was founded by his brother, Stephen Neeleman, a general and trauma surgeon.

The Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson is his nephew by his sister Lisa. David Neeleman son and daughter-in-law, Hannah Neeleman managed a social media account, The Ballerina Farm. Personal details of David Neeleman new wife Eva is not disclosed to the public yet.

Early Life

On October 16, 1959, David Neeleman was born in São Paulo, Brazil. Mark and Stephen are his two brothers. David Neeleman family relocated to Sandy, Utah, in the United States when he was five years old. He grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Neeleman spent two years in Brazil as a young adult.

The family relocated to Cottonwoods, while he was a child, and he went to Brighton High School. After high school, he spent three years at the University of Utah before leaving, probably without earning a degree.

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Professional Career

Airlines:

He was the executive vice president of the low-cost charter airline Morris Air, which he co-founded with June Morris, from 1984 to 1988. Neeleman took over as president of Morris Air in 1988. Southwest Airlines paid $130 million to find Morris Air in 1993. Neeleman joined Open Skies, a touch screen registration and check-in systems startup, as CEO after quitting Southwest. He helped establish two new airlines, WestJet and NewAir, which later changed their names to JetBlue.

David Barger succeeded Neeleman as CEO of JetBlue on May 10, 2007. Joel Peterson succeeded him as board chairman on May 21, 2008. Neeleman formally announced plans to start a new airline, Azul on March 27, 2008. Azul is now the biggest airline in Brazil, having sold over 5 billion Brazilian roubles in 2013.

Other Ventures:

Neeleman's younger brother, Mark James Neeleman, announced the launch of Vigzul, a home safety and tracking business, on October 30, 2013. David Allred, Brett Chambers, and Mark Neeleman came up with the idea for Vigzul, in which Neeleman is the chairman of the board and the main shareholder.

The Portuguese government agreed in June 2015 to sell their national airline to Atlantic Gateway. Atlantic Gateway assumed control of 61% of the Portuguese carrier's investment and promised to keep Brazil as the airline's primary hub for at least 30 years. The state of Portugal raised its ownership to 72.5% in July 2020. Atlantic Gateway sold this interest, and it currently owns 22.5%.

He secured $100 million to launch Breeze Airways, a new US airline, which he launched in June 2018. Breeze Airways and Airbus signed a Declaration of Agreement on July 17, 2018, for the delivery of 60 A220-300 aircraft starting in 2021.

David Neeleman House

David Neeleman, has listed his European-style mansion in New Canaan, Connecticut, for $8.3 million. The custom-built home is located within walking distance of the town and features more than twenty rooms, a 24-seat theatre, an inside basketball court, a pool and a lift.

After Neeleman and his ex-wife moved from Utah to the New York region, the estate was modified to meet their needs at a time when the airline CEO was starting JetBlue. A tiny farmhouse on the site was destroyed to create the couple's Euro-inspired property after they bought it in 2005.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who are JetBlue's owners?

Brandon Nelson, Joanna Geraghty, and Robin Hayes are the company's most notable stockholders.

Q. Does JetBlue turn a profit?

JetBlue's most recent reports showed a $25 million profit for the second quarter, which was quite positive despite the difficulties.

Q. How many airlines did David Neeleman develop?

He founded 5 airlines.