Clifford Obrecht (born 1985 or 1986) is an Australian technology entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder of Canva, which he founded with Melanie Perkins and Cameron Adams. Obrecht owns 18% of the company and serves as its chief operating officer (COO).
Early life and education
Clifford was born to Stan Obrecht, a government employee and Mary Obrecht, a school teacher.[1] He grew up in, a suburb to the north of Perth.[1]
Obrecht earned a degree in Arts and Education from the University of Western Australia.[2]
Personal life
In January 2021, he married Melanie Perkins on Rottnest Island.[1]
Net worth
Obrecht first appeared on The Australian Financial Review Rich List in 2020 with a net worth of A$3.43 billion. As of May 2025, the Australian Financial Review assessed his and Perkins' joint net worth as A$14.14 billion, on the 2025 Rich List; making them the sixth wealthiest Australians. As of February 2026, Forbes assessed his net worth at US$7.6 billion.[3]
References
- Jessica Sier. The yin and yang that made Canva a $55b behemoth Australian Financial Review, 25 February 2022, retrieved 12 September 2022^
- Cliff Obrecht talks Canva, start-ups and the road to success www.uwa.edu.au, retrieved 2026-03-14^
- Forbes profile: Cliff Obrecht Forbes, retrieved 12 September 2022^
- Michael Bailey. Australia's 200 richest people revealed The Australian Financial Review, Nine Publishing, 30 May 2019, retrieved 31 May 2019^
- 2019 Australia's 50 Richest Forbes Asia, January 2019, retrieved 28 September 2019^
- The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed The Australian Financial Review, Nine Publishing, 30 October 2020, retrieved 31 October 2020^
- The 200 richest people in Australia revealed Australian Financial Review, 27 May 2021, retrieved 28 May 2021^
- The 200 richest people in Australia revealed Australian Financial Review, 26 May 2023, retrieved 6 June 2023^
- Australia's wealthiest 200 now control $625b Australian Financial Review, 30 May 2024, retrieved 18 September 2024^
- Australia’s wealthiest 200 revealed, fortunes blow past $667b Australian Financial Review, 30 May 2025, retrieved 31 May 2025^