Biography
Stockton Rush net worth was estimated at $12 million at the time of his death in June 2023, when he perished along with four others aboard the Titan submersible operated by his company OceanGate during a dive to the Titanic wreck site. A Stanford aerospace engineering graduate and former fighter pilot, Rush co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with the mission of democratizing access to the deep ocean through commercial submersible experiences. He was a vocal advocate for what he called 'breaking the rules' in innovation, dismissing safety concerns raised by experts in the years before the Titan's catastrophic implosion. The tragedy drew worldwide attention and prompted major discussions about the regulation of deep-sea tourism.
Net Worth Timeline
| Year | Net Worth | Change | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $500K | +$0.5M | Became one of the youngest jet-rated civilian pilots after Stanford aerospace degree |
| 2000 | $3M | +$2.5M | Founded Rotary Rocket Company; early entrepreneurial ventures in aerospace |
| 2009 | $5M | +$2M | Co-founded OceanGate to commercialize deep-sea tourism and research |
| 2015 | $7M | +$2M | OceanGate launched Cyclops 1 submersible; first commercial dives |
| 2019 | $10M | +$3M | Titan submersible construction; raised capital for Titanic expedition program |
| 2022 | $12M | +$2M | First paying customers dive to Titanic wreck site at $250,000 per person |
| 2023 | $12M | $0 | Titan imploded June 18, 2023 during Titanic dive; all five aboard perished |
💰 How Much Does Stockton Rush Earn?
Estimated based on reported annual earnings of $1M/year across all income sources.
🤯 $12 Million in Perspective
- 29 average American homes ($420K each)
- 214 years of the average US salary ($56K/yr)
- 267 Tesla Model 3s
- 2,108,963 Big Macs