Robert Pera

Robert J. Pera
Robert J. Pera
Born	March 10, 1978 (age 48)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, engineer
Known for	Founder and CEO of Ubiquiti Inc., owner of the Memphis Grizzlies

Robert J. Pera (born March 10, 1978) is an American entrepreneur and engineer, recognized as the founder and chief executive officer of Ubiquiti Inc., a multinational communications technology firm that he took public in 2011. In October 2012, Pera acquired ownership of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team in the National Basketball Association. At age 36, he was ranked among the youngest billionaires by Forbes.

As of July 2025, Forbes valued his fortune at approximately US$19.8 billion.

Early life

During high school, Pera established his first computer services business, delivering networking and database solutions to nearby enterprises. He actively participated in high school basketball until a heart condition, which was later treated, forced him to pause for a year. Pera graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese language. He further pursued a master's degree in electrical engineering at UC San Diego, specializing in digital communications and circuit design.

Apple

Following his academic pursuits, Pera joined Apple Inc., driven by admiration for Steve Jobs, where he conducted testing on the company’s Wi-Fi products to ensure compliance with Federal Communications Commission regulations on electromagnetic emissions. He observed that Apple’s Wi-Fi devices operated significantly below the maximum power permitted by the FCC and realized that increasing output could extend wireless range to several miles, potentially providing Internet service to underserved regions. When Apple declined to pursue this concept, Pera dedicated his personal time to creating an affordable yet efficient Wi-Fi module. By early 2005, he departed Apple to establish Ubiquiti Networks.

Ubiquiti Networks

In March 2005, Pera launched Ubiquiti Networks with an initial investment of $30,000 sourced from his savings and credit card borrowing. The company’s early offerings utilized existing Wi-Fi technology to deliver wireless Internet connectivity to rural and developing areas lacking conventional infrastructure. Over time, Ubiquiti broadened its product range to include wireless access points, security cameras, as well as networking hardware such as switches and routers.

Memphis Grizzlies

On June 11, 2012, reports emerged that Michael Heisley had reached a preliminary agreement to sell the Memphis Grizzlies to Pera; the transaction received formal approval on October 25, 2012. Under Pera’s stewardship, the Grizzlies qualified for the NBA playoffs five years in a row, achieving a franchise-best 56-win season and securing their inaugural berth in the Western Conference Finals. The team amassed more playoff victories during Pera’s initial two seasons than in its prior seventeen years combined.

Pera is also a supporter of the Grizzlies Foundation, a sports-related charitable organization based in Memphis. As of 2025, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated his net worth at US$25.5 billion.

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