Early Life and Education
Henry Samueli was born on September 20, 1954, in Buffalo, New York. His parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants who instilled in him a strong work ethic and the value of education. Samueli excelled in his studies, which led him to pursue higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He earned his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from UCLA.
Rise to Success
After completing his Ph.D., Samueli took a position at TRW, where he worked on military broadband communications systems. In 1991, he co-founded Broadcom Corporation with Henry Nicholas, a fellow UCLA graduate. Broadcom quickly became a leader in the semiconductor industry, developing innovative chipsets for cable modems, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. Samueli served as the company's Chief Technical Officer. Broadcom's success was fueled by its cutting-edge technology and strategic acquisitions.
Key Business Strategies
Key business strategies for Samueli include a strong focus on research and development, which has been a cornerstone of Broadcom's success. His leadership at Broadcom, along with co-founder Henry Nicholas, drove the company to become a global leader. Broadcom's aggressive acquisition strategy further boosted its growth. They expanded Broadcom's product line and market reach, diversifying their portfolio and increasing their overall market share. Broadcom went public in 1998, making Samueli a billionaire.
Philanthropy
Henry Samueli is also a devoted philanthropist. He and his wife, Susan, created the Samueli Foundation, which has given over $1 billion to various causes. Their philanthropic efforts focus on STEM education, integrative health, youth services, and Jewish culture. Samueli's philanthropy extends to supporting the engineering schools at UCLA and UC Irvine, where the schools bear his name. Additionally, the Samuelis are committed to promoting wellness and whole-body healing.