Canadian businessman James Balsillie has an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion as of March 2011 according to Forbes. He was also the 692nd richest person and was 421st in 2010.

Born James Laurence Balsillie on February 3, 1961 in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, he has earned his estimated net worth of $1.8 billion when he co-founded Research in Motion (RIM) with fellow billionaire Mike Lazaridis in 1984. It is a Canadian telecommunication and wireless equipment company best known as the developer of the BlackBerry brand of smartphones and tablets. Trading as BlackBerry, the company is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It is now launching PlayBook, a tablet device that will compete with Apple’s iPad.

Also known as Jim, he has been the co-CEO of RIM from 1992 to January 2012. He is responsible for driving corporate strategy, business development, marketing, sales, and finance. He also served as the co-Chairman between December 16, 2010 and January 2012.

Mr. James Balsillie founded in 2002 The Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a world-class global research institute with focus on the reconstruction of international governance. He announced in 2007 the creation of the new Canadian International Council (CIC) where he serves as its Chairman. He also founded the Balsillie School of International Affairs. As a sports enthusiast, he has tried three times to buy an NHL team to move to Ontario.