Carter Reum Net Worth Revealed: From Startup Investor to Paris Hilton's Husband
Carter Reum has built a net worth of $20 million through his business ventures, though many know him simply as Paris Hilton's husband. His impressive business career shows how he created this wealth through smart investments and ventures.
He and his brother Courtney made their mark by co-founding VEEV Spirits in 2007. Their eco-friendly liquor company became the first spirits brand to get carbon-neutral certification. VEEV's success landed it on Inc. Magazine's 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States in 2018.
The Reum brothers' next big move came in 2016 with M13, a venture capital firm that puts money into consumer products and services. M13 has backed major companies like Lyft, Ring, and Snapchat. The firm has done remarkably well, ranking 14th in the 2023 HEC-Dow Jones Venture Capital Performance Ranking. It stands as one of just eight U.S.-based firms in the top 20.
Carter Reum's success goes beyond investing. He co-authored "Shortcut Your Startup: Speed Up Success with Unconventional Advice from the Trenches" in 2018. The book shares lessons from his business experience. This piece will show how these different ventures built Reum's current net worth and shaped his path to financial success.
Carter Reum Net Worth in 2025: The Numbers Explained
Carter Reum's estimated net worth stands between $20 million and $40 million in 2025, based on several financial sources. His wealth comes from years of smart investments and business ventures that have made him a successful businessman.
How much is Carter Reum worth today?
Financial experts can't seem to agree on Carter Reum's exact wealth. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at $20 million, and Finty puts it closer to $40 million. Most reliable sources place his net worth somewhere between these numbers.
The challenge lies in calculating Reum's actual wealth. His money sits mostly in private deals, startup investments, and market values that keep changing. Unlike movie stars who earn fixed paychecks, his wealth depends on perfect timing – when companies get bought, sold, or how well his investment fund performs.
What contributes to his net worth?
Reum built his wealth through these main sources:
- VEEV Spirits sale: The Reum brothers sold their company at $70 million in 2016. They made seven times more than their revenue after growing yearly sales beyond $10 million
- M13 Ventures: His venture capital firm now handles $1.3 billion in assets
- Angel investments: He personally invested in 14 companies of different types
- Book royalties: He wrote "Shortcut Your Startup" with his brother
- Speaking engagements: He makes money from public speaking
Comparison with other entrepreneurs
Reum's impressive wealth looks modest next to his wife Paris Hilton's $300 million fortune. This kind of financial gap isn't rare among famous couples. Tennis star Serena Williams ($300 million) and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian ($150 million) show a similar pattern.
The same goes for actress Sofia Vergara ($180 million) and her ex-husband Joe Manganiello ($40 million).
Reum has made his mark in venture capital. His firm M13 ranked 14th in the 2023 HEC-Dow Jones Venture Capital Performance Ranking. This shows he and his brother Courtney know how to spot and grow promising startups.
Early Life and Education: The Foundations of Success
Carter Reum's impressive financial success stems from a privileged upbringing that became his springboard to entrepreneurial excellence. His story began on February 5, 1981, and his background explains how he built his multimillion-dollar fortune.
Family background and upbringing
Business acumen ran in Reum's blood. His father, W. Robert Reum, led Amsted Industries as president, chairman, and CEO. Forbes valued this private enterprise at $3.40 billion in 2022. Robert Reum's influence extended beyond Amsted – he served as the former chairman of Waste Management Inc. and vice-chairman of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Carter grew up with his brother Courtney, who later became his business partner, and sister Halle, who married into the prominent Annenberg family. His father's death in 2017 from cancer complications left a personal estate worth at least $6.10 million. This inheritance highlighted his family's substantial financial status.
Columbia University and early ventures
Carter earned his Economics degree from Columbia University in 2003. He was an active member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity's Delta Chapter. Reports suggest he graduated magna cum laude. His college years revealed his talent for making smart business decisions – a skill he later used to help other entrepreneurs succeed.
His education continued through Harvard Business School's three-year OPM program. This additional training proved valuable throughout his professional journey.
First job at Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs hired Reum right after graduation in 2004. He often mentions that "getting a job at Goldman Sachs was the easiest job I ever got." Campus representatives offered him a summer internship that led to full-time employment.
His role in the investment banking division from 2004 to 2006 exposed him to major clients like Under Armor, Vitamin Water, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and KKR. Reum saw this position as a "two-year training ground" that would create opportunities for his future ventures.
Entrepreneurial Journey: From VEEV to M13
Carter Reum's path to building his millions started in 2007. He made a decision that ended up boosting his net worth – he left Goldman Sachs with his brother Courtney to launch VEEV Spirits.
Launching VEEV Spirits with his brother
People around the brothers thought they were taking a "crazy" risk by leaving their profitable banking careers. Carter saw little downside and reasoned that even failure would make his business school application stand out from typical Goldman alumni. Their risk paid off when they created a groundbreaking premium spirits company using Brazilian açaí berries.
Eco-conscious branding and success
VEEV earned recognition as "The World's First Carbon Neutral Spirit®". The brothers implemented remarkable green practices:
- They donated 1% of sales to rainforest conservation initiatives as members of 1% for the Planet®
- They gave over $200,000 to green-minded nonprofits
- They planted 40,000+ trees in Brazil
- They ran America's only wind-powered distillery
This green approach helped VEEV secure a spot in Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. By 2016, their annual sales grew beyond $10 million, and they sold to Luxco for more than seven times revenue.
Founding M13 and major investments
The brothers started venture capital firm M13 after selling VEEV in 2016. Carter shared their founding vision: "The whole world's being disrupted and evolved. What does a venture firm need to look like for the decades to come?"
Notable companies in M13's portfolio
M13 now manages $1.3 billion in assets and has invested in unicorns like SpaceX, Pinterest, Lyft, Snapchat, and Headspace. Their portfolio has Ring, where Carter remembers writing "the first check when Jamie [Siminoff] was in his garage". M13 ranked 14th in the 2023 HEC-Dow Jones Venture Capital Performance Ranking under the Reum brothers' guidance.
Beyond Business: Books, Media, and Philanthropy
Carter Reum has built his influence beyond his business millions through writing books, appearing in media, and supporting charitable causes. These ventures strengthen his personal brand and add to his net worth.
Shortcut Your Startup: Key takeaways
Carter and his brother Courtney wrote the national bestseller "Shortcut Your Startup: Ten Ways to Speed Up Entrepreneurial Success" in 2018. Random House and Penguin Books published this practical guide that packs the brothers' business wisdom into ten key "Startup Switchups" including:
- "Get into the Trenches"
- "Know if You're a Speedboat or a Sailboat"
- "Nail It Before You Scale It"
Their experiences from creating VEEV and investing in companies like SpaceX, Lyft, and Pinterest shaped the book's insights.
Media appearances and public speaking
Reum's media career includes appearances on the TV series "Hatched" and expert commentary on CBS and Fox networks. His authority in business grows through articles he writes for top publications like Huffington Post and Inc.
Charity work and social impact
Charitable work stands at the heart of Reum's identity. VEEV donated part of its profits to environmental causes, while Reum supports groups like Pencils of Promise and Art of Elysium personally. His commitment to giving back showed when he and his wife Paris Hilton's 11:11 Media Impact Fund donated $100,000 to help families displaced by wildfires.
Conclusion
Carter Reum has definitely made a name for himself beyond being Paris Hilton's husband. He built an impressive $20 million net worth through smart business ventures and investments. His career took off when he switched from being a Goldman Sachs banker to becoming a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist with a keen eye for opportunities.
VEEV Spirits' sale for $70 million became without doubt his biggest win, especially since the company focused on creating eco-friendly spirits.
His venture capital firm M13 now manages over $1.3 billion in assets and stands among the world's top-performing VC firms. This success shows his talent to spot promising startups and help them grow. While his net worth might be less than his wife Paris Hilton's $300 million fortune, such financial differences are common among high-profile couples.
Reum's success story shows how privilege can become a stepping stone when combined with vision and determination. His background gave him advantages – a successful CEO father and Columbia University education. He turned these chances into achievements through hard work and state-of-the-art thinking.
Reum's story goes beyond just making money. It demonstrates how entrepreneurial spirit, sustainability values, and strategic thinking build real success. He took risks with VEEV, wrote bestselling books, and supported charitable causes.
His career path proves he's much more than just a famous heiress's husband. His story stands as evidence of what happens when you spot opportunities, accept new ideas, and use business smarts to create lasting wealth.
FAQs
Q1. What is Carter Reum's estimated net worth?
Carter Reum's net worth is estimated to be between $20 million and $40 million, primarily built through his successful business ventures and investments.
Q2. How did Carter Reum build his wealth?
Carter Reum built his wealth through various means, including co-founding VEEV Spirits, which was sold for $70 million, establishing the venture capital firm M13, making strategic investments in companies like Lyft and Ring, and co-authoring a bestselling book.
Q3. How does Carter Reum's net worth compare to his wife Paris Hilton's?
While Carter Reum's net worth is substantial, it is significantly less than his wife Paris Hilton's estimated $300 million fortune. This financial dynamic is not uncommon among high-profile couples.
Q4. What is M13, and how has it contributed to Carter Reum's success?
M13 is a venture capital firm founded by Carter Reum and his brother. It manages over $1.3 billion in assets and has invested in successful companies like SpaceX and Pinterest. M13's success has significantly contributed to Reum's wealth and reputation in the business world.
Q5. Besides his business ventures, how else has Carter Reum made an impact?
In addition to his business success, Carter Reum has co-authored a bestselling book on entrepreneurship, made media appearances as a business commentator, and engaged in philanthropic efforts, including supporting environmental causes and contributing to disaster relief funds.