How Did Brad Jacobs Make His Money?

Brad Jacobs’s Profile Summary

Company	XPO Logistics, Inc.
Position	Former Chairman and CEO
Source of wealth	Logistics, waste management, equipment rental
Also known as	Brad Jacobs
Age	67
Education	Brown University (dropped out), Bennington College
Citizenship	USA
Residence	Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
Family	Married, children
Website, Social Media	https://www.xpo.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-jacobs

Brad Jacobs’s biography

Brad Jacobs is an American billionaire entrepreneur known for building multiple billion-dollar companies across various industries, including waste management, equipment rental, and logistics. Born in 1957, Jacobs demonstrated a keen business sense early in life. He co-founded his first major company, United Waste Systems, in 1989, focusing on waste collection and disposal. By 1997, the company had grown to over 200 locations and was sold to Waste Management, Inc. for $2.5 billion.

After that success, Jacobs founded United Rentals in 1997, which became the world’s largest equipment rental company. Under his leadership, United Rentals expanded rapidly through acquisitions and became a major player in the construction industry.

Jacobs' most notable achievement came in 2011 when he took control of XPO Logistics, a small transportation company at the time. He transformed XPO into one of the world's leading logistics firms through a series of strategic acquisitions, including Con-way and Norbert Dentressangle. Under his leadership, XPO grew from $175 million in revenue to over $17 billion, becoming a global powerhouse in transportation and supply chain solutions.

In addition to his corporate achievements, Jacobs has been involved in philanthropy, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare. He remains a prominent figure in the business world, known for his ability to identify and scale businesses across different sectors.

How did Brad Jacobs make money?
Brad Jacobs built his fortune through his ability to identify opportunities in fragmented industries and scale companies through acquisitions. His entrepreneurial journey began in the late 1980s when he co-founded United Waste Systems, a waste management company. Jacobs saw an opportunity to consolidate the highly fragmented waste industry and quickly expanded the business by acquiring smaller operators. By the time United Waste was sold to Waste Management in 1997 for $2.5 billion, it was operating in over 200 locations across the U.S.

Following the sale, Jacobs turned his attention to the equipment rental industry, founding United Rentals in 1997. He applied a similar strategy, rapidly growing the company through acquisitions. United Rentals became the largest equipment rental company in the world, serving industries from construction to industrial manufacturing.

In 2011, Jacobs made his most significant business move by acquiring a controlling interest in XPO Logistics, then a small, regional logistics company. He saw the potential to transform XPO into a global leader in logistics and supply chain services. Jacobs implemented an aggressive growth strategy, completing over a dozen acquisitions, including the high-profile purchase of Con-way for $3 billion and Norbert Dentressangle, a major European logistics firm, for $3.5 billion.

Under his leadership, XPO's revenue skyrocketed, growing from $175 million to over $17 billion in less than a decade. Jacobs stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains actively involved as a major shareholder and strategic advisor.

His success across three different industries—waste management, equipment rental, and logistics—has solidified his reputation as a visionary entrepreneur with a talent for scaling businesses.
What is Brad Jacobs net worth?

As of 2025, Brad Jacobs’s net worth is estimated to be $14.0 B.

What is Brad Jacobs also known as?

Brad Jacobs is known as a serial entrepreneur and business strategist, having built three multi-billion-dollar companies in three different industries: waste management, equipment rental, and logistics.

Prominent achievements of Brad Jacobs

Jacobs built three billion-dollar companies in different industries, including United Waste Systems, United Rentals, and XPO Logistics. He transformed XPO into a global logistics powerhouse, achieving significant growth through acquisitions. He is also recognized for his philanthropic contributions, particularly in education and healthcare.

What are Brad Jacobs’s key insights?

Jacobs emphasizes growth through acquisitions, believing that consolidating fragmented industries is key to creating value. He also advocates for long-term vision, disciplined execution, and empowering leadership teams to drive sustainable success.