RedCarpetLife
342
In the world today
Harry Stine

Harry Stine

H. Stine
-3.36% | - $-344.00M
$9.89 B ₹ 90,740 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #342 Ranking as of 01 Mar 2026 By Forbes

More on Harry Stine

Gender

Male

Age

85Y

Country

United States

Born On

January, 1941

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

4

Education

McPherson College - Bachelor'S

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Agriculture)

Primary Organization

Stine Seed

Titles

Founder & Owner

Sources of Wealth

Agriculture

Industry

Agriculture, Technology

About Harry Stine


H arry Stine is the founder of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the United States. Raised on a farm in Iowa, he began tinkering with soybean genetics in the 1960s, discovering that he could breed higher-yielding varieties. A self-taught geneticist and astute businessman, Stine revolutionized the industry by patenting soybean genetics and licensing them to multinational giants like Monsanto and Syngenta.

Stine is widely regarded as the wealthiest person in Iowa. Known for his frugality and intellect—he is dyslexic and excels in mathematics—he continues to drive innovation in corn and soybean breeding. He also owns substantial farmland across the United States. His company remains privately held, allowing him to focus on long-term research without the pressure of quarterly earnings.

Advertisement

Quick Reads


Early Life and Background


Harry Stine is a prominent American agricultural entrepreneur and the founder of Stine Seed Company. Born in the heart of the U.S. corn belt on a 200-acre farm in Iowa, Stine’s life was shaped by his father’s soybean cleaning business, which he joined in 1964.

Stine earned a degree in Agronomy from Iowa State University. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia and mild autism, he utilized his unique cognitive perspective to focus intently on the data and mathematics of plant genetics.

  • Core Company: Stine Seed Company.
  • Education: Agronomy degree, Iowa State University.
  • Breakthrough: His interest in seed breeding was sparked by the discovery of an unusual five-pod soybean plant.

Career Journey of Harry Stine


Harry Stine’s career is a study in agricultural innovation. In 1964, he began breeding soybeans, eventually transforming the family business into the world's largest privately held seed company. He pioneered the practice of licensing seed genetics to global chemical giants like Monsanto and Syngenta.

Under his leadership as CEO, Stine Seed has remained independent, relying on vast research-driven practices to improve crop yields. In 2016, his son Myron Stine became the company President, though Harry remains actively involved as CEO. He is consistently ranked as the wealthiest individual in Iowa.

  • Role: Founder and CEO of Stine Seed Company.
  • Industry Influence: Holds over 900 patents related to soybean and corn genetics.

Advertisement

Harry Stine's Timeline


1964:

Joins his father's soybean cleaning business.

1990s:

Achieves major success licensing patented genetics to global competitors.

2016:

Promotes his son Myron to President of Stine Seed.

2024:

Confirmed as Iowa's richest person with a net worth around $10 billion.

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Harry Stine’s wealth is primarily concentrated in his sole ownership of the global agricultural giant Stine Seed.

  • Stine Seed Company: A research powerhouse controlling a significant percentage of U.S. soybean genetics.
  • Real Estate: Owns over 15,000 acres of high-yield farmland across the American Midwest.
  • Sector Focus: Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Seed Breeding.

Advertisement

Philanthropy and Social Impact


Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Advertisement

Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • 1. He is known for his extreme frugality, reportedly driving an older vehicle and flying coach despite his multi-billion dollar fortune.
  • 2. He credits his autism for his ability to process vast amounts of genetic data and 'see' patterns others miss.
  • 3. His company is so influential that approximately 60% of all soybeans grown in the U.S. contain genetics developed by Stine.
  • 4. He remains based in the small town of Adel, Iowa, where his corporate headquarters is located.

Advertisement

More Profiles


Jennifer Gilbert

+3.63% | +$194.71M

Keiko Erikawa

+0.07% | +$0.83M

You May Like


Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

Sponsored Content