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Henk Rogers Net Worth: The Man Behind Tetris Success

Henk Rogers is a Dutch-born American video game designer and entrepreneur who is best known for his role in bringing Tetris, one of the most popular and influential video games of all time, to the global market. But how much is Henk Rogers worth, and how did he build his fortune? Here is a brief overview of his life, career, and net worth.

Henk Rogers’ Early Life and Education

Henk Rogers was born on December 24, 1953, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He moved to New York City with his family when he was 11 years old and attended Stuyvesant High School. He later moved to Hawaii and studied computer science at the University of Hawaii.

Henk Rogers’ Video Game Career

Henk Rogers started his video game career in 1983, when he founded Bullet-Proof Software (later renamed Blue Planet Software), a video game developer and publisher based in Japan. He produced Japan’s first major turn-based role-playing game, The Black Onyx, which was a hit in the Japanese market.

In 1988, Rogers discovered Tetris, a puzzle game created by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov, at a trade show in Las Vegas. He was impressed by the game’s simplicity and addictiveness and decided to acquire its rights for video game consoles. He traveled to Moscow and negotiated with Elektronorgtechnica (ELORG), a Soviet software company that owned the rights to Tetris. He managed to secure the rights for home gaming systems and co-founded The Tetris Company with Pajitnov, which licenses the Tetris trademark.

Rogers also made a deal with Nintendo to include Tetris as a pack-in game for their handheld system, the Game Boy, which was launched in 1989. This proved to be a masterstroke, as Tetris became a worldwide phenomenon and helped boost the sales of the Game Boy. Tetris has since sold over 520 million copies across various platforms, making it one of the highest-selling video games of all time.

Henk Rogers’ Other Ventures and Philanthropy

Henk Rogers has also been involved in other ventures and philanthropic activities beyond video games. In 2005, he sold Blue Lava Wireless, a mobile game publisher that he founded in 2001, for $137 million. In 2007, he founded Blue Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes clean energy and environmental sustainability in Hawaii. He also launched Blue Startups, a startup accelerator that supports technology entrepreneurs in Hawaii and the Pacific region.

In 2015, Rogers founded Blue Planet Energy, a company that provides energy storage systems for homes and businesses using lithium ferrous phosphate batteries. He also invested in several real estate projects in Hawaii, including a ranch, a hotel, and a golf course.

Henk Rogers’ Net Worth

Henk Rogers’ net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $137 million as of 2023. The majority of his wealth comes from his involvement in Tetris and his sale of Blue Lava Wireless. His other businesses and investments also contribute to his net worth.

Henk Rogers is a remarkable person who has made a significant impact on the video game industry and the world. He is a visionary who saw the potential of Tetris and helped it reach millions of people. He is also a philanthropist who cares about the environment and the community. He is an inspiration for many aspiring game designers and entrepreneurs who want to follow their dreams and make a difference.

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Zora Stowers

Update: 2024-05-18