Richard Stockton Rush III or well known as Stockton Rush, was an American engineer, businessman, pilot and deep-sea explorer who is most notable as the co-founder and CEO of OceanGate Inc., a privately owned company that operated manned submersibles to explore the deep ocean. The legacy of Stockton Rush is inspiring and controversial at the same time, characterized by the bold inspiration and the downstate wildness.
In this blog, we will cover Stockton Rush biography, age, height, family, career, net worth and More
Stockton Rush Biography
Stockton RushIII was an American engineer, businessman, entrepreneurs, and co-founder of OceanGate, he was born on March 31, 1962 in San francisco, california and his lifelong fantasy was aviation and undersea exploration. His desire to test the limits of technology eventually led to the design and test diving of submersibles to extreme depths; the most well-known being the Titan, which perilously imploded in June 2023 when diving on a Titanic expedition, killing him and four others.
| Full Name | Richard Stockton Rush III |
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1962 |
| Date of Death | June 18, 2023 |
| Age at Death | 61 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Engineer, Entrepreneur, Pilot |
| Known For | CEO & Co-founder of OceanGate Expeditions |
| Education | Princeton University (Aerospace Engineering) UC Berkeley (MBA) |
| Spouse | Wendy Weil Rush |
| Children | 2 (Ben and Quincy Rush) |
| 2025 Net Worth Estimate | $25 million (posthumous valuation) |
Stockton Rush age, Height & Physique
Stockton Rush age is 61 years, and information about his physique like height and weight kept private, as per his image analysis, his hair is blackish white and skin colour is fair.
Stockton Rush’s Family and Legacy
Rush also left his wife, Wendy Weil Rush, and two children. Remarkably, Wendy Rush has ties with Isidor Straus, a first-class passenger that died in the original Titanic in 1912, making it quite chilling how the 2023 family fate may be a mirror image of the first.
| Family Member | Relation |
| Wendy Weil Rush | Wife, married since 1986 |
| Ben Rush | Son |
| Quincy Rush | Daughter |
| Isidor & Ida Straus | Wife’s great-great-grandparents (Titanic passengers) |
Stockton Educational Qualifications
Stockton was not only a businessman but also an airplane pilot. He was at the age of 19 the youngest jet transport-rated globally. Having graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering from Princeton University (BSE), MBA from University of california, Berkeley and becoming the youngest jet transport-rated pilot, at age 19, his life was in aviation and underwater innovation and also in entrepreneurship.
| Degree | Details |
| BSE | Princeton University |
| MBA | University of california, Berkeley |
| Certified Jet Pilot | United Airlines Jet Training Institute |
| Age at Certification | 19 years old |
| Aircraft Flown | McDonnell Douglas DC-8 |
Stockton Rush Net Worth Timeline
Stockton Rush died prematurely in 2023, but people still show an interest in his estate. This is the way his net worth changed:
| Year | Estimated Net Worth |
| 2025 | $25 million |
| 2023 | $25 million |
| 2022 | $22 million |
| 2021 | $20 million |
| 2020 | $18 million |
| 2019 | $16 million |
| 2018 | $15 million |
Stockton Rush Net worth’s Sources of Income
Stockton Rush had made his fortune through some combination of business activities, family money, and the application of the latest marine technology.
1. OceanGate Expeditions
James founded the privately owned OceanGate in 2009 which is active in the field of manned submersibles.
| Company | OceanGate Expeditions |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Co-founder | Guillermo Söhnlein |
| Peak Valuation | $66 million (2023) |
| Annual Revenue | ~$690,000 (2023) |
| Number of Employees | Over 50 |
| Role | CEO and majority stakeholder |
| Annual Salary as CEO | Estimated $500,000 – $700,000 |
The OceanGate-sponsored Titan mission had been sold as a luxury affair requiring 250,000 dollars to book a spot on the submersible.
2. Venture Capital and Tech Bridges
This is not the first time Rush has worked in venture capital prior to OceanGate and this is not the first time he has worked in the tech start up sector in a senior position:
| Company/Role | Details |
| Peregrine Partners | Early career venture capital firm linked to family |
| BlueView Technologies | Worked as sonar system manufacturer |
| Entomo | Board Member (enterprise software firm) |
| Remote-Control Technology | Chairman (automation and control systems) |
These ventures gave him early capital, experience, and connections needed for his OceanGate journey.
3. Inherited Family Wealth
Rush was born into a privileged and powerful family background in America. His maternal grandfather was a board member of Standard Oil, making him one of the largest petroleum businesses in the world, Ralph K. Davies. His grandmother, Louise M. Davies was a philanthropist and namesake of the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco.
| Family Asset | Details |
| Standard Oil ties | Through maternal grandfather, Ralph K. Davies |
| Oil & Gas legacy | Father, Richard Rush Jr., chaired Peregrine Oil |
| Historical estate value (est.) | $10–15 million family inheritance over decades |
Was Stockton Rush a Billionaire?
No Rush was not a billionaire. Referring to a net worth of 25 million, he could be among rich businesspeople but not the billionaires.
| Comparison with Billionaire Level | Value |
| Billionaire Threshold | $1 Billion+ |
| Rush’s Net Worth (2025) | $25 Million |
| Percentage of Billionaire Net Worth | 2.5% |
An Archaic Financial Legacy
The fortunes of Stockton Rush lay in innovation, risk-taking and a keen interest in the unknown. Although not a billionaire, his 25 million estate was as a result of calculated investments and being a leader into high risk explorations.
| Category | Estimated Value / Outcome |
| OceanGate Stake | ~$10 million (private equity) |
| Annual CEO Salary | ~$500,000 |
| Inherited Wealth | ~$10–15 million over lifetime |
| Tech Ventures & Equity | ~$2–3 million |
| Media Rights (Posthumous) | Ongoing |
| Legal Liabilities | Still pending (could affect estate) |
Who Owns OceanGate Now?
OceanGate was a privately owned organization and was co-owned by:
| Name | Role |
| Stockton Rush (Deceased) | Co-founder, CEO |
| Guillermo Söhnlein | Co-founder (left in 2013) |
Stockton Rush Death (The Titan Submersible Tragedy)
On June 18, 2023, Stockton Rush was killed in an implosion of the Titan submersible on the way to the Titanic wreck site. Attracting the world media, the accident cast doubt upon the safety level, the Titan design, and the leadership style of Rush.
| Passengers | Nationality |
| Stockton Rush | USA (CEO, Pilot) |
| Hamish Harding | UK (Billionaire Adventurer) |
| Shahzada & Suleman Dawood | Pakistan (Businessmen) |
| Paul-Henri Nargeolet | France (Titanic Expert) |
Lawsuits and Financial Impact
After the crash, there were several suits filed against families who lost their lives. That can be something against Rush, which is something to settle or insurance coverage. Nevertheless, it is estimated that the personal estate of Rush is worth 25 million dollars, although part of the sum might be diverted into the claims or compensations.
| Legal Status (as of 2025) | Details |
| Lawsuits Filed | Yes (Civil suits from families) |
| Estate Frozen | Under legal review |
| OceanGate Status | Operations paused, future unclear |
Stockton Rush in Pop Culture and Media
Stockton Rush has, since the tragedy, been the topic of
- HBO, Netflix documentaries
- News specials
- Podcast series
- An upcoming potential biopic
These after-death additions might bring royalties to his estate which will contribute to his posthumous wealth.
Conclusion
The life of Stockton Rush was never a simple tale of making money, but about testing limits and what comes of it. Whereas he can be viewed as a visionary, he was considered irrepressible by others. Today his legacy is a complicated mixture of creativity, risk, and controversy, yet without doubt, he left his mark on the undersea exploration and business adventures.
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