Frank D. Robinson's net worth is best estimated at about $300 million at the time of his death in 2022, with a practical range of $150 million to $600 million. This is an estate-style estimate for the founder of Robinson Helicopter Company, not a current living-person net worth for 2026.
The estimate is based mainly on Robinson's founder ownership in a private helicopter manufacturer, the long commercial life of the R22, R44, and R66, and the company's reported scale as a private aerospace business. The often-repeated $1.4 billion figure is not supported by a current Forbes billionaire profile or public company filing, so it should be treated as unverified.
Updated July 16, 2026.
Quick Facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Full name | Franklin Davis Robinson |
| Known as | Frank D. Robinson, founder of Robinson Helicopter Company |
| Estimated net worth | About $300 million at the time of death; practical range $150 million to $600 million |
| Born | January 14, 1930, in Carbonado, Washington, United States |
| Died | November 12, 2022, in Rolling Hills, California, at age 92 |
| Company | Robinson Helicopter Company, founded in 1973 in Torrance, California |
| Best-known aircraft | Robinson R22, R44, and R66 |
| Education | BSME from the University of Washington in 1957; graduate work in aeronautical engineering at the University of Wichita |
| Successor | Kurt Robinson became president and chairman after Frank Robinson retired in 2010 |
| Height | Not consistently published in primary public profiles |
Why Frank Robinson's Net Worth Is Estimated Around $300 Million
Frank Robinson's wealth came from building Robinson Helicopter Company, not from public-company stock, celebrity endorsements, or a sports career. Because Robinson Helicopter is private, the exact ownership stake, estate value, dividends, debt, and family trust structure are not public.
A $300 million midpoint is a reasonable estimate for a founder who built a long-running private aerospace manufacturer with thousands of delivered helicopters, worldwide brand recognition, and durable product lines. The lower end of the range allows for private-company debt, estate planning, shared family ownership, and manufacturing costs. The upper end allows for a stronger company valuation and decades of retained ownership value.
The old $1.4 billion claim is too strong without a reliable billionaire-list entry, transaction price, or disclosed ownership percentage. Robinson was clearly a wealthy founder, but the public record supports a high eight-figure to mid nine-figure estimate more than a confirmed billionaire figure.
Robinson Helicopter Company
Robinson founded Robinson Helicopter Company in 1973 after earlier engineering work at Cessna, McCulloch, Kaman, Bell Helicopter, and Hughes Helicopters. The company was built around a simple commercial idea: make light helicopters more affordable and practical for training, private flying, utility work, and small operators.
The R22 first flew in 1975 and entered production in 1979. The four-seat R44 first flew in 1990 and became one of the most successful general-aviation helicopters in the world. The turbine-powered R66 followed later and received FAA type and production certificates in 2010, just before Robinson formally retired.
Robinson Helicopter has reported more than 12,000 aircraft produced, and public company summaries describe it as a private Torrance-based manufacturer with roughly $200 million in revenue and about 1,300 employees. In 2024, the company acquired Ascent Aerosystems, and in 2025 it announced the larger R88 concept, showing that the company continued beyond Frank Robinson under Kurt Robinson's leadership.
Career Before Robinson Helicopter
Frank Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington, and earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Washington in 1957. He also completed graduate work in aeronautical engineering at the University of Wichita.
Before founding his company, Robinson worked on helicopter and rotorcraft projects at Cessna Aircraft, Umbaugh, McCulloch Aircraft, Kaman Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, and Hughes Helicopters. That background matters because it explains why Robinson Helicopter was not a simple sales company; it was built by an engineer who had spent years studying low-cost rotorcraft, tail rotors, and practical helicopter design.
Retirement, Death, and Family
Frank Robinson retired as president and chairman in August 2010 after the R66 program reached certification and production. His son Kurt Robinson took over as president and chairman.
Robinson died at his home in Rolling Hills, California, on November 12, 2022, at age 92. Public biographies list six children. His second wife, Barbara L. Krauss Robinson, was also a helicopter pilot and Robinson Helicopter executive; she died in 2009.
Awards and Aviation Recognition
Robinson's aviation recognition is stronger than most net-worth pages mention. He received the Howard Hughes Memorial Award in 2004, was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2009, received a Lifetime Aviation Engineering Award in 2010, and was awarded the Daniel Guggenheim Medal in 2013 for his work on affordable, reliable, versatile helicopters.
Those awards do not prove a specific net worth, but they do prove the quality of the underlying career. They also help separate Frank D. Robinson the helicopter founder from Frank Robinson the baseball Hall of Famer and other people with the same name.
Common Questions
What was Frank Robinson's helicopter net worth?
Frank D. Robinson's helicopter-related net worth is best estimated at about $300 million at the time of his death in 2022, with a practical range of $150 million to $600 million.
Was Frank Robinson a billionaire?
There is no strong public evidence that Frank D. Robinson was a confirmed billionaire. The $1.4 billion number repeated on older profile pages is not backed by a current Forbes billionaire profile, public filing, or disclosed sale price.
Is this Frank Robinson the baseball player?
No. This page is about Frank D. Robinson, the aerospace engineer who founded Robinson Helicopter Company. The baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was a different person.
Who runs Robinson Helicopter Company now?
Kurt Robinson became president and chairman after Frank Robinson retired in 2010.
How tall was Frank D. Robinson?
Frank D. Robinson's height is not consistently published in primary public profiles. The more reliable public facts are his engineering career, company history, aircraft designs, retirement, death, and aviation awards.