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Did Stellar Blade Make Shift Up’s CEO One of Korea’s Richest?

Stellar Blade was a major contributor to Shift Up, but the CEO’s wealth estimates are date-specific—and the 2026 Korea top-50 list does not include him.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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Stellar Blade helped make Shift Up a valuable game company, but it did not single-handedly make CEO Kim Hyung-tae a billionaire. Forbes estimated in July 2024 that Kim and his wife together were worth $1 billion after Shift Up’s stock-market debut. Forbes put Kim’s estimated net worth at $725 million in 2025, and Forbes Korea’s 2026 list of Korea’s 50 richest people does not include him. Those are dated estimates, not a current October 2026 wealth figure or rank.

What did the 2024 billionaire estimate actually measure?

When Shift Up listed on South Korea’s KOSPI market on July 11, 2024, a sharp rise in its share price lifted the paper value of founder and CEO Kim Hyung-tae’s stake. Forbes reported that Kim owned 39% of the company in his own name at the time and estimated the combined wealth of Kim and his wife at $1 billion. The estimate was a couple’s net-worth figure, not a claim that Kim personally had $1 billion in cash or had sold shares worth that amount. Forbes’ July 11, 2024 report also quoted a Daishin Securities analyst describing both Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade as globally successful games.

A founder’s listed-share value can change as the share price moves. It is also distinct from money realized by selling shares, company revenue, company profit, or the company’s market capitalization. These measures should not be treated as interchangeable when describing personal wealth.

What do later wealth estimates and rankings say?

Forbes’ Korea rich-list coverage in April 2025 estimated Kim’s net worth at $725 million. That is a later, lower estimate than the $1 billion combined figure reported for Kim and his wife on listing day; the figures differ in date and in whose wealth they describe. Forbes’ 2025 coverage does not establish Kim’s wealth today.

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#1 Best Overall
Stellar Blade - PlayStation 5
  • Stunning PS5 visuals: Explore vibrant futuristic environments, and engage with a cast of original friends and foes from the creative minds of the SHIFT UP team, led by renowned artist Kim Hyung Tae.
  • Ultra high-speed SSD: Explore new locations, overcome powerful enemies, and encounter jaw-dropping revelations as you advance relentlessly through EVE’s mission with lightning-fast load times.
  • Adaptive triggers: Unleash devastating yet graceful acrobatic moves, and interact with the technological remnants of an abandoned Earth using the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers.
  • Haptic feedback: Feel the thrill of combat as your blade slashes its way to victory, with sensations enriched by the DualSense wireless controller’s responsive vibrations.
  • Users Interact, In-Game Purchases

Forbes Korea’s published 2026 Korea’s 50 Richest list does not include Kim in its top 50. The list’s estimates use share prices and exchange rates as of March 27, 2026, so its omission is evidence about that ranking and valuation date—not proof of an exact current net worth or rank in October 2026. The 2026 list is the latest cited ranking here, and no exact October 2026 personal net-worth figure is established by these sources.

How much did Stellar Blade contribute to Shift Up?

Shift Up is a multi-game business, and its 2025 results show meaningful revenue from both Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade. The figures below are reported for the same fiscal year, but they come from different presentations of the company’s results.

Rank #2
Stellar Blade Korean Edition [English Supports] for PS5
  • This is Korean Version released by SIEK. Region free title so you can play it on your system.
  • Korean Edition supports Multi language Subtitles: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, German, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, French, Finnish, Tyre
  • A thrilling slice of razor-sharp action - Engage in blisteringly fast combat as you slash a path through the remnants of Earth, facing epic boss encounters that will challenge both brain and brawn in equal measure. Unleash graceful yet brutal attacking combos and unlock new moves as you progress, with customisable skills based on your play style. Upgrade Eve’s weapons to boost your chances as each boss battle becomes progressively more demanding
  • An incredible visual experience - Become immersed in a highly detailed post-apocalyptic world that blends beauty and horror to spectacular effect. Explore breath-taking science fiction-inspired environments as the characters and creations of renowned Korean artist and Shift Up studio director Kim Hyung Tae are brought to life, via the graphical power.
  • A deep, unforgettable adventure - Discover an enthralling narrative filled with mature themes, mystery and revelation. Embrace the relentless pace, with no time to pause between moments where critical, story-changing decisions are made. Eve's belief in her mission is absolute. But as she destroys her enemies with ruthless power while at the same time forming close-knit bonds with the few friends that have got her back, she'll ultimately be asked questions about what it truly means to be human
Measure Reported amount Source and qualification
Shift Up revenue, 2025 294 billion won Shift Up’s full-year results, presented in its 1Q 2026 investor book.
Shift Up operating profit, 2025 181 billion won Shift Up’s full-year results, presented in its 1Q 2026 investor book.
Shift Up net profit, 2025 191 billion won Shift Up’s full-year results, presented in its 1Q 2026 investor book.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke revenue, 2025 166.8 billion won Shift Up’s annual disclosure, as reported by Yonhap on February 11, 2026.
Stellar Blade revenue, 2025 115.8 billion won Shift Up’s annual disclosure, as reported by Yonhap on February 11, 2026.
Stellar Blade revenue, 2025 117.6 billion won Shift Up’s 1Q 2026 investor book.

The company’s investor book and Yonhap’s report give slightly different 2025 Stellar Blade figures: 117.6 billion won and 115.8 billion won, respectively. They may reflect differences in reporting or classification; they should be cited as presented, not silently combined. Shift Up’s investor materials identify Stellar Blade as an action-adventure game for PS5 and PC, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The investor book provides the company profile and platform description; Yonhap’s February 11, 2026 report covers the annual disclosure figures.

The results show that Stellar Blade was a substantial contributor, but they do not establish that it alone made Kim wealthy. Nikke contributed more reported revenue than Stellar Blade in Yonhap’s breakdown, and company revenue is not the same as a founder’s personal wealth.

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Rank #3
Stellar Blade (Multi-Language)
  • A thrilling slice of razor-sharp action - Engage in blisteringly fast combat as you slash a path through the remnants of Earth, facing epic boss encounters that will challenge both brain and brawn in equal measure. Unleash graceful yet brutal attacking combos and unlock new moves as you progress, with customisable skills based on your play style. Upgrade Eve’s weapons to boost your chances as each boss battle becomes progressively more demanding
  • An incredible visual experience - Become immersed in a highly detailed post-apocalyptic world that blends beauty and horror to spectacular effect. Explore breath-taking science fiction-inspired environments as the characters and creations of renowned Korean artist and Shift Up studio director Kim Hyung Tae are brought to life, via the graphical power of PlayStation5
  • A deep, unforgettable adventure - Discover an enthralling narrative filled with mature themes, mystery and revelation. Embrace the relentless pace, with no time to pause between moments where critical, story-changing decisions are made. Eve's belief in her mission is absolute. But as she destroys her enemies with ruthless power while at the same time forming close-knit bonds with the few friends that have got her back, she'll ultimately be asked questions about what it truly means to be human
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Who owns Shift Up, and what is the company worth?

Shift Up’s 1Q 2026 investor book reports that, in March 2026, 40% was held by its CEO, executives and employees, a category that includes 1% treasury shares; Tencent held 35%, and other shareholders held 25%. The book identifies Kim as CEO and says Shift Up listed on KOSPI on July 11, 2024. It also reports a market capitalization of 1.87 trillion won as of March 31, 2026. These are company ownership and market-value figures with specific dates; they are not a direct measure of Kim’s individual net worth.

What is known about Stellar Blade’s next stage?

Shift Up’s investor materials refer to a Stellar Blade sequel and platform expansion toward 2027. Yonhap reported in February 2026 that Shift Up was considering expanding the game beyond PS5 and PC and planned to share more about the sequel. These statements describe a roadmap and consideration, not a confirmed release date, platform list, or guarantee of launch. Yonhap’s report describes the company’s comments and its 2025 results, while the investor book sets out the roadmap.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Stellar Blade - PlayStation 5
Stellar Blade - PlayStation 5
Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
$46.30
Bestseller No. 3

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