Work : Start Business 1997 (eBay)
Financial : Gain significant money 1998 (From eBays first year of revenue)
Social : Great Publicity 2005 (Endowed foundation with $100 million)
French businessman and entrepreneur, founder of E-Bay. Born in France, he and his family moved to Maryland in the US so that his father could take up residency at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. In 1988, Omidyar graduated from Tufts University in Massachusetts fulfilling his long-time avid interest in computers with a degree in computer science. He landed a job at Claris, owned by Apple Corporation. Not content to be an emplioyee, he and friends started their own company in 1991, Ink Development Corporation, later known as eShop Inc. and sold to Microsoft in 1996. He began dating Pamela Wesley whom he later married. On one date, while she was talking about her hobby of trading Pez dispensers, a light went on in his head. He realized that hobbyist traders could benefit from his interest in the Internet and mobile communications. In late 1995, he launching a personal trading service on his own personal website called Auction Web.The service took off and he began making more money than ever. Within two years, eBay was born. A year later, in 1998, eBay went public and he was personally worth $3 billion. He hired Meg Whitman as CEO in 1998. Omidyar and his wife donate huge amounts of money and vowed to give away all but one percent of their fortune for 20 years.He is particularly interested in international microfinance initiatives. In 2005 he announced his bestowal of $100 million to the Omidyhar-Tufts University Microfinance Fund. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less
Born: June 21, 1967, Paris, France
Pierre Omidyar is a French-born Iranian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known as the founder of eBay. His innovative approach to online auctions revolutionized e-commerce and propelled him to become a billionaire. Beyond eBay, Omidyar has dedicated significant resources to philanthropic endeavors through Omidyar Network, focusing on areas such as governance & citizen engagement, economic advancement, property rights, and responsible technology. He is also involved in journalism through First Look Media, demonstrating a commitment to independent investigative reporting.
Information about Pierre Omidyar's current projects and recent news is limited due to his preference for maintaining a lower public profile in recent years. While Omidyar Network and First Look Media continue their operations, specific details regarding new initiatives or ventures involving Omidyar himself are not readily available through traditional news sources.
Omidyar Network continues to invest in various organizations aligned with its mission, with ongoing support for initiatives related to digital identity, financial inclusion, and combating disinformation. First Look Media, while facing challenges and restructuring in the past, continues to pursue investigative journalism.
Pierre Omidyar maintains a limited social media presence. He previously utilized platforms like Twitter (@pierre) but his activity has decreased significantly.
Omidyar Network remains the primary vehicle for Pierre Omidyar's philanthropy. The organization invests in and supports organizations working towards a more open and inclusive society. Key areas of focus include:
Pierre Omidyar founded First Look Media to support independent journalism. While the organization has faced its share of challenges, it continues to be involved in investigative reporting and documentary filmmaking, striving to hold power accountable and expose wrongdoing.
For further details on the activities of Omidyar Network and First Look Media, please visit their respective websites.
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