Famous American Internet Entrepreneurs

Jeff Bezos is an American business magnate known for founding Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. He graduated from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, which started as an online bookstore and expanded into various e-commerce products and services. He also founded Blue Origin, an aerospace manufacturer and spaceflight services company. Bezos purchased The Washington Post in 2013 and manages investments through Bezos Expeditions. He stepped down as Amazon's CEO in 2021.

Alexis Kerry Ohanian is an American internet entrepreneur and investor known for his role as the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, alongside Steve Huffman and Aaron Swartz. He co-founded Initialized Capital, a venture capital firm, and was involved in launching Hipmunk and Breadpig. Ohanian also served as a partner at Y Combinator. As of 2019, his estimated net worth was $70 million, reflecting his successful career in the tech industry.

Mark Zuckerberg is an American businessman known for co-founding Facebook and its parent company Meta Platforms. He holds key positions in both companies and has faced legal challenges related to website ownership and user privacy. Zuckerberg launched Facebook during his time at Harvard University and took the company public in 2012. He became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2008 and has engaged in philanthropic efforts through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. With a net worth of $176 billion, he is one of the world's wealthiest individuals.

Jack Dorsey is an American Internet entrepreneur, philanthropist, and programmer known for his prominent roles in the tech industry. He co-founded Twitter, Inc. and served as CEO from 2015 to 2021. Additionally, he is a co-founder, principal executive officer, and chairperson of Block, Inc., the developer of the Square financial services platform. Dorsey's professional journey showcases his leadership and innovation in the realm of social media, technology, and financial services, leading to a substantial net worth estimated at $3.1 billion as of October 2023.

Jimmy Donal Wales, also known as Jimbo Wales, is an Internet entrepreneur, webmaster, and former financial trader. He co-founded Wikipedia, the non-profit free encyclopedia, and Fandom (formerly Wikia), the for-profit wiki hosting service. Wales has been involved in various online projects such as Bomis, Nupedia, WikiTribune, and WT Social. He played a key role in the creation and promotion of Wikipedia, which quickly gained popularity. Wales serves on the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees and has been recognized for his influential contributions to the online world.

Jawed Karim is an American software engineer and Internet entrepreneur known for co-founding YouTube. He was the first person to upload a video to the platform, titled "Me at the zoo." Karim played a crucial role in designing core components, such as the real-time anti-fraud system, during his time at PayPal, where he met his future YouTube co-founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley. His contributions have significantly impacted the development and success of both PayPal and YouTube.

Steve Chen is a Taiwanese-American Internet entrepreneur known for co-founding YouTube, where he served as the previous chief technology officer. He later founded AVOS Systems, Inc. and developed the video-sharing app MixBit. In 2014, Chen transitioned to Google Ventures, showcasing his expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Throughout his career, he has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of online video sharing and has continued to make valuable contributions to the tech industry.

Travis Kalanick is an American businessman known for co-founding and serving as the former CEO of Uber. He previously worked with Scour and co-founded Red Swoosh. Kalanick faced scrutiny for Uber's corporate culture and resigned in 2017, eventually selling most of his Uber shares. In 2018, he launched venture fund 10100 focusing on e-commerce and real estate in emerging markets. He invested in City Storage Systems, becoming its CEO and launching CloudKitchens, valued at $15 billion in 2021.

Aaron Swartz was an accomplished American computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, and Internet hacktivist. He contributed significantly to technology development, including web feed format RSS, Creative Commons' technical architecture, web.py website framework, and Markdown language format. Swartz played a key role in Reddit's early development before engaging more in activism, founding Demand Progress and aiding the launch of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. His work focused on civic awareness and activism, leading to his posthumous induction into the Internet Hall of Fame.

David Baszucki is a prominent entrepreneur, engineer, and software developer known for his contributions to the gaming industry. He co-founded Roblox Corporation, where he currently serves as CEO, and previously founded Knowledge Revolution, a company later acquired by MSC Software. Baszucki's innovative leadership has played a significant role in shaping the success and growth of both companies. His expertise in technology and business has positioned him as a key figure in the development of interactive online platforms, particularly within the gaming sector.

Jerry Chih-Yuan Yang is an American billionaire computer programmer, internet entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo! Inc., a prominent internet company. Yang is also a founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures, demonstrating his continued involvement in the tech industry. With a net worth of $2.5 billion as of July 2023, Yang's success and contributions to the technology sector have solidified his reputation as a leading figure in the business world.

Brian Acton is an American computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur known for co-founding WhatsApp with Jan Koum in 2009. The mobile messaging application was later acquired by Facebook for US$19 billion in 2014. Acton left WhatsApp in 2017 to start the Signal Foundation with Moxie Marlinspike. He currently serves as the executive chairman of the Signal Technology Foundation and interim CEO of Signal Messenger LLC. Acton's success in the tech industry has placed him among the world's wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of $2.5 billion according to Forbes.

Dan Abrams is an American media entrepreneur, television host, and author. He currently hosts the prime-time show Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation, On Patrol: Live on Reelz, and The Dan Abrams Show: Where Politics Meets The Law on SiriusXM's P.O.T.U.S. channel. He is also the Chief Legal Analyst of ABC News. Abrams was the host of Live PD on the A&E cable network and created Court Cam, a Law&Crime production on A&E. He has worked with NBC News, MSNBC, and Court TV, covering high-profile cases like the O. J. Simpson murder trial.

Joe Gebbia Jr. is an American designer and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Airbnb, a popular home rental company. He has amassed significant wealth through his ownership of millions of shares in Airbnb, ranking him as one of the richest individuals in the world. In addition to his success with Airbnb, Gebbia has expanded his influence by joining the board of Tesla Inc. and investing in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, showcasing his diverse interests and business acumen.

Maitland Ward is an American actress and model who began her professional career in the entertainment industry with her role as Jessica Forrester on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. She gained recognition for portraying Rachel McGuire on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World. Ward transitioned to the adult film industry in 2019 after retiring from mainstream acting. Throughout her career, she has showcased versatility and talent in both traditional acting roles and adult films.

Jonah H. Peretti is an American internet entrepreneur known for co-founding and serving as CEO of BuzzFeed, a prominent digital media company. He is also recognized as a co-founder of The Huffington Post, a leading online news platform. Peretti has contributed significantly to the development of reblogging through his project "Reblog," showcasing his innovative approach to content sharing. With a strong background in digital media and entrepreneurship, Peretti has made a lasting impact on the online media landscape through his various ventures.

Dustin Moskovitz is an American billionaire internet entrepreneur known for co-founding Facebook, Inc. (now Meta Platforms) with Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes. He left Facebook in 2008 to co-found Asana with Justin Rosenstein. In 2011, he was recognized as the youngest self-made billionaire for his stake in Facebook. Currently, his net worth is estimated at US$23 billion. Moskovitz's career has been marked by successful ventures in the tech industry, demonstrating his expertise and entrepreneurial acumen.

Evan Williams is an American billionaire technology entrepreneur known for his prominent roles in various successful ventures. He co-founded Twitter and served as its CEO, later becoming a member of the board. Williams also founded popular blogging platforms Blogger and Medium, showcasing his expertise in online content creation. In 2014, he co-founded the venture capital firm Obvious Ventures, further expanding his influence in the tech industry. With an estimated net worth of US$2.1 billion, Williams continues to make significant contributions to the digital landscape.

Craig Newmark is an American internet entrepreneur best known as the founder of Craigslist. Before creating Craigslist, he held computer programming positions at IBM, Bank of America, and Charles Schwab. Newmark served as the chief executive officer of Craigslist until 2000, overseeing its growth and development. In 2015, he established Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support various charitable causes. Throughout his professional career, Newmark has made significant contributions to the tech industry and philanthropic efforts.

Nathan Blecharczyk is a prominent figure in the business world, known for his role as the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb, where he also served as the company's first chief technology officer. He currently holds the position of chairman of Airbnb China. With a net worth of $9.4 billion, he is ranked as the 203rd richest person in the world by Forbes, largely attributed to his ownership of 62 million shares of Airbnb. Blecharczyk's professional journey is characterized by his significant contributions to the success and growth of the company.

Jamie Salvatori is the owner and founder of Vat19.com, an ecommerce gift store known for its unique products. He established the company in 2002 after graduating with a computer science degree. Salvatori manages a successful YouTube channel with over 6 million subscribers to showcase Vat19's offerings. Regarded as "Jamie the evil boss," he brings over a decade of videography and photography experience to create captivating marketing videos. Multilingual in Italian, German, and French, Salvatori is dedicated to providing customers with an exceptional shopping experience.

Tyler Williams is an accomplished American technology entrepreneur with a background in investment banking and experience working for Disney. A graduate of 'The Haverford School' and Stanford University, Tyler's entrepreneurial journey began early, leading him to establish two successful interactive digital platforms. He is known for his food-tasting videos on YouTube and for dating social-media celebrity Safiya Nygaard. Tyler's career highlights include founding his first venture in Silicon Valley and leveraging his diverse experiences to create innovative platforms for sharing stories and experiences globally.

Sergey Brin is an accomplished American businessman and computer scientist known for co-founding Google with Larry Page. He served as the president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., before stepping down in 2019. Brin and Page continue to play key roles at Alphabet as co-founders, controlling shareholders, and board members. Brin's contributions to technology and entrepreneurship have solidified his position as one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with a net worth estimated at $146 billion as of June 2024.

Burnie Burns is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian, host, and director known for his pioneering work in machinima, utilizing video game technology in film-making. As a co-founder of Rooster Teeth, he achieved fame through the acclaimed series "Red vs. Blue" and continued to create innovative content like "The Strangerhood" and "P.A.N.I.C.S." Burns has also starred in films like "Lazer Team" and made significant contributions to web series such as "Immersion" and "The Gauntlet," earning nominations and accolades for his creative endeavors.

Łukasz Nosek is a Polish-American entrepreneur known for co-founding PayPal with notable figures like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk. He played a key role in the company's success as vice president of marketing and strategy, contributing to the development of the "instant transfer" product. After PayPal's acquisition, Nosek pursued angel investing and co-founded Founders Fund, a venture capital firm. He later launched Gigafund, focusing on space exploration, and became an early investor in SpaceX. Nosek's career highlights his expertise in tech innovation and investment.

Steve Huffman is an American web developer and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Reddit, a leading social news and discussion website globally. He has played a pivotal role in establishing Reddit as one of the top 20 websites in the world. Additionally, he co-founded Hipmunk, an airfare search engine website that operated until its closure in 2020. Huffman's professional journey is marked by his innovative contributions to the tech industry, particularly in the realms of online communities and travel technology.

Tony Hsieh was an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist known for his work as the CEO of Zappos, an online shoe and clothing company. He retired from this position in August 2020 after 21 years with the company. Before joining Zappos, Hsieh co-founded LinkExchange, an Internet advertising network that he later sold to Microsoft for $265 million in 1998. Throughout his career, Hsieh made significant contributions to the e-commerce and tech industries, leaving a lasting impact on the business world.

Justin Kan is a prominent American internet entrepreneur and investor known for co-founding popular live video platforms such as Justin.tv and Twitch, as well as the mobile social video application Socialcam. He also founded the law-tech company Atrium and later launched the NFT marketplace Fractal, which was later renamed to Stash. Kan has also been involved with Silicon Valley incubator Y Combinator and gained attention for his "lifecasting" experiment on Justin.tv, as well as creating The Drop, an electronic music discovery platform.

Adam Mosseri is an American businessman known for his role as the head of Instagram. He previously served as an executive at Facebook, the parent company of Instagram, before taking on his current position. Mosseri's professional journey has been focused on social media and technology, where he has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic vision. As the head of Instagram, he is responsible for overseeing the platform's operations, growth, and overall direction, playing a key role in shaping the future of one of the world's most popular social media platforms.

Whitney Wolfe Herd is a prominent American entrepreneur known for her significant contributions to the online dating industry. She is the founder, executive chair, and former CEO of the publicly traded Bumble, which she launched in 2014. Herd played a key role in co-founding Tinder and serving as its Vice President of Marketing. She has been recognized for her achievements, including being named in Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Time 100 List, and becoming the world's youngest female billionaire by taking Bumble public at the age of 31.

Michel Krieger is a prominent Brazilian entrepreneur and software engineer known for co-founding Instagram with Kevin Systrom and serving as its Chief Technology Officer. During his tenure, Instagram experienced remarkable growth, expanding its user base from just a few million to over 1 billion monthly active users. Krieger and Systrom later resigned from Instagram in 2018. In 2024, Krieger joined Anthropic as the Chief Product Officer, further showcasing his expertise and leadership in the tech industry.

Ben Silbermann is an American Internet entrepreneur known for co-founding Pinterest, a popular visual discovery engine that allows users to organize images, links, recipes, and more. As the executive chairman of Pinterest, he plays a key role in guiding the company's strategic direction and growth. Silbermann's professional journey has been marked by a focus on innovation and user experience, with a strong emphasis on creating a platform that inspires creativity and connection among its vast user base.

Justin Siegel is an American entrepreneur known for founding and managing 'ATX Angel, LLC.' He is a music executive and co-founder of 'JNJ Mobile,' leveraging his telecom industry experience. With a background in news channels, he transitioned to advising finance and investment firms like 'Boston Seed Capital.' Justin's career highlights include successful ventures in the telecom sector, though his personal life, including a secret marriage to Emmy Rossum, has also garnered media attention.

Naveen Selvadurai is an American internet entrepreneur known for co-founding the popular location-based social networking site Foursquare.com. He previously worked at startup studio Expa, founded by Garrett Camp, a co-founder of Uber and StumbleUpon. Naveen gained recognition for his achievements, being featured in various publications such as Inc Magazine's 30 under 30 list and Rediff.com's article on the coolest young entrepreneurs in the US. His professional journey showcases his contributions to the tech industry and entrepreneurial success.

Riley Roberts is an American web developer and technology consultant with expertise in business administration and sociology. A graduate of Boston University, he specializes in providing consultancy services for start-ups, focusing on digital marketing, user-experience design, and conversion optimization. Roberts excels in promoting start-ups online, helping them attract valuable clients and increase revenue. He is known for his professional support to companies, working behind the scenes to enhance their online presence and drive business growth.

Max Beaumont is a multifaceted American entrepreneur, content creator, and developer. He has a track record of early success, having launched profitable ventures like 'TubeFreeNow.com' and 'SnapBidder' in his early teens. Beaumont's expertise extends to mobile app development, with notable successes like 'Candy Bear' and 'Project Boom'. He is also recognized for his electronic music production, with hits like 'Fun With Me'. In 2013, he established Beaumont Studios to pursue his ambition of creating a billion-dollar social media platform. Beaumont's latest project, 'The Unexpected Trailblazers', aims to revolutionize education through innovative storytelling.

Case Kenny is a dynamic internet entrepreneur deeply attuned to the millennial ethos. Primarily a writer and content creator, he honed his skills in publishing, advertising, and digital marketing post-graduation. Leveraging this experience, he founded 'Prsuit', initially an online publication showcasing global writers. 'Prsuit' has evolved into a monetized email newsletter featuring transparent, insightful content from over 500 contributors. Co-founding Trep Media Group, he oversees platforms like 'HDF Magazine' and 'The Hustle Sold Separately' podcast in addition to hosting his own podcast, 'The New Mindset, Who Dis'.

David Karp is an American entrepreneur and blogger known for founding the microblogging platform Tumblr. He started his career as an intern at Frederator Studios, where he developed the studio's first blogging platform. After working at UrbanBaby and starting his own consulting company, Davidville, he co-created Tumblr with Marco Arment in 2007. Under his leadership, Tumblr grew to host over 375.4 million blogs. Karp received accolades such as Best Young Tech Entrepreneur 2009 and MIT Technology Review TR35 recognition. After Yahoo! acquired Tumblr in 2013, Karp continued as CEO until his departure in 2017.

Sam Yagan is an American Internet entrepreneur renowned for co-founding OkCupid, a popular online dating platform. His influential role in the digital realm was acknowledged when he was featured on TIME Magazine's '100 Most Influential People in the World' list in 2013. Yagan's expertise extends to his current position as the Vice-Chairman of Match.com, a prominent e-dating website. Through his leadership and innovative contributions, Yagan continues to shape and revolutionize the landscape of online dating, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

Jeffrey Weiner is an accomplished American businessman known for his role as the former CEO of LinkedIn, a leading business-oriented social networking platform. He joined LinkedIn as Interim President in 2008 and was pivotal in facilitating its acquisition by Microsoft for a significant sum in 2016. Weiner currently serves as the Executive Chairman of LinkedIn and is the founding Partner of Next Play Venture Capital. His expertise and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the success and growth of these prominent organizations.

Drew Houston is an American Internet entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Dropbox, a popular online backup and storage service. With a net worth of around $2.2 billion, Houston has made significant contributions to the tech industry. He held a substantial 24.4 percent voting power in Dropbox before its initial public offering in February 2018. Houston's leadership has played a pivotal role in the success and growth of Dropbox, establishing him as a prominent figure in the world of technology and business.

Shaun McKnight is a successful entrepreneur known for his work on the popular YouTube channel 'Cute Girls Hairstyles'. Starting as a hobby for his wife, the channel quickly gained fame for its hair tutorials involving their children. With a background in International Business, Shaun recognized the channel's potential and made it his full-time job. Overseeing its development and subsidiaries, he has secured partnerships with major companies and is a sought-after speaker at conferences. As President and COO of M-Star Media, he continues to drive the channel's success as a top YouTube influencer.

Joy Ajlouny is a dynamic entrepreneur known for co-founding Fetchr, a tech company in Dubai addressing the "no-address" issue in emerging markets. She is deeply involved in the company's operations, from training drivers to managing customer service. Prior to Fetchr, she founded Joy's off-price clothing store and Bonfaire, an e-commerce platform for luxury goods later acquired by Moda Operandi. A role model for women, Joy emphasizes the importance of relentlessness in pursuing one's entrepreneurial vision and not being deterred by setbacks or criticism.

Brandon Wade is an American businessman known for founding the online dating company InfoStream Group. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and MIT Sloan School of Management, with a background in software engineering. Wade gained recognition for creating the sugar dating website Seeking.com, which has faced criticism for similarities to escort services. As the CEO of InfoStream Group, he has made significant contributions to the online dating industry and is known for his entrepreneurial endeavors in the digital space.

Andrew D. Mason is an American businessman and entrepreneur known for founding Groupon, a Chicago-based website that provides users with discounts on local businesses. He served as the CEO of Groupon before moving on to found Descript, a company that offers an audio and video editing tool utilizing machine learning technology. Through his ventures, Mason has demonstrated a keen interest in utilizing technology to improve user experiences in the e-commerce and multimedia editing sectors.

Fahim Saleh was a prominent Bangladeshi-American entrepreneur and computer programmer known for founding successful tech startups such as Gokada in Nigeria, Pathao, and JoBike. He was also a founding partner of Adventure Capital, a well-established venture capital firm based in Manhattan. Saleh's professional life was characterized by his innovative approach to technology and business, as well as his contributions to the startup ecosystem in both the United States and emerging markets like Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Peter Thiel is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. He co-founded PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, and was the first outside investor in Facebook. Thiel has experience working as a securities lawyer, speechwriter, and derivatives trader. He founded Thiel Capital Management and Clarium Capital, and launched Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund. Thiel has also been involved in various investment ventures, including Valar Ventures and Mithril Capital. Through the Thiel Foundation, he oversees grant-making bodies funding research in artificial intelligence, life extension, and seasteading.

Olga Kay is a Russian-American Internet celebrity, performer, and entrepreneur. Trained as a professional circus juggler, she transitioned to acting and video creation. In 2006, she started her YouTube channel, OlgaKay, featuring shows like Emo Girl and Olga Kay's Show. Over the years, she expanded into gaming and fashion channels. Kay has appeared in web shows like MyMusic and Annoying Orange, hosted Tube Top, and collaborated with well-known entertainers. Her media and retail company, Moosh Walks, aims to inspire her female fan base.

Patrick Joseph McGovern Jr. was an American businessman known for founding and chairing International Data Group (IDG). Under his leadership, IDG became a prominent company in technology publishing, research, event management, and venture capital. McGovern's entrepreneurial vision and strategic decisions propelled IDG to success, establishing it as a key player in the industry. His achievements were recognized when he was included in the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans in 2013, reflecting his significant contributions to the business world.

William F. von Meister was an American entrepreneur known for his involvement in various startup ventures in the Washington, D.C., area. He founded and played a key role in projects such as The Source, an early online service that competed with CompuServe, and Control Video Corporation, which later evolved into AOL. Von Meister's professional life was marked by his innovation and vision in the field of technology and online services, leaving a lasting impact on the industry with his pioneering work.