Jimmy Wales, the American internet entrepreneur best known for co-founding Wikipedia, has a net worth of $1.5 million. Although Wikipedia could have been worth billions if it had been a for-profit venture, Wales opted for a non-profit model.
He confirmed in a 2019 tweet that, throughout the Wikimedia Foundation’s history, he has earned $0 in salary.
Wales was born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1966, and he was passionate about encyclopedias from a young age. He attended Auburn University and later pursued postgraduate studies, although he did not complete his Ph.D.
In 1996, Wales co-founded Bomis, a web portal, before launching Nupedia in 2000, which led to the creation of Wikipedia. Wikipedia’s open model for collaboration, which Wales championed, made it one of the most visited websites in the world.
Wales also founded Wikia in 2004, a for-profit company that hosts wikis on various topics. He has been involved in internet freedom and privacy issues, testifying before the U.S. Senate and criticizing certain political rulings.
Wales has received multiple honorary degrees and awards for his contributions to technology, including a Doctorate Honoris Causa from USI Lugano University and the British Academy’s President’s Medal in 2017. Despite his significant impact, he remains a relatively modest figure in terms of personal wealth.
