Jeffrey Skoll net worth
Split: 21
What is Jeffrey Skoll’s net worth?
Jeffrey Skoll is a Canadian engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Jeffrey Skoll’s net worth is 7 billion U.S. dollars. Jeff was the first employee of eBay, and he made a fortune. Because of the company’s sensational IPO in September 1998, he became a billionaire overnight. Skoll dedicated the rest of his life and time to charity and film production. His foundation donated billions of dollars. His film company Participant Media has won 18 Oscars from more than 70 nominations.
early life
Jeffrey Skoll was born on January 16, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec. His mother was a teacher, and his father ran a chemical company. When Jeffrey was a teenager, his father was diagnosed with cancer. After getting the diagnosis, the elder Skoll regretted that he could not accomplish everything he dreamed of in his life. This conversation had a profound and lasting impact on Jeffrey.
University
Jeffrey studied at the School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Toronto and graduated with honors in 1987. With his father’s regrets, Jeffrey spent a few months traveling around the world and experiencing other cultures after graduation.
After returning to Toronto, Jeffrey started a computer rental business. Unfortunately, after his computer continued to be stolen by renters, he had to shut down the company. He founded a technology consulting company, but finally decided it was time to go back to school.
Jeffrey received an MBA from Stanford University and graduated in 1993.
During his studies at Stanford University, he was introduced to an aspiring entrepreneur named Pierre Omidyar. A few years later, Pierre proposed a business idea to Jeffrey. This business will become an auction company on the new World Wide Web. The skeptical Jeff refused to join the startup. This may be a very bad decision. Fortunately, this is not his permanent decision.
EBay
In September 1995, Pierre went on to start eBay by himself. eBay is slowly gaining a little traction and revenue. Thankfully, for Jeffrey Skole, Pierre came back again for help. Jeff did not resist this time. By the beginning of 1996, Jeffrey Skoll was the president and first employee of eBay.
In March 1998, Jeffrey resigned as president to make room for Meg Whitman. Meg was asked to guide the company in its initial public offering.
The IPO of eBay took place on September 21, 1998. The initial target price is $18 per share. eBay’s first-day transaction price was $53.50.
The IPO immediately made Pierre Omidyar and Jeffrey Skoll billionaires.
In the years after the initial public offering, Jeffrey cashed in equity worth approximately US$2 billion.
A year later, Jeffrey left eBay to devote himself full-time to charity. Today, about 20 years later, even after billions of dollars have been donated to charity, Jeffrey Skole’s worth has reached 7 billion US dollars.
Charity
In the year he left eBay, Jeff founded the Skoll Foundation. Over the years, he has only transferred eBay shares worth more than $1 billion to this foundation. Facts have proved that the Skoll Foundation is a pioneer in the concept of “social entrepreneurship”. The foundation is committed to solving large-scale world problems by investing, connecting and commending similarly driven innovators. The foundation reviews thousands of grant applications each year, awarding an average of four to six major grants. These grants usually provide three years of funding.
In 2009, Jeffrey donated US$100 million to create the Skoll Global Threat Fund, which focuses on climate change, water security, epidemics, nuclear security and conflicts in the Middle East.
In 2020, Jeffrey personally donated US$120 million to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The money is used to buy respiratory equipment, testing equipment and other medical supplies in poor countries.
Outside of his foundation, Skoll founded several for-profit private equity companies that actively invest in startups and public companies that aim to improve the world. These funds focus on healthcare, climate change, and education.
Jeffrey Skoll is a member of the Giving Pledge and stated that he intends to donate all his money to his foundation upon or at the time of his death.
Because of his entrepreneurial efforts, Jeffrey Skoll has received dozens of awards and honors, including being awarded the Canadian Medal.
Participating media
In 2004, Skoll wanted to use the entertainment industry to reveal social conditions, so Participant Media was created. Today, the company already has an impressive film record aimed at stimulating social awareness and change. Some of Participant Media’s videos include:
- help
- Syria
- infect
- The truth is hard to ignore
- Lincoln
- Bridge of spies
- spotlight
- Rome
- American factory
At the time of writing, Participant Media has won 18 Oscars from more than 70 nominations.
personal life
Jeff married Stephanie Swedlove, an entertainment executive from 2014 to 2019.
