Reid Hoffman

From Social Network Pioneer to Silicon Valley's Top Networker

tech business
Reid Hoffman

Net Worth

$2.5B

Born

December 21, 1967 (age 58)

Country

United States

Occupation

Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Author

Gender

male

Generation

Gen X

Marital Status

married

Children

0

Single Parent Household

No

Education

Master's

University

Stanford University, University of Oxford

Industries

tech, business

Wealth Category

billionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • First startup SocialNet failed after just 2 years
  • LinkedIn struggled initially, took years to find product-market fit
  • Faced skepticism that professionals would use social networks
  • Weathered multiple economic downturns as investor and founder

Reid Hoffman is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author who co-founded LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network. He is a partner at Greylock Partners and has been an early investor in companies including Facebook, Airbnb, and PayPal. Known as 'Silicon Valley's networker-in-chief,' he has shaped how billions of people connect professionally.

Career Timeline

1967

Born in Stanford, California

1990 Age 22
Milestone

Graduated from Stanford University with distinction

1993 Age 26
Milestone

Earned Master's in Philosophy from University of Oxford

1997 Age 29
Turning Point

Founded SocialNet, an early social networking site

1999 Age 31
Turning Point

SocialNet failed; joined PayPal as COO

2002 Age 34
Milestone

PayPal acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion

2002 Age 34
Milestone

Co-founded LinkedIn from his living room

2003 Age 35
Milestone

LinkedIn launched to the public

2009 Age 41
Turning Point

Joined Greylock Partners as partner

2011 Age 43
Milestone

LinkedIn IPO at $4.25 billion valuation

2016 Age 48
Milestone

Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion

Notable Quotes

"If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late."

— Interview, 2009

"The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be."

— Interview, 2012

"No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team."

— The Alliance, 2014

"An entrepreneur is someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down."