Jimmy Wales is the founder of the online, open-source encyclopedia Wikipedia, the web hosting service Wikia, open-source search tool Wikia Search and a board member of the Wikimedia Foundation. A strong proponent of open-source technology, Wales has received the Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and sits on the board of Creative Commons.
Controversies
- Considers himself the sole founder of Wikipedia, though many credit early editor Larry Sanger as co-founder
- Involved in an ongoing sex scandal with political pundit Rachel Marsden
Jimmy Wales Professional Profile
- Current Projects:
- Founder, Owner, and Chair, Wikia, Inc.
- Board Member, Wikimedia Foundation
- Past Projects:
- Founder, Wikipedia
- Founder and Chair, Wikimedia Foundation
- Founder, Nupedia
- Co-Founder, Bomis
- Research Director, Chicago Options Associates
- Blog: Jimmy Wales
- LinkedIn Profile
Jimmy Wales News and Articles
Telegraph.co.uk: Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales in donations row (March 12, 2008)
Telegraph.co.uk: Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales in online love spat (March 4, 2008)
Washington Post: Wikipedia's Wales Hit Over Expenses (March 4,2008)
Wired: Wikipedia Founder Hit With Relationship Trouble, Allegations of Excessive Spending (March 4, 2008)
Fast Company: Why Is This Man Smiling? (March 2007)
Business 2.0: Wikipedia founder hunts for gold (April 3, 2007)
The New York Times: Jimmy Wales Articles
Google News: Jimmy Wales
References
Fast Facts
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An Objectivist; Wales named his daughter Kira after an Ayn Rand character
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Lives in St. Petersburg, Florida
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Former researcher for a futures and options trading firm
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Alma mater
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Has a PhD in finance
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Started Wikipedia with philosopher Larry Sanger
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Serves on the board of directors at Creative Commons
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Gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos
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In 2006 named Time's 100 most influential people
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Worked as a researcher for Chicago Options Associates
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Started Bomis.com in 1996
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Used money made from Bomis.com to start Wikipedia
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Avoids disclosing the date of his birthday
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Wales was home-schooled by his mother and grandmother
