• 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.

• 1. Born August 7, 1966 in Huntsville, Alabama
  2. An Objectivist; Wales named his daughter Kira after an Ayn Rand character
  3. Lives in St. Petersburg, Florida
  4. Former researcher for a futures and options trading firm
  5. Alma mater: Auburn University, University of Alabama and Indiana University
  6. Has a PhD in finance
  7. Started Wikipedia with philosopher Larry Sanger
  8. Serves on the board of directors at Creative Commons
  9. Gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos
  10. In 2006 named Time's 100 most influential people
  11. Worked as a researcher for Chicago Options Associates
  12. Started Bomis.com in 1996
  13. Used money made from Bomis.com to start Wikipedia
  14. Avoids disclosing the date of his birthday
  15. Wales was home-schooled by his mother and grandmother

• Controversies

  1. Considers himself the sole founder of Wikipedia, though many credit early editor Larry Sanger as co-founder
  2. Involved in an ongoing sex scandal with political pundit Rachel Marsden

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