Jeffrey Skoll Net Worth

What is Jeffrey Skoll's net worth?

Jeffrey Skoll is a Canadian-born entrepreneur, philanthropist, and film producer who has a net worth of $7 billion. Jeff Skoll is best known as eBay's first employee and original president. After earning an MBA from Stanford, he joined founder Pierre Omidyar in 1996 to help transform the small online auction site into one of the defining success stories of the early internet era. Skoll wrote eBay's first business plan, built its operational framework, and helped prepare the company for its 1998 IPO—an event that made him a multimillionaire overnight and a billionaire within a year as eBay's stock skyrocketed during the dot-com boom.

Rather than spending his fortune on luxury or new ventures, Skoll devoted himself to philanthropy, guided by the Jewish concept of tikkun olam—"to heal the world." In 1999, he founded the Skoll Foundation, which became one of the world's leading supporters of social entrepreneurship, investing in organizations that fight poverty, improve education, and address global health and environmental challenges. He later created the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University and the Skoll Global Threats Fund, which focuses on issues such as climate change, pandemics, and nuclear security.

In 2004, Skoll launched Participant Media, a film and television company built on the idea that storytelling can drive social change. Participant has produced acclaimed works like "An Inconvenient Truth," "The Help," "Lincoln," "Spotlight," "Roma," and "American Factory," collectively earning 21 Academy Awards. Through his Capricorn Investment Group and The Rise Fund, co-founded with Bono and TPG, Skoll also became a pioneer of impact investing—directing capital toward businesses that combine profit with purpose.

Early Life

Jeffrey Skoll was born on January 16, 1965, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His mother was a teacher, and his father owned a small industrial chemical company. When Jeffrey was a teenager, his father was diagnosed with cancer and later confided deep regret over not having enough time to pursue the things he had dreamed of doing in life. That conversation left a lasting impression on Jeffrey and became the moral compass that would guide his future decisions about money, work, and purpose.

Education and Early Ventures

Skoll attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering with honors in 1987. Determined to live a full life after witnessing his father's regrets, he spent several months backpacking around the world, immersing himself in other cultures and perspectives.

When he returned to Canada, Skoll launched a computer rental company. Unfortunately, the venture struggled—many of the rented computers were stolen—and he was forced to shut it down. His next business, a technology consulting firm, fared slightly better but ultimately inspired him to continue his education.

He enrolled at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, earning his MBA in 1993. While studying there, Skoll met an entrepreneurial classmate named Pierre Omidyar. A few years later, Omidyar approached him with an idea for an online auction company that would allow people to buy and sell goods on the internet. At first, Skoll declined—he wasn't sure anyone would want to buy collectibles online. Fortunately, he changed his mind.

eBay

Pierre Omidyar launched AuctionWeb (later renamed eBay) in September 1995. The site began gaining traction among hobbyists and collectors, and by early 1996, Omidyar needed help building the company. He reached back out to Skoll, who joined as eBay's first official employee and its first president.

Skoll's early leadership was crucial. He wrote eBay's first business plan, formalized its operations, and helped implement the user-feedback system that made online transactions feel trustworthy for the first time. By 1997, eBay's popularity exploded, fueled in large part by the Beanie Babies craze.

In 1998, eBay hired Meg Whitman as CEO to help guide the company through its next phase of growth. That September, eBay went public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol EBAY. The stock priced at $18 per share and closed its first day at $47.38, valuing the company at just over $1 billion. By April 1999, eBay's market capitalization had soared to $25 billion, officially making both Omidyar and Skoll multi-billionaires.

Skoll sold roughly $2 billion worth of stock in the years following the IPO and stepped down from eBay in 1999 to focus on philanthropy. Despite giving away billions over the years, his personal net worth remains around $7 billion.

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Philanthropy

The year he left eBay, Skoll founded the Skoll Foundation, which became a pioneer in the field of social entrepreneurship. The foundation identifies and supports innovative leaders tackling global issues such as poverty, education, health, and environmental sustainability. To date, Skoll has transferred more than $1 billion worth of eBay stock to the foundation. Each year, it reviews thousands of applications and awards a handful of major multi-year grants to changemakers around the world.

In 2009, Skoll launched the Skoll Global Threats Fund to address critical global risks, including climate change, water security, pandemics, nuclear proliferation, and Middle East conflict. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he personally donated $120 million to help distribute medical equipment and testing supplies to underserved countries.

Through his investment firm, Capricorn Investment Group, and The Rise Fund (co-founded with Bono and TPG), Skoll has also advanced the concept of impact investing—directing capital toward companies that create measurable social or environmental benefits alongside financial returns.

A member of the Giving Pledge, Skoll has publicly committed to donating the majority of his wealth during his lifetime, saying, "If I die today, everything goes to the foundations." In recognition of his achievements, he has received numerous awards, including being named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Participant Media

In 2004, hoping to utilize the entertainment industry to bring social situations to light, Skoll created Participant Media. Today, the company already has an impressive track record of films meant to inspire social awareness and change. Some of Participant Media's films include:

• The Help
• Syriana
• Contagion
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Lincoln
• Bridge of Spies
• Spotlight
• Roma
• American Factory

As of this writing, Participant Media has won 18 Oscars out of more than 70 nominations.

Personal Life

Jeff was married to entertainment executive Stephanie Swedlove from 2014 to 2019.

Real Estate

In January 2022, Jeff put his Beverly Hills estate on the market for $33 million. Technically, the estate is TWO properties that Jeff acquired in two transactions. The first property was acquired in 2005 for $11 million, and the second property was acquired in 2014 for $6 million.

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