John Collison
John Collison | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 6, 1990 Limerick, Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Business leader, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder and president of Stripe |
John Collison (born 6 August 1990) is an Irish business leader and co-founder as well as president of Stripe, which he launched in 2010 alongside his brother Patrick. In 2016, he achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest individual to attain billionaire status through self-made wealth. By 2022, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued his fortune at approximately US$11.4 billion, positioning him as the 187th wealthiest person worldwide and among the top affluent figures in Ireland.
Biography
In 2007, John and his brother established a company called "Shuppa" in Limerick, Ireland. This enterprise later merged with Auctomatic, a software startup supported by Y Combinator that developed tools for eBay merchants, with backing from investor Chris Sacca. When Collison was just 17 years old, Auctomatic was sold for $5 million in March 2008, leading him to relocate to Silicon Valley.
Following this, he returned to complete his secondary education at Castletroy College, where he earned top marks on the Irish Leaving Certificate. He then enrolled at Harvard University in September 2009. Additionally, he holds qualifications as a pilot and is a skilled pianist.
The Collison brothers introduced Stripe in 2010 and attracted early funding from notable investors such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. By November 2016, after receiving investments from CapitalG and General Catalyst, Stripe's valuation soared to $9.2 billion. This milestone made the brothers the youngest self-made billionaires, each with net worths surpassing $1.1 billion. That same year, Forbes placed John Collison at number 15 on its list of America's Richest Entrepreneurs Under 40.
In 2018, under their guidance, Stripe donated $1 million to California YIMBY, an organization advocating for housing development policies. Both brothers maintain Irish citizenship.
Between 2021 and 2022, John Collison acquired the Abbeyleix Estate along with the adjacent Millbrook House located in County Laois, Ireland. He intends to invest several million euros over several years toward restoring Millbrook House as a family home.
Forbes article
A 2021 profile published by Forbes portrayed the Collison siblings as having fled from Limerick, describing the city as a "warzone" plagued by gang conflicts and labeling it Europe’s "murder capital," referencing frequent violent incidents and areas segregated by walls reminiscent of the Berlin Wall. This portrayal generated substantial criticism online.
Patrick Collison publicly refuted this characterization on Twitter, expressing pride in their hometown upbringing. John Collison dismissed the description as "daft." Political figures such as Patrick O'Donovan and Niall Collins also condemned the article, calling for an apology while highlighting Limerick's positive qualities. The piece was subsequently removed from the website on 9 April 2021.