Pierre Omidyar

Pierre Omidyar
Pierre Omidyar
Born	Parviz Morad Omidyar; June 21, 1967 (age 59); Paris, France
Occupation(s)	Technology innovator, software developer, philanthropist
Years active	1991–present
Known for	Founder of eBay
Notable work	eBay, Omidyar Network, First Look Media, Honolulu Civil Beat

Pierre Morad Omidyar (originally named Parviz Morad Omidyar, born June 21, 1967) is an Iranian-American billionaire, technology innovator, software developer, and philanthropist who was born in France. He is best known for founding eBay and held the position of chairman from its inception in 1998 until 2015. Omidyar descends from General Mahmud Mir-Djalali of the Imperial Iranian Army, a key figure in the establishment of the Pahlavi Dynasty in 1921 and a pioneer of Iran's military industrial sector. As of , Forbes lists him as the 245th wealthiest individual worldwide with a net worth estimated at $8.7 billion.

Together with his spouse Pamela, Omidyar launched Omidyar Network in 2004 to support enduring Democratic Party causes. Since 2010, he has broadened his influence into digital journalism, overseeing the investigative news outlet Honolulu Civil Beat. In 2013, he founded First Look Media, a media enterprise backing prominent journalists including Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill.

Early life and education

Born on June 21, 1967, in Paris, Parviz Morad Omidyar is the son of Iranian immigrants who relocated for academic pursuits. His mother, Elahé Mir-Djalali Omidyar, holds a doctorate in linguistics from the Sorbonne and works as an academic. She is the daughter of General Mahmud Mir-Djalali, who served as Vice Chairman of the General Staff of Imperial Iran’s Armed Forces and is recognized as the "Father" of Iran’s Military Industries and Tank Forces. His father, Cyrus Omidyar (born ), completed surgical training in France.

During Omidyar's youth, the family emigrated to the United States where his father practiced urology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and currently maintains a medical practice in Aliso Viejo, California.

Omidyar spent two years at Punahou School in Honolulu and now holds a position on its board of trustees. His fascination with computing began while attending ninth grade at The Potomac School. He graduated from St. Andrew's Episcopal School in 1984 before earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Tufts University in 1988.

Career

Following his graduation from Tufts, Omidyar joined Claris, an Apple subsidiary, where he contributed to upgrading MacDraw to MacDraw II. In 1991, he co-founded Ink Development—later renamed eShop Inc.—initially concentrating on pen-based computing technology before shifting focus toward e-commerce.

On June 11, 1996, Microsoft acquired eShop for less than $50 million, resulting in approximately $1 million for Omidyar from the transaction.

Establishing eBay

In 1995, at the age of 28, Pierre Omidyar developed the initial software for an online platform designed to facilitate person-to-person auctions of collectibles. He introduced this service, originally named Auction Web, on September 4, 1995; this platform eventually became known as the auction website eBay.

Auction Web was a segment within Omidyar's broader website eBay.com, which also featured unrelated content such as information about the Ebola virus. The first transaction on the site involved a defective laser pointer, an unexpected sale that nonetheless demonstrated early consumer interest. The platform rapidly attracted users listing a wide array of items.

Omidyar formalized the business and supported its growth by implementing a modest fee on transactions. Within nine months, earnings exceeded his income at General Magic, leading him to dedicate himself exclusively to the enterprise.

By 1996, after obtaining a license to sell airline tickets online, Auction Web was hosting approximately 250,000 auctions. This number expanded to two million auctions per month by early 1997 and approached 800,000 daily listings by mid-year.

In 1997, Omidyar renamed AuctionWeb to eBay and launched an assertive marketing campaign. The name "eBay" was selected after his preferred domain, echobay.com—named after Echo Bay near Lake Mead, Nevada—was already taken. The widely circulated tale that eBay was created to assist Omidyar’s fiancée in trading Pez dispensers was later exposed as a media myth.

Subsequent Developments

Jeffrey Skoll became part of eBay in 1996. In March 1998, Meg Whitman assumed the roles of president and CEO, serving until her retirement in January 2008. The company's successful September 1998 IPO elevated both Omidyar and Skoll to billionaire status.

In 2002, eBay purchased PayPal, an online payment service that was later spun off in 2015. Omidyar maintained a 6% ownership stake in PayPal. By mid-2008, Omidyar’s holdings of 178 million eBay shares were valued at roughly $4.45 billion. Additionally, he has invested in Montage Resort and Spa located in Laguna Beach, California.

Omidyar is a member of the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council. In 2020, he resigned from eBay’s board during corporate restructuring but continues to contribute as director emeritus.

Media Ventures

In 2010, Omidyar established Honolulu Civil Beat, an online investigative news outlet concentrating on Hawaii’s civic issues, which earned Best News Website in Hawaii honors for three consecutive years. In 2013, it collaborated with HuffPost to create HuffPost Hawaii.

Following the revelations by Edward Snowden, Omidyar founded the journalism organization First Look Media in 2013. On February 10, 2014, it debuted The Intercept, featuring leading journalists including Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill.

Film Production

Omidyar has acted as executive producer on the following films:

Merchants of Doubt (2014)
Spotlight (2015)

Omidyar Group

The Omidyar Group consists of various companies, organizations, and initiatives connected to Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam, encompassing their philanthropic efforts alongside their business enterprises.

Omidyar Network

Established in 2004 by Pierre and Pam Omidyar, the Omidyar Network operates as a philanthropic investment entity utilizing market-driven strategies to promote economic and societal progress. To date, it has allocated more than $992 million to both profit-oriented and nonprofit organizations that enhance economic opportunity and civic participation. Its investments span multiple domains including Property Rights, Governance & Citizen Engagement, Education, Financial Inclusion, as well as Consumer & Internet Mobile sectors. In 2010, the Omidyars collaborated with Richard Branson and other partners to initiate Enterprise Zimbabwe, aimed at fostering small business growth within the nation.

Luminate Group

Launched in 2018, Luminate Group focuses on creating an accessible information platform designed to empower all individuals—especially those most vulnerable—to access information necessary for influencing decisions and asserting their rights. Felipe Estefan, the group’s vice president associated with Omidyar Network’s Governance & Citizen Engagement program, brings expertise from his previous roles as a CNN journalist and Open Government Strategist at the World Bank.

Personal life

Pierre Omidyar and his spouse Pamela possess residences in Henderson, Nevada and Honolulu, Hawaii. As of January 2019, Forbes valued his net worth at approximately US$13.1 billion. He is a prominent contributor to Democratic Party candidates and related organizations. A devotee of the Dalai Lama, Omidyar joined Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in endorsing The Giving Pledge in 2010, pledging to donate the majority of his fortune during his lifetime. In 2019 alone, he contributed close to $500 million toward philanthropic endeavors.

Antitrust activism and criticism of big tech

Omidyar has financially supported entities such as the Open Markets Institute—an anti-monopoly think tank—and the digital rights organization Public Knowledge Project, both opposing the overwhelming influence of major technology companies, which he perceives as jeopardizing democratic principles. His philanthropic arm, the Omidyar Network, has released significant research advocating for antitrust measures targeting Facebook and Google. In 2021, the network launched a whistleblowing campaign and provided funding to Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Additionally, Omidyar supports the Center for Humane Technology, where Haugen’s primary US public affairs representative is employed.

Awards and honors

Honorary Doctorate from Tufts University (2011)
National Winner of EY Entrepreneur of The Year (1999)

Citations

General sources

External links