Who Is Reid Hoffman
Reid Hoffman is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author best known as a co-founder of LinkedIn, the professional networking platform. He was born on August 5, 1967, in Palo Alto, California, and later graduated from Stanford University and Oxford University. Hoffman is widely recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures, with a career spanning social media, artificial intelligence, and global philanthropy Forbes profile.
As of the latest available public data, Reid Hoffman’s net worth is estimated at over 12 billion dollars, making him one of the wealthiest tech investors in the United States. His wealth primarily derives from his stakes in LinkedIn, which went public in 2011 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2016, as well as from his venture capital firm Greylock Partners and his personal investment portfolio.
Major Companies and Investments
LinkedIn and Social Capital
Reid Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn in 2002 alongside Allen Blue, Jean-Luc Vaillant, Linh Dinh, and Konstantin Guericke. The platform launched in 2003 and grew to over 900 million registered members worldwide before its acquisition by Microsoft for 26.2 billion dollars in 2016. After LinkedIn, Hoffman founded Social Capital, a venture firm focused on using technology and data science to address systemic challenges in education, health, and finance SEC filings.
AI and Startup Investments
Hoffman is a leading investor in artificial intelligence startups and has backed companies including OpenAI, Inflection AI, and Mistral AI through Greylock and his personal investments. He also serves as a partner at Greylock Partners, a firm with over 4 billion dollars in assets under management, and has invested in companies such as Airbnb, PayPal, and Stripe. Hoffman is a frequent public speaker on AI policy, the future of work, and network effects Forbes article.
Philanthropy and Public Roles
Founders Fund and Global Impact
Reid Hoffman is a co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s Donor Advised Fund and a major supporter of the Open Philanthropy Project. He has pledged billions in charitable giving focused on existential risk mitigation, biosecurity, and effective altruism. Hoffman also serves on the boards of several organizations and is a member of the Giving Pledge, a commitment by billionaires to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy Giving Pledge profile.
Author and Thought Leader
Hoffman is the author of multiple books, including The Start-Up of You, The Alliance, and Impromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI. His writings focus on career strategy, organizational design, and the societal impact of artificial intelligence. He hosts the Masters of Scale podcast, where he interviews business leaders and policymakers about growth, technology, and global challenges.