Who Founded Zillow
Zillow was co-founded by Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink in 2004. Both founders previously worked at Microsoft and launched Zillow as an online real estate marketplace focused on property data and home valuations. The company went public in 2011 and trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker Z.
Rich Barton is widely recognized as the primary public face of Zillow's founding. He later founded other companies in the real estate and travel sectors. Lloyd Frink was a co-founder and early executive involved in building Zillow's initial technology and data platforms.
Zillow's Business Model and Products
Zillow operates a real estate marketplace that provides property listings, Zestimates, mortgage tools, and agent connections. The company earns revenue from advertising, mortgage referrals, and its iBuying program, which was called Zillow Offers.
Zillow Offers allowed the company to buy, renovate, and sell homes directly. The program was paused and later relaunched as part of a broader shift toward a technology-first platform focused on data, valuations, and connecting buyers and sellers with professionals.
Founder Background and Current Role
Rich Barton was born in 1967 and studied at the University of Washington before working at Microsoft. He founded Expedia in 1996 and later Zillow in 2004. He has served as CEO of Zillow and has been involved in multiple real estate and technology ventures.
Rich Barton currently serves as the CEO of Zillow Group. Under his leadership, Zillow continues to operate as a leading online real estate platform, providing property data, mortgage tools, and connections to real estate professionals across the United States. For more details on Zillow's corporate structure and public filings, see the company's official Zillow Group website and its SEC filings.