tech
March 4, 2026
Billionaire from the Shadows: Parviz is the Richest Iranian in the World
When technological billionaires are mentioned, people usually think of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos first. However, one of the pioneers of the internet revolution stays far from the spotlight.
TL;DR
- Pierre Morad Omidyar, the richest Iranian, founded AuctionWeb in 1995, which became eBay.
- The initial idea was to create a direct marketplace where supply and demand dictate prices.
- The first item sold was Omidyar's broken laser pointer for $14.83.
- eBay acquired PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion in stock, a highly successful business acquisition.
- Omidyar later shifted his focus to philanthropy and social activism, co-founding Omidyar Network and investing in First Look Media to support independent journalism.
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