Omidyar

Omidyar refers to Pierre Morad Omidyar and, by extension, to the projects and organizations associated with him. He is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for founding the online marketplace eBay and, with his wife Pamela Omidyar, establishing Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm. His work has also included funding independent journalism and supporting initiatives aimed at open government and social impact.

Early life and education: Pierre Omidyar was born on June 21, 1967, in Paris, France, to Iranian immigrant parents and grew up in the United States, including Hawaii. He studied computer science at Tufts University but left before completing his degree to pursue his early ventures in technology and online commerce.

Business career: In 1995 Omidyar launched AuctionWeb, which soon evolved into eBay, a major online marketplace that connected buyers and sellers worldwide. The company grew rapidly and became one of the largest e-commerce platforms, transforming how people buy and sell goods online. Omidyar has described his role as founder and early driver of the platform, later reducing day-to-day involvement as eBay expanded.

Philanthropy and Omidyar Network: In 2004 Omidyar and Pam Omidyar founded Omidyar Network, a hybrid philanthropic investment firm that provides financial support to social-impact ventures. The network focuses on areas such as education, financial inclusion, governance, and digital rights, and seeks to scale solutions through both for-profit and non-profit pathways.

Other initiatives: Omidyar has funded media and journalism projects, including First Look Media and The Intercept, launched to support independent reporting. He and Pam have also supported initiatives in Hawaii and globally through the Omidyar Foundation and related efforts, emphasizing open government, citizen engagement, and accountable technology.