Craig Newmark

$1.30 B

Ranked #1613 in World

About Craig Newmark

Craig Alexander Newmark, born on December 6, 1952, in Morristown, New Jersey, is a noted American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for founding Craigslist. His journey from a computer science student at Case Western Reserve University to a renowned figure in the tech world encompasses a 17-year tenure at IBM and pivotal roles at companies like Charles Schwab. Newmark's Craigslist, launched in 1996, revolutionized classified advertising. Beyond his business acumen, Newmark is highly committed to philanthropy, with significant contributions to journalism, cybersecurity, and veterans' causes through Craig Newmark Philanthropies. In 2022, he donated $81 million to various organizations, emphasizing his dedication to military families, cybersecurity defense, and journalistic integrity. Craig Newmark's life story is a testament to the impact of technology and philanthropy in shaping modern society.

Born

December 06, 1952 in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.

Age

73 years

Source Of Wealth

Craigslist

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

San Francisco, California

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, Case Western Reserve University; Master of Science, Case Western Reserve University

Spouse

Eileen Whelpley (Married: 2012)

Craig Alexander Newmark was born on December 6, 1952, in Morristown, New Jersey. He is an American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist. His parents are Joyce and Lee Newmark, and he comes from a Jewish background. Newmark attended Morristown High School and later pursued a higher education in computer science. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Craig Newmark: Family

Craig Newmark is married to Eileen Whelpley since December 2012. The couple resides in New York City, where Newmark embraces public transportation and chooses not to own a car. He identifies as a non-practicing, secular Jew.

Craig Newmark: Career Highlights

Newmark worked as a contract computer programmer for various companies before joining IBM, where he spent 17 years as a programmer and systems engineer. In 1993, he relocated to San Francisco and joined Charles Schwab. A significant turning point in his career came in 1995 when he began emailing a list of upcoming events to his friends. This eventually led to the launch of craigslist.org in 1996, which started as a free information exchange platform. In 1999, Craigslist was incorporated as a private for-profit company. Newmark stepped down as CEO in 2000, passing the role to Jim Buckmaster, but he continued to actively engage in responding to Craigslist customer service inquiries, particularly focusing on addressing spammers and scammers.

Craig Newmark: Companies

Craig Newmark is primarily known for his association with Craigslist, the classifieds website he founded in 1996. Craigslist has grown into a widely used platform for buying, selling, and trading various items and services.

Craig Newmark: Major Achievements

Newmark's most notable achievement is the creation and success of Craigslist. The website has become a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way people buy, sell, and connect with others in their communities. Craigslist's impact on online classifieds and its enduring popularity are significant achievements in the tech industry.

Craig Newmark: Awards & Achievements

Craig Newmark has received numerous accolades and recognitions for his contributions to the internet and philanthropy.

Some notable awards include:

Webby Awards: Person of the Year (2004)
Time Magazine: 100 Most Influential People (2005)
Forbes: The World's Billionaires (2016)
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: 50 Most Generous Donors (2020)

Craig Newmark: Personal Life & Legacy

Newmark is known for his philanthropic endeavors and his commitment to various causes. He has made significant donations to organizations focused on journalism, cybersecurity, and veterans. Newmark's personal life is characterized by his dedication to social responsibility and his belief in using his wealth to make a positive impact on society. His legacy lies in his contributions to the internet, his philanthropic efforts, and his advocacy for important societal issues.

Craig Newmark: Trivia

Newmark is an avid user of public transportation and does not own a car.
He is a self-described "non-practicing, secular Jew."
Newmark has been outspoken in his opposition to the Iraq War and has criticized White House journalists.
He supported Barack Obama's and Joe Biden's election campaigns.
Newmark's net worth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Wealth History

Timeline

December 6, 1952

Craig Alexander Newmark is born in Morristown, New Jersey.

1993

Moves to San Francisco and joins Charles Schwab.

1995

Starts emailing a list of upcoming events to friends.

1996

Launches craigslist.org as a free information exchange platform.

1999

Incorporates Craigslist as a private for-profit company.

2000

Steps down as CEO of Craigslist, handing over the role to Jim Buckmaster.

2015

Founds Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

2016

Donates $50 million to his private charitable foundation.

2017

Donates $500,000 to Wikipedia to reduce harassment and vandalism on the site.

2018

Total donations amount to $143 million, ranking 17th out of 50 individual donors by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

2019

Funds a Digital Lab at Consumer Reports, focusing on consumer privacy rights and cybersecurity.

2020

Donates $10 million to charities focused on hunger issues.

2021

Donates $5 million to the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.

2022

Donates $2.95 million to The Bob Woodruff Foundation's Got Your 6 Network, commits $50 million to the Cyber Civil Defense initiative, and donates $81 million through his foundations.

2023

Donates $1 million to Blue Star Families, pledges an additional $100 million to organizations supporting veterans and military families, and doubles his donations to $100 million for fighting cyber threats.

Craig Newmark : FAQs

What is Craig Newmark's net worth?

As of 2020, Craig Newmark's net worth was $1.30 billion.

What are Craig Newmark's main sources of wealth?

Craig Newmark's main source of income comes from Craigslist.

In which industry does Craig Newmark primarily operate?

Craig Newmark is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Craig Newmark educational background?

Craig Newmark holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Science from Case Western Reserve University.

How old is Craig Newmark?

Craig Newmark is 73 years old.

Who is Craig Newmark and what is he known for?

Craig Newmark is an American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known as the founder of the classifieds website Craigslist.

Can you outline Craig Newmark's contributions to philanthropy?

Craig Newmark is a major philanthropist, focusing on journalism, cybersecurity, and veterans. He founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies in 2015, donating millions to various causes, including a $143 million donation in 2018 and planning to give almost all his money to charity.

What are some of Craig Newmark's significant contributions to supporting veterans?

Craig Newmark has donated millions to support veterans and military families, including $2.95 million to The Bob Woodruff Foundation in 2022, over $28 million to military communities overall, and a pledged additional $100 million to veteran-supporting organizations.

How has Craig Newmark impacted the field of cybersecurity through his donations?

Craig Newmark has significantly impacted cybersecurity by donating $500,000 to Wikipedia in 2017 to combat harassment, funding a Digital Lab at Consumer Reports, and committing $50 million to the Cyber Civil Defense initiative in 2022, doubling it to $100 million in 2023.

What are Craig Newmark's efforts in supporting journalism?

Craig Newmark has extensively supported journalism, donating $170 million between 2016 and 2020, funding non-profit news organizations, establishing endowments and centers for journalism ethics and security, and combating harassment of journalists and election integrity issues.