Jeff Skoll

$5.36 B

Ranked #761 in World

About Jeff Skoll

Jeffrey Skoll, a Montreal-born entrepreneur and philanthropist, rose to prominence as eBay's first president and later through his film production company, Participant, known for Oscar-winning films like "Spotlight." A University of Toronto electrical engineering alumnus and a passionate supporter of social entrepreneurship via the Skoll Foundation, Skoll has been a trailblazer in impact investing with substantial stakes in game-changing ventures, such as Tesla. His philanthropic efforts encompass combatting global threats including the COVID-19 pandemic, for which he's donated $120 million. A distinguished figure, Skoll has been honored by the likes of Time Magazine and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

Born

January 16, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Age

61 years

Source Of Wealth

EBay

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Lantana, Florida

Education

Master of Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business; Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Toronto

Spouse

Stephanie Swedlove (Married: 2014; Divorced: 2019)

Jeffrey Skoll was born on January 16, 1965, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family. He graduated with a BASc in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto in 1987. During his time at the university, he co-edited the engineering students' satirical newspaper, The Toike Oike. To pay for college, Skoll worked various jobs, including pumping gas. He also founded two businesses in Toronto: Skoll Engineering and Micros on the Move Ltd.

Jeff Skoll: Family

Jeffrey Skoll married television executive Stephanie Swedlove in 2014. However, the couple filed for divorce in 2019.

Jeff Skoll: Career Highlights

Skoll joined eBay in 1996 as the company's first president and first full-time employee. He wrote the business plan that eBay followed in subsequent years and became Vice President, Strategic Planning and Analysis after Meg Whitman's arrival in 1998. Skoll championed the creation of the eBay Foundation, allocating pre-IPO stock now worth $32 million. He later cashed out a portion of his company holdings, yielding him around $2 billion.

In 2004, Skoll founded Participant to create films that raise public awareness of critical social issues. Participant has produced numerous critically acclaimed films, including Syriana, Good Night, and Good Luck, North Country, An Inconvenient Truth, Spotlight, and many more. The company has won 18 Oscars and received 73 Academy Award nominations. Skoll also established the Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 2014.

Jeff Skoll: Companies

Skoll has been involved with several companies throughout his career. He co-founded Skoll Engineering and Micros on the Move Ltd. in Toronto. He joined eBay in 1996 and served as the company's first president and first full-time employee. In 2001, he created Capricorn Investment Group, overseeing over $5 billion in client assets. Skoll also co-founded The Rise Fund with Bono and TPG, a $2 billion social-impact fund.

Jeff Skoll: Major Achievements

Skoll's major achievements include co-founding eBay and Participant, as well as his significant philanthropic contributions.

He has donated approximately $1 billion of eBay stock to the Skoll Foundation since its formation in 1999 and supports "social entrepreneurship" through the organization. Skoll created the Skoll Global Threats Fund to confront threats like climate change, pandemics, and nuclear proliferation. He also funded the creation of academic centers at Oxford University and UCLA.

Jeff Skoll: Awards & Achievements

Skoll has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work. He has been included in Bloomberg Business Week's list of most innovative philanthropists since 2002. Skoll received the National Leadership Award for Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley in 2004 and the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the International Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2003. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto in 2003 and was named one of Time Magazine's 100 People of the Year in 2006. Skoll also received Wired Magazine's Rave Award in 2006 and was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011. In 2017, he was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

Jeff Skoll: Personal Life & Legacy

Skoll is known for his philanthropic efforts and his commitment to social impact investing. He is one of the earliest proponents of socially responsible investing and has invested in for-profit companies aiming to deliver both social impact and financial returns. Skoll's legacy includes his contributions to the entertainment industry through Participant, his philanthropic work through the Skoll Foundation, and his impact investing activities through Capricorn Investment Group and The Rise Fund.

Jeff Skoll: Trivia

In 2022, Skoll became a minority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL's Washington Capitals, NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics, and other sports teams.

Wealth History

Timeline

1965

Jeffrey Skoll was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family.

1987

Graduated with a BASc in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto.

1996

Joined eBay as the company's first president and first full-time employee.

1998

Became Vice President, Strategic Planning and Analysis after Meg Whitman's arrival.

1999

Donated approximately $1 billion of eBay stock to the Skoll Foundation since its formation.

2001

Created Capricorn Investment Group, overseeing over $5 billion in client assets.

2002

Bloomberg Business Week's list of most innovative philanthropists (2002–present).

2003

Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the International Association of Fundraising Professionals.

2003

Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto.

2004

Founded Participant to create films that raise public awareness of critical social issues.

2004

National Leadership Award for Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley.

2006

Time Magazine's 100 People of the Year.

2006

Wired Magazine's Rave Award.

2011

Officer of the Order of Canada.

2014

Established the Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

2014

Married television executive Stephanie Swedlove.

2017

Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

2019

Filed for divorce from Swedlove.

2022

Became a minority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

Jeff Skoll : FAQs

What is Jeff Skoll's current net worth?

Jeff Skoll's current net worth is $5.36 billion.

What is Jeff Skoll's current global rank among billionaires?

Jeff Skoll holds the 761st position globally among billionaires.

What is Jeff Skoll's current ranking within the United States?

Jeff Skoll holds the 286th position in United States.

What was the change in Jeff Skoll's net worth compared to the previous year?

Jeff Skoll's net worth increased by 11.12 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 5.35 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Jeff Skoll's net worth?

Jeff Skoll's net worth increased by 17.59 million dollars recently, a 0.33% increase, with his net worth standing at 5.36 billion dollars.

What are Jeff Skoll's main sources of wealth?

Jeff Skoll's main source of income comes from EBay.

In which industry does Jeff Skoll primarily operate?

Jeff Skoll is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Jeff Skoll educational background?

Jeff Skoll holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts/Science from the University of Toronto.

How old is Jeff Skoll?

Jeff Skoll is 61 years old.

Who is Jeffrey Skoll and what is his connection to eBay?

Jeffrey Skoll is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, known for being eBay's first president and first full-time employee. He joined eBay in 1996 and helped steer the company's strategic vision in its formative years, writing its business plan and later creating the eBay Foundation.

What is Participant and how has it contributed to film and social awareness?

Participant is a film production company founded by Jeffrey Skoll in 2004, with the mission to create movies that raise awareness about critical social issues. Participant has produced various critically acclaimed films such as 'Syriana,' 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' and 'An Inconvenient Truth,' winning 18 Oscars and receiving 73 Academy Award nominations.

How has Jeffrey Skoll impacted philanthropy and social entrepreneurship?

Jeffrey Skoll has made significant contributions to philanthropy, being a recipient of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and a Giving Pledge signatory. Through the Skoll Foundation, he supports social entrepreneurship and has donated nearly $1 billion of his eBay stock. He also established the Skoll Global Threats Fund and engaged in collaborative philanthropy.

What role does Jeffrey Skoll play in impact investing?

As an early proponent of socially responsible investing, Jeffrey Skoll created Capricorn Investment Group to manage over $5 billion in assets aimed at generating social impact along with financial returns. His early investments include companies like Tesla and Joby Aviation, and he co-founded The Rise Fund, a $2 billion social-impact fund.

What are some personal milestones and accolades achieved by Jeffrey Skoll?

Jeffrey Skoll is celebrated for his innovation in philanthropy, featuring on Bloomberg Business Week's list of most innovative philanthropists and receiving awards like the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. He was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 People of the Year in 2006 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011.