Kim Beom-su

$3.57 B

Ranked #1165 in World

About Kim Beom-su

South Korean billionaire and Kakao founder Kim Beom-soo, commonly known as Brian Kim, rose from humble beginnings in Damyang and Seoul to become one of South Korea's wealthiest individuals, with a current net worth of approximately $4.7 billion. With a steep career trajectory starting as a Samsung developer, Kim pioneered South Korea's first online gaming portal, Hangame, before merging it with Naver and eventually establishing the country's leading messaging app, KakaoTalk, in 2010. Despite his success, Kim faced legal scrutiny over allegations of gambling in Las Vegas, a criminal offense for Korean citizens. Prosecutors delved into his activities, noting extensive time and money spent at a notable casino. However, Kim's philanthropic commitment remains evident through his signing of the Giving Pledge.

Born

March 27, 1966 in Damyang County, South Korea

Age

60 years

Source Of Wealth

Online Services

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

South Korea

Residence

Seoul

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Seoul National University; Master of Science, Seoul National University

Children

Kim Beom-soo, also known as Brian Kim, was born in Damyang County, South Korea, and grew up in Seoul. He was the third of five children and was raised by his grandmother in poverty. His father worked in a pen factory, while his mother was a hotel maid. Kim funded his college education by working as a private tutor. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in engineering from Seoul National University.

Kim Beom-su: Family

Kim Beom-soo is married and has two children. He lives in Seoul with his family.

Kim Beom-su: Career Highlights

Kim Beom-soo's career highlights include:

First job as a developer for Samsung's IT services unit.
Started Hangame in 1998 with $184,000 from friends and family.
Hangame became South Korea's first online gaming portal.
Merged Hangame with web portal Naver in 2000.
Worked as a representative of NHN until 2007.
Moved to Silicon Valley in 2005, created IWILAB incubator in 2006.
Started KakaoTalk in 2010, South Korea's biggest messaging app.
Signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

Kim Beom-su: Companies

Kim Beom-soo has founded or been involved with the following companies:

Hangame
Naver
NHN
IWILAB
Kakao

Kim Beom-su: Major Achievements

Kim Beom-soo's major achievements include:

Creating South Korea's first online gaming portal, Hangame.
Merging Hangame with web portal Naver, creating one of the largest internet companies in South Korea.
Starting KakaoTalk, South Korea's biggest messaging app.
Becoming one of the richest men in South Korea.

Kim Beom-su: Awards & Achievements

Kim Beom-soo has received numerous awards and achievements, including:

Forbes Asia's "Asia's 50 Power Businesspeople" (2014)
Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" (2014)
Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" (2015)

Kim Beom-su: Personal Life & Legacy

Kim Beom-soo is one of the richest men in South Korea, with a net worth estimated at around $4.7 billion (December 2023).

He is known for his philanthropy and has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

Kim Beom-su: Trivia

Kim Beom-soo was accused of gambling in Las Vegas from 2007 to 2010, which is illegal for Korean citizens. Korean prosecutors obtained information from U.S. authorities about Kim's gambling activities. He spent 20 hours and 51 minutes at the Bellagio Hotel in 2007 as NHN CEO and bet an average of $2,440 per session, losing $16,993. NHN complied with the prosecution's warrants for monitoring chatting records.

Wealth History

Timeline

N/A

Kim Beom-soo (Brian Kim) was born in Damyang County, South Korea, and grew up in Seoul.

N/A

Kim was the third of five children and was raised by his grandmother in poverty.

N/A

Kim's father was a pen factory worker, and his mother was a hotel maid.

N/A

Kim funded his college education by working as a private tutor.

N/A

Kim holds bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from Seoul National University.

N/A

Kim's first job was as a developer for Samsung's IT services unit.

1998

Kim started Hangame with $184,000 from friends and family.

N/A

Hangame became South Korea's first online gaming portal.

2000

Kim merged Hangame with web portal Naver.

2007

Kim worked as a representative of NHN until 2007.

2005

Kim moved to Silicon Valley in 2005.

2006

Kim created IWILAB incubator in 2006.

2010

Kim started KakaoTalk in 2010, South Korea's biggest messaging app.

N/A

Kim signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

N/A

Kim is one of the richest men in South Korea.

December 2023

Kim's net worth is estimated at around $4.7 billion.

N/A

Kim lives in Seoul with his wife and two children.

2007-2010

Kim was accused of gambling in Las Vegas.

N/A

Gambling overseas is illegal for Korean citizens.

N/A

Korean prosecutors obtained information from U.S. authorities about Kim's gambling activities.

2007

Kim spent 20 hours and 51 minutes at Bellagio Hotel as NHN CEO.

N/A

Kim bet an average of $2,440 per session and lost $16,993.

N/A

NHN complied with the prosecution's warrants for monitoring chatting records.

Kim Beom-su : FAQs

What is Kim Beom-su's current net worth?

Kim Beom-su's current net worth is $3.57 billion.

What is Kim Beom-su's current global rank among billionaires?

Kim Beom-su holds the 1165th position globally among billionaires.

What is Kim Beom-su's current ranking within the South Korea?

Kim Beom-su holds the 11th position in South Korea.

What was the change in Kim Beom-su's net worth compared to the previous year?

Kim Beom-su's net worth decreased by 1.19 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 4.76 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Kim Beom-su's net worth?

Kim Beom-su's net worth decreased by 213.33 million dollars recently, a 5.98% decrease, with his net worth standing at 3.57 billion dollars.

What are Kim Beom-su's main sources of wealth?

Kim Beom-su's main source of income comes from Online Services.

In which industry does Kim Beom-su primarily operate?

Kim Beom-su is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Kim Beom-su educational background?

Kim Beom-su holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Seoul National University and a Master of Science from Seoul National University.

How old is Kim Beom-su?

Kim Beom-su is 60 years old.

How many children does Kim Beom-su have?

Kim Beom-su has 2 children.

Who is Kim Beom-soo and what company did he found?

Kim Beom-soo, also known as Brian Kim, is a South Korean billionaire businessman and the founder and chairman of Kakao, a leading South Korean internet company.

What struggles did Kim Beom-soo face during his early life and how did he fund his education?

Kim Beom-soo was born into poverty, being the third of five children and raised by his grandmother. His father worked in a pen factory and his mother was a hotel maid. He funded his college education by working as a private tutor and later earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from Seoul National University.

What notable achievements did Kim Beom-soo accomplish in his career?

Kim Beom-soo started his career as a developer for Samsung's IT services unit before founding Hangame, South Korea's first online gaming portal, with funding from friends and family. He then merged Hangame with the web portal Naver in 2000 and later started KakaoTalk in 2010. He also signed the Giving Pledge to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropy.

What were the gambling accusations against Kim Beom-soo and what was the outcome?

Kim Beom-soo was accused of illegal gambling in Las Vegas between 2007 and 2010, which is a crime for Korean citizens. Korean prosecutors obtained information about his gambling activities from U.S. authorities. Records show he spent nearly 21 hours at the Bellagio Hotel in 2007 as NHN's CEO, with an average bet of $2,440 per session and losses amounting to $16,993.