Do you know who was behind the creation of YouTube, the website millions people use daily? Well, Chad Hurley is the man behind YouTube, who got a whopping $345 million as his portion when Google acquired YouTube at $1.6B!
Yes, you heard it right!
Chad Hurley is a terrific American entrepreneur who co-founded the video-sharing website “YouTube!” He is a renowned personality across the tech industry as a symbol of innovation and entrepreneurship!
His journey from Pennsylvania to becoming a tech mogul is nothing sort of extraordinary!
So, let’s look at his successful life!
Early Life of Chad Hurley
Born on January 24, 1977, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Chad Meredith Hurley was the son of Joann and Don Hurley. He had a natural talent for sketching and drawing when he was little and a strong interest in art and design.
Gradually, his interest in computers grew over time. In his adolescent years, he became enthusiastic and learned HTML and web design. In addition to being an active member of the Technology Student Association, he won two state championships.
Hurley attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania for graduate school after finishing high school. In 1999, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art. He could have taken a conventional path in design or media. However, his career trajectory turned when he joined the PayPal team in its early stages!
Personal Life From Pennsylvania to Silicon Valley
The 2006 marriage of Chad Hurley and Kathy Clark marked the turning point in Hurley’s personal life! She was the daughter of Tech magnate James H. Clark, who had investments in Netscape, Silicon Graphics, WebMD, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter, and she acquired a substantial fortune.
However, Kathy Clark and Chad Hurley’s divorce was finalized in 2014. In addition, Chad’s marriage to Elise Walden marked the beginning of a fresh chapter in his own life.
Keeping his private life out of the spotlight, Chad Hurley resides in California and prefers not to talk about his personal affairs. Even though he is very busy with his entrepreneurial endeavors, he appreciates his privacy.
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Starting Days at PayPal
He started his career at PayPal as a programmer and designer. He was not just another employee for PayPal; rather, he was the mastermind behind PayPal’s logo!
Yes, he was responsible for creating the logo the corporation utilized for a long time. He gained vital expertise in the startup industry and learned about its challenges and rewards while at PayPal.
Changing Video Communication Forever with YouTube
Former PayPal employees Steve Chen and Jawed Karim were co-founders of YouTube with Chad Hurley in 2005. They all hated how difficult it was to share videos online, and after doing some research, they saw it’s a common but fundamental problem!
Well, that’s it! The necessity for an accessible, user-friendly platform that simplified posting and sharing videos gave rise to YouTube. They pooled their resources and expertise to create YouTube in 2005. And YouTube stood out due to its user-centric design and emphasis on simplicity!
Google was impressed by the platform’s meteoric rise to popularity. So, Google bought YouTube in 2006 with a mind-boggling $1.65 billion! Thanks to this purchase, Hurley was able to launch a prosperous business career. The $345 million he received was his fair portion of the contract!
Even after he stepped down as CEO, Hurley was very much involved with YouTube as an advisor. He persisted in lending his knowledge to the platform, which helped it expand and succeed.
Want to see how rich Jawed Karim became after this? Check our article on Jawed Karim’s net worth.
The MixBit
Chad Hurley started a new company called MixBit after being the CEO of YouTube.
Interestingly, MixBit was thought about before YouTube ever existed!
MixBit brought a new function that lets people edit photos on the go using their cell phones. It was easy to capture, edit, and share videos with MixBit, like Vine and Instagram. It allowed people to make videos of any duration, from a single second to an hour. It boosted Chad Hurley’s entrepreneurial success and wealth even further!
Chad Hurley’s Net Worth
Chad Hurley has a net worth of a whopping $800 million!
It is primarily the result of well-planned investments and prosperous businesses.
After selling YouTube, Chad Hurley became one of the wealthiest tech entrepreneurs in the world. His presence was crucial in the $1.65 billion sale of YouTube to Google.
His investment savvy and entrepreneurial mentality were not limited to YouTube only!
Hurley is taking a shot at the internet video industry with EyeTell. This new company is going to use artificial intelligence to write scripts for movies.
In a recent seed round, EyeTell was joined by venture capital firm SV Angel and led by A-Star Capital. This will motivate artists and streamline the video production process. It will also have features for recording audio and creating videos using artificial intelligence!
So, the portfolio of Hurley has been diversified through these strategic investments and endeavors. His net worth was so substantially increased as a result!
Investments & Financial Ventures of Chad Hurley
Beyond his achievements on YouTube and in projects like MixBit, Chad Hurley has gained a lot through significant investments and collaborations!
First of all, he is the Co-founder and Chairman of GreenPark Sports! The Golden State Warriors of the NBA and the Los Angeles Football Club of Major League Soccer include him as a minority owner.
He was the tech startup advisor for companies like Dropbox and Reddit. Moreover, he has invested in several new businesses, including Vessel, Zenefits, Everpix, Dropbox, and Uber.
In Formula One, Chad Hurley was a prominent United States F1 Team investor. He debuted for the 2010 campaign as a newcomer.
He has a lot of rental properties, too! In the charming Silicon Valley hamlet of Woodside, California, Chad and Kathy purchased a 10-acre property in 2013 for an unknown sum. They received $14.25 million for the sale of this property in January 2019.
A few cities over from Woodside, in Atherton, they purchased an 8,600-square-foot property for $9 million in 2013. This house is currently selling for $15–$20 million!
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Controversy with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were involved in an incident with Chad in 2013!
At San Francisco’s AT&T Field in October 2013, Kanye West lavishly proposed to Kim Kardashian. The gathering’s participants were all asked to sign a document guaranteeing their privacy!
Later, a lawsuit was brought out alleging that Chad had sneaked into the gathering despite not being invited. After entering, he filmed the proposal and posted two minutes of footage for MixBit. More than 1.64 million people watched the video, which Kanye released to TMZ, showing him dropping down on one knee accompanied by an orchestra and fireworks. He promoted the MixBit video with a press release as well.
The news infuriated Kim and Kanye. A lawsuit was swiftly brought against Chad, and nearly two years passed as the dispute continued. Chad ultimately agreed to pay Kim and Kanye $440,000 as a settlement!
Giving Back to the Community
The importance of giving back is something that Chad Hurley feels deeply about!
He supports many causes through his philanthropy, including those in the arts, education, and international humanitarian aid.
Hurley is committed to fostering an environment where those who desire to make a positive impact can seize possibilities through several programs and charitable contributions. His goal is to help educate and inspire the generation that follows.
Beyond his wealth, Chad Hurley’s impact is immense. Entrepreneurs should see Hurley’s story as proof that anything is possible with enough imagination, hard work, and risk-taking!
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