Creator Of One Of Worlds Most Popular App From Alabama
We take a lot of shots, living in Alabama.
All the elites on the West and East Coasts find it so enjoyable to make fun of our state and call us all rubes.
Did you know that one of the most significant developments of the last 30 years was created by a person born in Alabama?
Not only was he born in Alabama, but he also attended the University of Alabama.
Roll Tide! Crimson Tide!
Ok, he also attended Auburn, and I didn’t even want to mention that, but I guess I have to out of full disclosure.
His creation is literally something that most of us use every single day. At least I know I use it every day and typically multiple times a day for my job.
In fact, I’m using it right now for a few nuggets in this story.
Shockingly, as I dug into this story, I expected to see that this inventor and technology big shot is worth billions, but apparently, that is not the case.
MOST estimates have him barely cracking $1 million in net worth.
I find that just shocking, especially considering that his product is just as significant as anything Mark Zuckerberg has come up with and about a half dozen other tech billionaires that I can name.
However, due to the business model of the company he helped to found, he has not been able to “cash in”.
Who is he?
His name is Jimmy Wales.
He was born in Alabama in 1966.
He was born in Huntsville, Alabama, and was half of the team that created…..
WIKIPEDIA
How many times do you use Wikipedia as I mentioned earlier I use it multiple times a day in my job.
In 2006, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
He has taught at two universities and gives the annual “state of the Wiki” address every year.
Without this boy from Alabama, we would not be able to look up things on that digital encyclopedia known as Wikipedia.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t really imagine life without it.
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Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet