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Billionaire Profile
David Filo
Global Rank
#934

Image: Mitchell Aidelbaum from San Francisco, CA, USA | CC BY 2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

David Filo

CEO, Yahoo
UNITED STATES
Real-Time Net Worth
$4.559B
Estimated based on Yahoo stock value as of April 20, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
59
Source
Yahoo
Industry
technology
Citizenship
UNITED STATES

Biography

David Filo, co-founder of Yahoo!, is an American billionaire and a key figure in the history of the internet. Born on April 20, 1966, Filo's career began with his education at Tulane University and Stanford University, where he met Jerry Yang. Together, they created "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web," which later became Yahoo!, transforming how people navigate and access information online. Filo's technical expertise was crucial to Yahoo's early success. Today, he is known for his philanthropic efforts through the Skyline Foundation, supporting causes such as education and environmental sustainability, solidifying his legacy as a tech innovator and a benefactor. His net worth, as of 2024, is estimated to be $4.6 billion.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 4/20/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

David Robert Filo was born on April 20, 1966, in Wisconsin, and was raised in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. He attended Tulane University, earning a bachelor's degree in computer engineering in 1988. Filo then pursued a Master of Science in electrical engineering at Stanford University, where he met Jerry Yang.

Rise to Success

In 1994, while at Stanford, Filo and Yang created "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web," a directory of websites designed to help users navigate the early internet. This project was the foundation of Yahoo!, which was formally incorporated in 1995. Filo, known internally as the "Chief Yahoo," focused on the technical aspects and engineering strategy, helping to build Yahoo! into a leading internet brand. Yahoo! went public in April 1996.

Key Business Strategies

Filo's role was pivotal in Yahoo!'s early technological development and infrastructure. The company expanded rapidly through acquisitions, including Rocketmail and ClassicGames.com. Yahoo! also made strategic investments and partnerships, like the one with SoftBank for Yahoo! Japan.

Philanthropy

David Filo, along with his wife Angela, established the Skyline Foundation (formerly the Yellow Chair Foundation) in 2001. The foundation supports causes such as education, environmental protection, and journalism, using a trust-based approach to grant-making. Filo has also personally donated to educational institutions, including a $30 million donation to Tulane University's School of Engineering in 2005.

Career Milestones

1994

Co-created "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web"

With Jerry Yang, created a directory of websites, which would later become Yahoo!

1995

Co-founded Yahoo! Inc.

Founded the company that became one of the leading internet brands in the 1990s

1996

Yahoo! IPO

Yahoo! went public on the Nasdaq

2001

Skyline Foundation Founded

Established the philanthropic foundation

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Education

Tulane University

$30M

Donation for engineering and computer science scholarships

Education

Stanford University

Undisclosed

Major benefactor, supporting programs in sustainability and education

Education, Journalism

University of California, Berkeley

Undisclosed

Major benefactor, primarily supporting the graduate school of journalism

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"It's going to be interesting to see how society adapts to a lot of these changes that AI is bringing to us...I think with that kind of change comes a great opportunity, but kind of both on the positive and potentially negative side."

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