Image: Public domain | via Wikimedia Commons
Jerry Yang is a Taiwanese-American billionaire entrepreneur, computer programmer, and venture capitalist. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo!, a pioneering company in the early internet era. As of May 2025, his estimated net worth is $3.1 billion, a testament to his success in the technology industry. Yang's career includes pivotal roles in shaping the internet landscape and now focuses on investments through his firm, AME Cloud Ventures.
Jerry Chih-Yuan Yang was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on November 6, 1968. When he was ten, he immigrated with his family to the United States, settling in San Jose, California. He quickly adapted, mastering English within three years. He excelled academically, attending Piedmont Hills High School and later earning Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University in just four years.
In 1994, while at Stanford, Yang co-founded Yahoo! with David Filo. Initially named "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web," it was a directory of websites. Yahoo! quickly gained popularity and was incorporated in March 1995. Yang served as CEO from 2007 to 2009 and remained on the board of directors until 2012. He met Jack Ma in 1997 and discussed the growth of the Web, a photo of them together still hangs in Alibaba's Hangzhou office. He left Yahoo! in 2012, and became a mentor and investor through his firm, AME Cloud Ventures.
Yang's leadership style emphasized innovation, collaboration, and risk-taking. He focused on creating new products and services, fostering a culture of innovation within Yahoo!. A key strategy was forming partnerships to expand Yahoo!'s reach. Furthermore, Yang was involved in key strategic decisions, including Yahoo!'s investment in Alibaba.
Jerry Yang and his wife, Akiko Yamazaki, are known for their philanthropy, particularly in education, conservation, and the arts. In 2007, they donated $75 million to Stanford University, with $50 million going towards the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building. In 2017, they pledged $25 million to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Yang also co-founded The Asian American Foundation to address racism against Asian Americans.
Co-founded Yahoo! with David Filo at Stanford University, which became one of the first major internet companies.
Appointed CEO of Yahoo!
Resigned from Yahoo! and its board of directors
Founded AME Cloud Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in tech startups
Donation to Stanford University, including funds for the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building
Pledged $25 million to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco
Co-founded The Asian American Foundation
""Without rain, there is no life!""
""My time at Yahoo, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life.""
Believed in being a visionary, a motivator, a strategist, and a pioneer, embracing change as an opportunity.
Implemented a collaborative approach in making decisions, often relying on his intuition.
Focused on constantly innovating and improving, encouraging employees to think outside the box.
Declined Microsoft's offer to purchase Yahoo! for $44.6 billion, a decision that was widely discussed.
Controversy surrounding Yahoo!'s cooperation with the Chinese government, including providing information that led to the arrest of a journalist
