Reid Garrett Hoffman (born August 5, 1967) is an AmericanInternet entrepreneur,venture capitalist, podcaster, and author. Hoffman is the co-founder and former executive chairman ofLinkedIn, a business-orientedsocial network used primarily for professional networking. He is also chairman of venture capital firm Village Global, a co-founder ofInflection AI, a co-founder of Manas AI, and a board member atArc Institute.[1][2][3][4]
Hoffman has been an influential figure in political circles, being a member of theBilderberg Group since at least 2011 and theCouncil on Foreign Relations since 2015. He has actively participated in political funding and advocacy, contributing to various campaigns and organizations, and has been a vocal proponent of democratic institutions and humanism in technological innovation. As of 2025,Forbes estimates his net worth to be $2.6 billion.
Hoffman joinedApple Computer in 1994, where he worked oneWorld, an early attempt at building an online service.AOL acquired eWorld in 1996.[18] He later worked atFujitsu before co-founding his first company, SocialNet.com, in 1997. It focused "on online dating and matching up people with similar interests, like golfers who were looking for partners in their neighborhood."[19]
Hoffman was a member ofPayPal's board of directors at the time it was founded.[20] In January 2000, he left SocialNet and joined PayPal full-time as the company's COO.[19][21] In June 2000, Hoffman became PayPal's Senior VP of Business Development, after a re-organization of PayPal's executive structure by then-CEOElon Musk.[22]
Hoffman co-foundedLinkedIn in December 2002 with two former colleagues from SocialNet (including Allen Blue) and one former colleague from his time at Fujitsu.[9][23] LinkedIn launched on May 5, 2003, as one of the first business-oriented online social networks.[24]Peter Thiel, a colleague of Hoffman's at PayPal, invested in LinkedIn. At the time of LinkedIn'sIPO on May 19, 2011, Hoffman owned a stake worth an estimated $2.34 billion, not including any potential benefits fromGreylock Partners, where he was named a partner in 2009.[25]
Microsoft proposed to acquire LinkedIn on June 13, 2016, for $26.2 billion in cash.[26] Hoffman became a Microsoft board member on March 14, 2017.[27]
Following Musk's exit, OpenAI faced financial challenges due to the shortfall in anticipated funding.[30] With Hoffman's help, OpenAI transitioned to a "capped-profit" model by establishing a for-profit subsidiary to attract investment while maintaining its commitment to ethical AI development.[30] Hoffman led the investment into the for-profit subsidiary through his family foundation, and joined the company's board of directors.[31]
On March 3, 2023, Hoffman resigned from his board seat at OpenAI, citing a desire to avoid conflicts of interest between his board seat at OpenAI, investments in AI technology companies via Greylock Partners, and role as founder of Inflection AI.[32]
In March 2022, it was announced that Hoffman was co-founding a new startup,Inflection AI, with his long-time friend and Greylock colleagueMustafa Suleyman, the co-founder ofDeepMind.CNBC reported that "Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Inflection will aim to develop AI software products that make it easier for humans to communicate with computers."[1]
In March 2024, Microsoft licensed Inflection AI's technology and hired Mustafa Suleyman, along with Inflection CSO Karén Simonyan and most of the company's 70 employees, in a deal reportedly worth $650 million.[33][34] Following this transition, Inflection AI hired Sean White as CEO and shifted its focus to enterprise AI solutions.[35]
In January 2025, Hoffman launched Manas AI, an AI-enabled drug discovery startup, together with cancer researcherSiddhartha Mukherjee, with about $25 million in initial funding.[37]
In April 2024, Hoffman "sat down" for an interview with an AI deepfake of himself, one of the first public figures to do so. "In their conversation, the two Reids discussed AI regulation, its capabilities, and ways Hoffman can improve his LinkedIn profile." According to Hoffman, the bot was "built onOpenAI's GPT-4 and trained on over 20 years' worth of material provided by Hoffman's public speaking engagements and the books he's published."[38] Hoffman toldAxios' Mike Allen that ReidAI's purpose was to show "the positive things we can do with all these technologies."[39]
In late 2022, Hoffman and others invested a total of $2.2 million in JusticeText. "[G]eared towards public defenders," the platform "stores, catalogs, analyzes and then shares video evidence, hoping to increase transparency around criminal matters."[40]
As of May 2023, Hoffman and Greylock Partners have invested in at least 37 AI companies.[41] For example, they were an early investor in Tome, makers of productivity software driven by AI. The company claims it is the fastest productivity software maker in reaching 1 million users.[42]
Hoffman has dismissed calls to "pause" the development of advanced AI systems, calling such ideas "foolish" and "anti-humanist." Instead, he has called for the pace of development to be accelerated to help humans solve societal problems.[43] For example, he's pointed to "its potential to transform areas like health care — "giving everyone a medical assistant"; and education — "giving everyone a tutor... I'm a tech optimist, not a tech utopian."[44]
Inc. dubbed Hoffman the "evangelist in chief" for Inflection AI and AI in general, citing his meetings with the likes of President Biden and the Pope to discuss his vision and concerns around AI.[45][46]
Since 2009, Hoffman has providedventure capital to dozens of businesses across industries, including consumer and transportation technology, finance, and artificial intelligence. Examples includeAirbnb, where he led the company's Series A financing round,Aurora Innovation, Taptap Send, andHelion Energy.[51][52][53]
Hoffman has made multiple investments in transportation technology companies, including Aurora, Convoy, Nauto, Nuro, and Joby Aviation, among others.[59][60]
An early advocate forcryptocurrency,[61] Hoffman led Greylock's 2014 Series A financing round in Xapo, a company that developed abitcoin wallet product.[62]
In August 2023, Hoffman said he will not serve as a general partner for Greylock's upcoming funds, but will continue to serve as a venture partner.[63]
In 2023, Hoffman delivered the Commencement Speech atBologna Business School, urging students to prepare for the transformative potential of AI as a tool for amplifying human creativity, collaboration, and progress.[67]
In 2024, Hoffman delivered a keynote lecture at theInternational Journalism Festival inPerugia, Italy, balance progress and responsibility while shaping a future where technology amplifies human potential and interconnectedness.
Hoffman delivered a lecture at the LSE School of Public Policy focusing on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society, governance, and global dynamics.[68] He was appointed a Visiting Senior Fellow at the school in February 2025.[69]
Together with Prof. Fred Kofman, Senior Leadership Coach atGoogle, formerMITProfessor and Zur Genosar, Israeli businessman andmindfulness teacher, the three founded The Hoffman Kofman Foundation, anon-profit organization that aims to develop leaders into active exemplars ofexcellence who elicit internal commitment to a shared mission of creating social and economic value from their followers and team members.[71]
Hoffman is co-author, withBen Casnocha, of the career bookThe Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform your Career.[9]
The book was released in the United States on February 14, 2012. It argues that individuals should think of themselves as businesses-of-one – the "CEO of their own career" – and draws many parallels between lessons learned from the stories of successful Silicon Valley technology companies and an individual's career.[72]
Publishers Weekly reviewed the book positively, saying, "with plenty of valuable guidance relevant to any career stage, this book will help readers not only survive professionally in times of uncertainty but stand out from the pack and flourish."[73] The Economist said that "Hoffman and Casnocha make a number of astute observations about shifts in the world of work."[74]
Hoffman is co-author, withBen Casnocha and Chris Yeh, of the management bookThe Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age.[77]
The book was released in the United States on July 8, 2014. It argues that previous career models of lifetime employment and free agency no longer work in a business world defined by continuous change. Instead, it proposes that employers and employees should think of each other as "allies" and move from a transactional approach to employment to a "relational" one.[78]
The book became aNew York Times bestseller.[79]Arianna Huffington namedThe Alliance "the must-read book of the summer" in 2014.[80] AFinancial Times review was mixed, noting that those who aren't well-versed on the changing nature of the workplace may find the book useful, but readers looking for more surprising or in-depth insights will be disappointed.[81]
Hoffman is co-author, with Chris Yeh, of the bookBlitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies.[82] The book was released in the United States on October 9, 2018. It argues that the secret to starting and scaling massively valuable companies is "blitzscaling", a set of techniques for "scaling up at a dizzying pace that blows competitors out of the water."[83]
On March 13, 2023, Hoffman released the bookImpromptu: Amplifying Our Humanity Through AI. Hoffman claims to have written the book using thelarge language modelGPT-4.[84] It became a Wall Street Journal bestseller in April of that year.[85]
Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With our AI Future
On January 28, 2025, Hoffman released the bookSuperagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With our AI Future with his co-author Greg Beato. The book offers a roadmap for how society can integrate AI inclusively and adaptively to improve our lives and create massive positive change.[86][87] The book became aNew York Times bestseller.[88] Hoffman used AI to create personalized book covers, featuring AI generated images and custom book blurbs for customers.[89]
In March 2023, Hoffman and his Chief of StaffAria Finger began hosting a podcast calledPossible. According to its creators, the podcast "sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there". The podcast has won three Webby Awards. In 2024, the episode featuring Trevor Noah won best Individual Episode and the episode featuring Bryan Stevenson won best Crime and Justice episode.[94][95]In 2025, the episode featuring Kara Swisher won best Individual Episode.[96]
In September 2014, theAmerican Academy of Achievement awarded Hoffman with the annual Golden Plate award, which honors accomplished individuals "for significant achievement in their fields."[105]
In April 2014,PresidentBarack Obama named Hoffman as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship "to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs."[106]
In May 2012, Hoffman was ranked third on theForbesMidas List of the top tech investors.[108]Forbes described Hoffman as "Silicon Valley's uber-investor" and said Hoffman "has had a hand in creating nearly every lucrative social media startup."[108]
In 2012,The Martin Luther King Jr. Center honored Hoffman with their "Salute to Greatness" award which "recognizes individuals and corporations or organizations that exemplify excellence in leadership and a commitment to social responsibility in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr."[109]
In 2012, Hoffman, along withSalman Khan ofKhan Academy, was honored by theWorld Affairs Council andGlobal Philanthropy Forum in 2012. The council recognizes and honors remarkable leaders who have effected and will continue to effect social change through their private enterprise and social action. The awards in 2012 were dedicated to celebrating Technology for Social Impact.[110]
Hoffman was awarded the 2012 David Packard Medal of Achievement Award byTechAmerica for his contributions and advances within the high-tech industry, his community, and humankind.[111]
Hoffman received an Honorary Doctor of Laws fromBabson College in 2012.[112]
In 2011, Hoffman andJeff Weiner of LinkedIn shared theEY U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year Award.[113]
In 2004, Hoffman married Michelle Yee.[114] The couple resides inSeattle, Washington. Hoffman is an avid player of board games, includingSettlers of Catan, and has said that such games are good training for business.[115]
In July 2024,The Washington Post reported that Hoffman had made a multimillion-dollar investment in the election technology companySmartmatic, which is currently undertaking defamation action against several press outlets.[116]
Hoffman reportedly first encounteredJeffrey Epstein through theMIT Media Lab when he helped solicit donations to the lab from Epstein.[117] In July 2013, Epstein met with Hoffman and others at the MIT campus.[118] In 2019, it was reported that Hoffman had hosted a dinner attended by Epstein along withElon Musk andMark Zuckerberg.[119][120] In September 2023,The Wall Street Journal reported that Hoffman visited Epstein's private island for a weekend in 2014. Hoffman claimed that the purpose of the meeting was to raise funds for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and that he regretted interacting with Epstein.[121][122]
In October 2025, Hoffman's name was brought up in a Senate hearing on Epstein while questioning attorney generalPam Bondi. Bondi called Reid Hoffman one of Epstein's closest confidants while being questioned by SenatorSheldon Whitehouse. On November 14, 2025, President Trump directed theU.S. Department of Justice to investigate Epstein's relationship with, among others, Hoffman.[123]
In February 2026, newly released Epstein files revealed an email sent on Christmas Eve 2014 from Hoffman, noting "ice-cream...for the girls" and another item to "strike your funny bone for the island."[124]
Hoffman currently serves on the boards ofKiva.org (peer-to-peermicrolending pioneer that allows people to lend money via the internet to low-income/underserved entrepreneurs and students),[125]Endeavor Global (an organization that finds and supports high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets),[126] andNew America (a think tank that focuses on a range ofpublic policy issues, including national security, technology, health, gender, education, and the economy).[127] He's the founding donor and board member at Opportunity@Work, an organization that seeks to eliminate the opportunity gap and provide millions of highly skilled but under-credentialed Americans (often from marginalized, rural and racially diverse backgrounds) better pathways to higher-paying jobs and careers.[128] Hoffman is on the board of Lever for Change, an affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation, which connects donors with problem solvers to find and fund bold, effective solutions to accelerate social change.[129][130] He's also on the board of theBerggruen Institute, a think tank.[131]
Hoffman formerly served on the advisory council of theMIT Media Lab and as chair of the advisory board forQuestBridge (a provider of talented low-income students to top colleges/universities).[132] Hoffman was also the first major funder ofCrisis Text Line, a free, 24/7 crisis service via SMS in the US. In 2013, Hoffman provided a $250,000 matching grant (equivalent to $331,000 in 2024) toCode for America. In July 2016, Hoffman funded the $250,000 cash-prize (equivalent to $319,300 in 2024)MIT Media LabMIT Disobedience Award,[133] an award created by Hoffman andJoi Ito to honor and recognize acts of disobedience resulting in positive social impact.[134] In November 2016, Hoffman and his wife, Michelle Yee, donated $20 million (equivalent to $25,550,000 in 2024) to theChan Zuckerberg Initiative, a charity dedicated to eradicating disease by 2100.[135] Hoffman and Yee's donation was for theBiohub, the Initiative's San Francisco laboratory. Hoffman also joined the board of the Biohub project.[136] In May 2018, Hoffman and Yee joinedThe Giving Pledge, "a global effort to help address society's most pressing problems by encouraging the wealthiest individuals and families to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes."[137]
Hoffman is also a long-time supporter ofSecond Harvest of Silicon Valley. In 2021, in response to the massive increased need due to the pandemic, he offered to match any donations to the food bank, up to $2 million (equivalent to $2,278,000 in 2024).[138]
Hoffman is one of the backers of the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund, a joint venture between the MIT Media Lab and theBerkman Klein Center for Internet & Society atHarvard University.[139] He is on the board of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), whose mission is to "advance AI research, education, policy and practice to improve the human condition",[140][141] and launched the institute's Hoffman-Yee Research Grants to "fund interdisciplinary teams with research spanning HAI's key areas of focus: understanding the human and societal impact of AI, augmenting human capabilities, and developing AI technologies inspired by human intelligence".[142] In 2018, Hoffman made a gift to theUniversity of Toronto's Faculty of Information, to endow a chair "to study how the new era of artificial intelligence (AI) will affect our lives."[143]
Since at least 2011, Hoffman has been a member and regular attendee of theBilderberg Group, which gathers 120–150 North American and European "political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media"[144] for an annual invitation-only closed-door conference.[145][146][147] Hoffman is also listed as a member of theCouncil on Foreign Relations, to which he was elected in 2015.[148]
In April 2013, a pro-immigration lobbying group calledFWD.us was launched, with Reid Hoffman listed as one of the founders. In 2014, Hoffman donated $150,000 (equivalent to $195,200 in 2024) to theMayday PAC.[149] Also in 2014, Hoffman contributed $500,000 (equivalent to $650,700 in 2024) towardDavid Chiu's State Assembly campaign by funding an independent expenditure committee devoted to negative campaigning against his opponent: San Franciscans to Hold Campos Accountable—Vote No for Campos for State Assembly 2014. In 2016, Hoffman contributed $220,000 (equivalent to $281,000 in 2024) in support of Democratic candidate for Vermont governorMatt Dunne, according to a mass-media disclosure filed at the Vermont Secretary of State's Office.[150]
In December 2018, theNew York Times broke a story alleging that Hoffman had "put $100,000 into an experiment that adopted Russia-inspired politicaldisinformation tactics onFacebook" during the2017 special Senate race in Alabama, in a project known asProject Birmingham which allegedly targetedRoy Moore voters. Hoffman did not immediately respond.[152] He apologized later that month, also stating he was unaware what the non-profit—Washington, D.C.–based American Engagement Technologies, or AET—had been doing.[153] Hoffman helped fundE. Jean Carroll's lawsuit for defamation and battery againstDonald Trump.[154] On May 9, 2023, a jury found Trump liable and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.[155]
In 2018, Hoffman helped fund Alloy, a company founded to legally exchange data with affiliated Democratic groups like super PACs. Hoffman supplied half of the $35 million to start it.[156] The company shut down in 2021.[157]
Hoffman has been an outspoken proponent of democratic institutions and voting rights and in 2021 published a piece on LinkedIn entitledProtecting Voting Rights: Good for America, Good for American Business. In this piece he discusses how "former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier led corporate America to take an active role in this situation, by explicitly advocating for the rights of all American citizens to make their voices heard through the core democratic act of voting".[158] In 2020, Hoffman also penned a piece that argued for makingVoting Day a holiday.[159]
Hoffman gave at least $500,000 to the Mainstream Democratssuper PAC, which was founded in February 2022 and has since spent more than $1 million supporting the campaigns of moderate DemocratsHenry Cuellar andKurt Schrader.[160][161][162][163][164]
^Soni, Jimmy (2022). "Chapter 12: Buttoned-Up".The founders: the story of PayPal and the entrepreneurs who shaped Silicon Valley (First Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 200.ISBN978-1-5011-9726-0.OCLC1162986521.On June 1, 2000—nineteen days into his tenure—Musk introduced a reworked executive structure. He would now count seven direct reports: David Jacques: CFO; David Johnson, senior VP of finance; Sandeep Lal, VP of customer service and operations; David Sacks, senior VP of product; Reid Hoffman, now senior VP of business development and international; Jamie Templeton, former Confinity VP of engineering, would once again lead the engineering team; and Levchin would remain as CTO, with no direct reports up to him. Notably, the reorganization left no place for a COO or president.
^Science, London School of Economics and Political (December 12, 2024)."LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman discusses AI".London School of Economics and Political Science. RetrievedFebruary 12, 2025.
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