Omidyar, << oh MIHD ee ahr, >> Pierre (1967-…), is an American computer scientist and businessman who founded the auction website eBay . He originally launched the site as AuctionWeb in 1995. Through AuctionWeb, Omidyar established a platform for individuals and businesses to buy and sell a wide range of items and services. AuctionWeb was renamed eBay in 1997. The name came from Echo Bay Technology Group, a consulting firm Omidyar had started earlier. eBay became a publicly owned corporation in 1998. It quickly became one of the most popular electronic commerce, or e-commerce, sites in the world.
The success of eBay made Omidyar a billionaire. In 2004, he and his wife, Pamela Omidyar, established the Omidyar Network, an investment group that seeks to promote individual self-empowerment throughout the world. The Omidyar Network funds a variety of organizations and public policy efforts that support its mission.
Pierre Morad Omidyar was born on June 21, 1967, in Paris. He moved with his family from France to the United States in 1973 and became a U.S. citizen in 1981. In 1988, Omidyar earned a degree in computer science from Tufts University. Later that year, he began working for Claris, a subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc. . In 1991, Omidyar cofounded a business called Ink Development Corp., later renamed eShop. In 1994, Omidyar left eShop for General Magic, where he worked until AuctionWeb became successful.
