A glimpse into John Tu’s inspiring life

Overview
John Tu is a billionaire entrepreneur and co-founder of Kingston Technology Corporation, one of the world’s leading producers of computer memory products. Born in China and based in the United States, Tu is known for his success in the technology industry and his generous philanthropic efforts.

Early Life and Education
Tu was born on February 24, 1941, in Guangdong Province, China. He grew up during a volatile time in Chinese history, with the country undergoing major political and social changes following World War II. In 1960, Tu left China for Taiwan, where he attended college and earned a degree in chemical engineering from the National Taiwan University.

Career and Achievements
In 1971, Tu moved to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, he dropped out of the program after just one year to co-found Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a semiconductor company. After leaving AMD, Tu founded Camintonn Corporation, which designed and manufactured computer memory modules.

In 1987, Tu partnered with David Sun to co-found Kingston Technology Corporation, which began as a producer of memory modules for personal computers. The company quickly grew and expanded, becoming a leader in the computer storage industry. In 2019, Kingston Technology Corporation reported revenues of $7 billion and employed over 3,500 people worldwide.

Tu has also been involved in other successful companies throughout his career, including Uniloc and Centon Electronics. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the technology industry, including being inducted into the Consumer Technology Association Hall of Fame in 2014.

Personal Life
John Tu is a private individual and little is known about his personal life. He is married and has two children. One of his sons, David Tu, is also a successful entrepreneur and co-founded the cybersecurity company, AnchorFree.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Tu is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He has donated millions of dollars to education and healthcare initiatives, often through the John and Mary Tu Foundation.

Profile