Jim Breyer: The Billionaire Investor Behind Facebook

Overview

Jim Breyer is an American billionaire who made his fortune through early investments in some of the most successful technology companies in the world. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Breyer is best known for his role as an early investor in Facebook, but he has also invested heavily in companies such as Etsy, Marvel Entertainment, and Marvel Comics. He is the founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in emerging technologies and startups across various sectors.

Early Life and Education

Jim Breyer was born on July 1, 1961, in New Haven, Connecticut. He grew up in a family of educators and was encouraged from a young age to pursue a career in academia. Breyer attended Stanford University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Career and Achievements

After completing his MBA, Breyer began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on advising technology companies. However, he soon realized that his true passion was investing in startups, which led him to join Accel Partners, a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California.

Breyer made his mark in the investment world in 2005, when he invested $12.7 million in Facebook, becoming one of the social media platform’s first outside investors. His investment paid off spectacularly when Facebook went public in 2012, making him an overnight billionaire.

Since then, Breyer has continued to invest in a wide range of startups, ranging from cybersecurity firms to fintech companies. He was an early investor in Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods, and is also a board member of Marvel Entertainment, the media company behind the Marvel Comics franchise. In addition, Breyer has served on the boards of several other companies, including Walmart and Dell Technologies.

Personal Life

Jim Breyer is married to Hong Kong-based art historian and curator, Mai-Mai Sze. The couple has two children and splits their time between homes in Menlo Park, California, and Hong Kong. Breyer is also an avid collector of Asian art and has donated significant sums to several museums and cultural institutions.

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