Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman
Born	Reid Garrett Hoffman 5 8, 1967
Birthplace	Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, podcaster
Known for	Co-founding LinkedIn, partner at Greylock Partners, co-founding Inflection AI
Education	Stanford University (BS) Wolfson College, Oxford (MSt)
Awards	Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011)

Reid Garrett Hoffman (born August 5, 1967) is an American Internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, and author. He is best known as the co-founder and former executive chairman of LinkedIn, the professional networking platform that grew to become one of the largest business-oriented social networks in the world before its acquisition by Microsoft. Hoffman served as a partner at the venture capital firm Greylock Partners, where he invested in a range of technology companies during the growth of Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem. Beyond his work in technology and finance, Hoffman has been active in public policy and political advocacy, serving as a member of organizations including the Bilderberg Group and the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a co-founder of Inflection AI and Manas AI, and sits on the boards of Microsoft and the Arc Institute. Hoffman is also the chairman of venture capital firm Village Global. As an author, he has written books on entrepreneurship and the future of work, including The Start-up of You, which appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers list in 2012. His career has spanned the early consumer Internet era through the rise of artificial intelligence, and he has been a public commentator on issues at the intersection of technology, society, and democratic governance.

Early Life

Reid Garrett Hoffman was born on August 5, 1967, in Palo Alto, California, a city at the heart of what would later become known as Silicon Valley. Growing up in the vicinity of Stanford University and the nascent technology industry of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hoffman was exposed from an early age to the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that characterized the region. Details about his parents and family background remain limited in publicly documented sources, though Hoffman has spoken in interviews about developing an early interest in ideas, intellectual debate, and the potential of networks to shape human interaction.

Hoffman attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His time at Stanford coincided with a period of rapid transformation in the technology sector, as personal computing and the early Internet were beginning to reshape communication and commerce. After completing his undergraduate studies, Hoffman pursued graduate education in the United Kingdom. He enrolled at Wolfson College, Oxford, where he earned a Master of Studies (MSt) degree. His studies at Oxford focused on philosophy, and this academic grounding in humanistic inquiry would later inform his approach to technology, ethics, and the role of innovation in society.

Hoffman's educational background, combining technology-oriented study at Stanford with philosophical training at Oxford, shaped his subsequent career in ways that distinguished him from many of his peers in Silicon Valley. He would frequently reference the importance of humanistic thinking in the development and deployment of technology, and his intellectual interests informed both his entrepreneurial ventures and his public commentary on the responsibilities of technologists in democratic society.

Education

Hoffman received his Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University, one of the leading research universities in the United States and a major incubator for technology entrepreneurs. He subsequently attended Wolfson College at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Studies degree. His graduate work at Oxford was focused on philosophy, an unusual academic path for someone who would go on to build a career in technology startups and venture capital. Hoffman has credited his philosophical training with helping him think critically about the ethical and societal implications of technology, a theme that has recurred throughout his public statements and writings.

Career

Early Career and PayPal

After completing his studies at Oxford, Hoffman returned to the United States and entered the technology industry during the mid-1990s, a period of explosive growth in Internet-based businesses. He was among the group of early Internet entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley who would go on to found or join some of the most influential companies of the era. Hoffman joined PayPal, the online payments company, where he served as an executive vice president. PayPal became one of the defining companies of the early Internet economy, and its founding team — often referred to informally as the "PayPal Mafia" — went on to start or invest in numerous major technology companies. Hoffman's experience at PayPal provided him with both operational expertise in scaling a technology company and a network of relationships that would prove instrumental in his later ventures.

Founding of LinkedIn

In 2002, Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, a social networking platform designed specifically for professional use. The site launched in May 2003 and was among the earliest major social networking services on the Internet. Unlike platforms oriented toward personal social interaction, LinkedIn was built around professional identity, career networking, and business relationships. Hoffman served as the company's chief executive officer during its early years and subsequently became its executive chairman.

Under Hoffman's leadership and strategic vision, LinkedIn grew rapidly, attracting millions of users who used the platform to manage professional connections, seek employment, and share industry knowledge. The company went public in 2011, and its initial public offering was one of the most closely watched technology IPOs of the year. LinkedIn's growth continued in the years following its IPO, and the platform became an essential tool for recruiters, job seekers, and professionals across industries worldwide.

In 2016, Microsoft announced its acquisition of LinkedIn in a deal that represented one of the largest technology acquisitions in history. Hoffman, who had transitioned from an operational role to serving on LinkedIn's board, became a member of Microsoft's board of directors following the acquisition. His continued involvement with both LinkedIn and Microsoft placed him at the center of debates about the role of major technology platforms in professional life and the broader economy.

Venture Capital at Greylock Partners

In 2009, Hoffman joined Greylock Partners, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm with a history of investing in technology companies. As a partner at Greylock, Hoffman invested in a range of startups and growth-stage companies, leveraging his experience as an entrepreneur and his extensive network within the technology industry. His investments and advisory roles at Greylock positioned him as one of the most influential figures in the venture capital ecosystem.

Hoffman appeared on the Forbes Midas List, an annual ranking of the top technology investors, reflecting his track record of successful investments in the technology sector.

Inflection AI and Manas AI

In addition to his work in venture capital, Hoffman co-founded Inflection AI, an artificial intelligence company focused on developing conversational AI systems. He also co-founded Manas AI, another venture in the AI space. These ventures reflected Hoffman's increasing focus on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and its implications for work, communication, and society. As of the mid-2020s, Hoffman's engagement with AI companies positioned him as a notable voice in the debate over AI governance, safety, and deployment.

Village Global

Hoffman serves as the chairman of Village Global, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups. Village Global's model draws on a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors to identify and support promising new companies. Hoffman's role at Village Global extended his influence in the startup ecosystem beyond his partnership at Greylock.

Authorship and Public Commentary

Hoffman is the author of several books on entrepreneurship, technology, and the future of work. His book The Start-up of You, co-authored with Ben Casnocha, was published in 2012 and appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers list for hardcover advice books. The book argued that individuals should approach their careers with the same adaptability and strategic thinking used by startup founders, and it drew on Hoffman's experiences in Silicon Valley to illustrate its themes.

Hoffman has also been a regular contributor to LinkedIn's publishing platform, sharing essays on topics including technology, leadership, and public policy. He has hosted podcasts and participated in public debates about the responsibilities of technology leaders, the ethics of artificial intelligence, and the role of innovation in strengthening democratic institutions.

Political Engagement and Public Policy

Hoffman has been active in political advocacy and public policy. He has been a member of the Bilderberg Group, an annual private conference of political and business leaders, since at least 2011. He has also been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 2015.

Hoffman has contributed to various political campaigns and organizations. He was listed among the top donors to Mayday PAC, a political action committee focused on campaign finance reform. His political engagement has included vocal support for democratic institutions and what he describes as humanism in technological innovation.

In 2014, Hoffman was named among the inaugural members of the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

In January and February 2026, Hoffman became a prominent voice urging Silicon Valley leaders to publicly oppose what he characterized as authoritarian tendencies in the administration of President Donald Trump. In an opinion piece published in The San Francisco Standard, Hoffman argued that the technology industry could no longer remain neutral in the face of political developments, writing in the wake of events in Minneapolis that prompted a broader public debate about the responsibilities of corporate leaders. The piece drew attention from national media, with TechCrunch reporting on Hoffman's call for tech leaders to "stop bending the knee" to the president. CNBC noted that Hoffman was among a small number of tech leaders willing to speak publicly on the issue, in contrast to a broader pattern of silence from major technology CEOs.

Hoffman's position on Microsoft's board drew scrutiny in early 2026 from organizations such as the National Legal and Policy Center, which questioned whether his political activities were consistent with his fiduciary responsibilities as a corporate board member.

Jeffrey Epstein Connections

In early 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein that included communications involving Hoffman. According to reporting by the New York Post, unsealed emails from 2015 showed Epstein referencing a dinner with Hoffman and Mark Zuckerberg, which Epstein described as "wild." Additional reporting from the New York Post detailed email exchanges between Hoffman and Epstein that were included in the DOJ document release. CNBC and Mashable reported that the newly released files illustrated the extent of Epstein's connections across Silicon Valley, naming Hoffman among several prominent technology figures who appeared in the records. Hoffman had previously acknowledged having met Epstein and expressed regret over the association.

Personal Life

Hoffman resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been a public advocate for issues including campaign finance reform, the role of technology in democratic governance, and the ethical development of artificial intelligence. Details about his personal and family life beyond his professional activities are limited in publicly documented sources.

Hoffman has spoken publicly about the influence of his philosophical training at Oxford on his worldview, and he has described himself as a proponent of humanism in the context of technological innovation. He has participated in a range of civic and philanthropic activities, though specific details about his charitable giving are not fully documented in available sources.

Recognition

Hoffman has received a number of awards and honors recognizing his contributions to entrepreneurship and technology. In 2011, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

In 2012, Hoffman received an award from the World Affairs Council of Northern California at its annual awards dinner. That same year, he was recognized by the King Center as part of its 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance programming.

Hoffman has been awarded an honorary degree by Babson College, a private business school recognized for its focus on entrepreneurship education.

In 2014, the Commonwealth Club of California recognized Hoffman at its annual dinner.

Hoffman's Wall Street Journal profile noted his influence as both an entrepreneur and investor in the technology sector. He has appeared on the Forbes Midas List, which ranks the top venture capital investors in the technology industry.

Legacy

Reid Hoffman's career has intersected several of the most consequential developments in the technology industry over the past three decades. As a co-founder of LinkedIn, he helped establish the concept of professional social networking as a mainstream tool for career development, recruiting, and business communication. LinkedIn's growth from a startup to a platform with hundreds of millions of users — and its eventual acquisition by Microsoft — made it one of the defining companies of the social networking era.

As an investor at Greylock Partners and chairman of Village Global, Hoffman played a role in shaping the development of numerous technology companies during a period of rapid growth in the startup ecosystem. His investments and advisory relationships extended his influence beyond his own companies and into the broader landscape of Silicon Valley venture capital.

Hoffman's involvement in the founding of Inflection AI and Manas AI positioned him at the forefront of the artificial intelligence industry as it became one of the central areas of technology development and public debate in the 2020s. His public commentary on AI ethics, governance, and the societal implications of automation has contributed to ongoing discussions about the responsibilities of technologists and investors in shaping the future of work and society.

His political engagement, including his advocacy for campaign finance reform through organizations such as Mayday PAC and his membership in international policy forums such as the Bilderberg Group, has made him one of the more politically active figures in the technology industry. His willingness to take public positions on contentious political issues — including, in 2026, his calls for Silicon Valley to resist what he described as authoritarian tendencies — has distinguished him from many of his peers in the industry who have tended to avoid overt political engagement.

Hoffman's career has also been subject to controversy, particularly regarding his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, which received renewed attention following the release of DOJ documents in 2026. The intersection of his political advocacy, corporate board service, and personal associations has ensured that Hoffman remains a figure of both influence and scrutiny in American public life.