Jeremy Stoppelman: Difference between revisions

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| birth_place  = [[Arlington, Virginia]], U.S.
| birth_place  = [[Arlington, Virginia]], U.S.
| nationality  = American
| nationality  = American
| alma_mater  = [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]] (BS)<br />[[Harvard Business School]]
| alma_mater  = [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]] (BS)<br />[[Harvard Business School]]
| occupation  = Chief Executive Officer of [[Yelp]]
| occupation  = Chief Executive Officer of [[Yelp]]
| known_for    = Co-founding [[Yelp]]
| known_for    = Co-founding [[Yelp]]
}}
}}


'''Jeremy Stoppelman''' (born November 10, 1977) is an American business executive and entrepreneur who co-founded the consumer review platform [[Yelp]] in 2004 and has served as its chief executive officer since the company's inception. Born in [[Arlington, Virginia]], Stoppelman studied computer engineering at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]] before entering the technology industry during the late 1990s dot-com era. He worked at [[X.com]], which later became [[PayPal]], where he rose to the role of vice president of engineering — an experience that placed him among a cohort of former PayPal employees who went on to found or lead major technology companies, a group informally known as the "[[PayPal Mafia]]."<ref name="paypalmafia">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=What Created The PayPal Mafia |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/what-created-the-paypal-mafia-2012-11 |publisher=Business Insider |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> After departing PayPal, Stoppelman enrolled at [[Harvard Business School]], where the concept for Yelp emerged during a summer internship. Under his leadership, Yelp grew from a small San Francisco startup into a publicly traded company listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]], with Stoppelman notably declining an acquisition offer from [[Google]] along the way.<ref name="sjobs">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Steve Jobs Called Up Yelp And Said 'Don't Sell Out' To Google |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-called-up-yelp-and-said-dont-sell-out-to-google-2012-7 |publisher=Business Insider |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Stoppelman has remained at the helm of the company for over two decades, guiding it through its initial public offering in 2012 and its subsequent evolution as a major player in local business search and digital advertising.
'''Jeremy Stoppelman''' (born November 10, 1977) is an American business executive and entrepreneur who co-founded [[Yelp]], the consumer review platform, and has served as its chief executive officer since the company's inception in 2004. Born in [[Arlington, Virginia]], Stoppelman studied computer engineering at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]] before entering the technology industry during the late 1990s dot-com era. He worked at [[X.com]], the online financial services company that became [[PayPal]], where he rose to the position of Vice President of Engineering. After PayPal's acquisition by [[eBay]], Stoppelman enrolled at [[Harvard Business School]], and it was during an internship between his first and second years that the idea for Yelp took shape. He co-founded the company with fellow PayPal alumnus Russel Simmons and guided it through its early growth, an initial public offering on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in 2012, and its expansion into an internationally recognized platform for local business reviews.<ref name="sfgate-profile">{{cite news |title=Yelp's Jeremy Stoppelman: a profile |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yelp-s-Jeremy-Stoppelman-a-profile-3707980.php |work=San Francisco Gate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="vanityfair2014">{{cite news |title=Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp CEO |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/10/jeremy-stoppelman-yelp-ceo |work=Vanity Fair |date=2014-10 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Stoppelman is regarded as a member of the so-called "[[PayPal Mafia]]," a group of former PayPal employees who went on to found or lead prominent technology companies in [[Silicon Valley]].<ref name="paypalmafia">{{cite news |title=What Created The PayPal Mafia? |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/what-created-the-paypal-mafia-2012-11 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Jeremy Stoppelman was born on November 10, 1977, in [[Arlington, Virginia]], a suburb of [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="sfgate_profile">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Yelp's Jeremy Stoppelman: a profile |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yelp-s-Jeremy-Stoppelman-a-profile-3707980.php |work=San Francisco Gate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Stoppelman showed an early aptitude for technology and academics. He was a participant in programs at the [[Johns Hopkins University]] Center for Talented Youth, an organization that identifies and supports academically gifted young people.<ref name="cty">{{cite web |title=Yelp.com |url=http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/docs/yelpdotcom.pdf |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Jeremy Stoppelman was born on November 10, 1977, in [[Arlington, Virginia]], a suburb of [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="sfgate-profile" /> He grew up in the [[Washington metropolitan area]] and displayed an early interest in technology and computers. Stoppelman attended the [[Johns Hopkins University]] [[Center for Talented Youth]] program as a young student, an experience that exposed him to advanced academic enrichment during his formative years.<ref name="cty">{{cite web |title=Yelp.com |url=http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/docs/yelpdotcom.pdf |publisher=Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Growing up in the Virginia suburbs near the nation's capital, Stoppelman developed an interest in computers and engineering during his formative years. This interest would eventually steer him toward a career in the technology industry during one of its most transformative periods. His early academic achievements and participation in gifted programs foreshadowed the entrepreneurial trajectory that would define his professional life.
His interest in technology deepened throughout his adolescence, and he gravitated toward computer engineering as a discipline. Growing up during the emergence of the personal computer revolution and the early days of the [[Internet]], Stoppelman was part of a generation that witnessed the transformation of computing from a niche hobby into a central feature of modern life. This environment shaped his decision to pursue a technical education and ultimately a career in the technology sector.<ref name="sfgate-profile" />
 
Stoppelman's upbringing in the [[Virginia]] suburbs of Washington, D.C., placed him in proximity to a region that, while not yet the technology hub it would later become, had a significant concentration of government and defense-related technology companies. However, it was the allure of [[Silicon Valley]] and the booming internet economy of the late 1990s that would draw him westward after completing his undergraduate education.<ref name="businessinsider-success">{{cite news |title=How Jeremy Stoppelman Became Successful |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-jeremy-stoppelman-became-successful-2012-12 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Education ==
== Education ==


Stoppelman attended the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], one of the leading engineering universities in the United States, where he pursued a degree in computer engineering. He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in 1999.<ref name="uiuc">{{cite web |title=Jeremy Stoppelman |url=http://www.ece.illinois.edu/mediacenter/article.asp?id=136 |publisher=University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The timing of his graduation coincided with the height of the [[dot-com bubble]], a period of rapid growth and investment in internet-based companies that drew many young engineers to [[Silicon Valley]] and the broader technology sector.
Stoppelman enrolled at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]], one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, where he studied computer engineering. He earned his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in 1999.<ref name="uiuc">{{cite web |title=Jeremy Stoppelman |url=http://www.ece.illinois.edu/mediacenter/article.asp?id=136 |publisher=University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The University of Illinois had a strong reputation in computer science and engineering, and its alumni have included numerous figures prominent in the technology industry.


After several years working in the technology industry, Stoppelman enrolled at [[Harvard Business School]] to pursue a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree.<ref name="sfgate_profile" /> It was during his time at Harvard that the initial concept for what would become Yelp began to take shape, born out of a summer internship experience that redirected his career from the traditional MBA path toward entrepreneurship.
After several years working in the technology sector, including his tenure at [[PayPal]], Stoppelman sought to broaden his skill set beyond engineering. He enrolled at [[Harvard Business School]], pursuing a [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA). It was during his time at Harvard that the concept for Yelp first emerged, ultimately leading Stoppelman to leave the MBA program before completing his degree in order to pursue the startup full-time.<ref name="sfgate-profile" /><ref name="businessinsider-success" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Early Career and PayPal ===
=== Early Career and PayPal ===


Upon graduating from the University of Illinois in 1999, Stoppelman entered the technology industry by joining [[At Home Corporation|@Home Network]], an early broadband internet service provider that was part of the first wave of major internet infrastructure companies.<ref name="sfgate_profile" /> His tenure at @Home was brief, as he soon transitioned to a role at [[X.com]], an online financial services company founded by [[Elon Musk]].
After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1999, Stoppelman moved to the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and took a position at [[@Home Network]], a broadband internet service provider that was one of the prominent technology companies of the late 1990s. His tenure at @Home was brief, as the company was among the many technology firms affected by the [[dot-com bubble]] bust.<ref name="sfgate-profile" />
 
Stoppelman subsequently joined [[X.com]], an online financial services company founded by [[Elon Musk]]. X.com merged with [[Confinity]], a company founded by [[Peter Thiel]] and [[Max Levchin]], and the combined entity was eventually renamed [[PayPal]]. At PayPal, Stoppelman rose through the engineering ranks and attained the title of Vice President of Engineering, a senior technical leadership role at one of the most consequential financial technology startups of the early 2000s.<ref name="sfgate-profile" /><ref name="businessinsider-success" />


X.com merged with [[Confinity]] in 2000, and the combined entity was subsequently renamed [[PayPal]]. At PayPal, Stoppelman advanced rapidly through the engineering ranks, ultimately achieving the title of vice president of engineering.<ref name="bi_success">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=How Jeremy Stoppelman Became Successful |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-jeremy-stoppelman-became-successful-2012-12 |publisher=Business Insider |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This was a significant leadership position at a company that was reshaping online payments and e-commerce during a turbulent period for internet businesses.
PayPal's trajectory during this period was marked by rapid growth, intense competition, and ultimately a successful [[initial public offering]] in 2002 followed by its acquisition by [[eBay]] for approximately $1.5 billion. The experience proved formative for Stoppelman, both in terms of the technical and business acumen he developed and the professional network he built. Many of his colleagues at PayPal—including Thiel, Levchin, [[Reid Hoffman]], [[David Sacks]], and others—went on to found or invest in some of the most prominent technology companies of the following decade, a group collectively known in Silicon Valley lore as the "PayPal Mafia."<ref name="paypalmafia" />


PayPal went public in February 2002 and was subsequently acquired by [[eBay]] later that year for approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition created substantial wealth for many PayPal employees and executives, and the alumni of the company went on to found, fund, or lead a remarkable array of technology enterprises. This group, which included figures such as [[Peter Thiel]], [[Elon Musk]], [[Reid Hoffman]], [[Max Levchin]], and [[David Sacks]], became known colloquially as the "PayPal Mafia" due to their outsized influence on Silicon Valley.<ref name="paypalmafia" /> Stoppelman's position as a member of this influential network would prove instrumental in providing him with the connections, experience, and capital needed to launch his own venture.
Stoppelman's association with this group would prove instrumental in the founding and funding of Yelp. The shared experiences and mutual trust built during the high-pressure environment at PayPal created a network of entrepreneurs and investors who frequently collaborated on subsequent ventures.<ref name="paypalmafia" />


=== Founding of Yelp ===
=== Founding of Yelp ===


After leaving PayPal, Stoppelman enrolled at [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name="sfgate_profile" /> During a summer break from his MBA program, he took an internship at MRL Ventures, an incubator fund led by former PayPal colleague [[Max Levchin]].<ref name="bi_success" /> It was during this internship that Stoppelman and others began developing concepts around local business recommendations and reviews. The core idea was to create a platform that would harness the power of user-generated reviews to help consumers find and evaluate local businesses — from restaurants and bars to dentists and plumbers.
Following eBay's acquisition of PayPal, Stoppelman decided to attend [[Harvard Business School]] to augment his engineering background with formal business training. During the summer between his first and second years at Harvard, he took an internship at MRL Ventures, a startup incubator in San Francisco run by former PayPal executive [[Max Levchin]].<ref name="sfgate-profile" /><ref name="businessinsider-success" />
 
The concept resonated strongly with Stoppelman, who decided to leave Harvard Business School to pursue the venture full-time.<ref name="sfgate_profile" /> In 2004, Stoppelman co-founded Yelp Inc., headquartered in [[San Francisco]], California. The platform initially experimented with various approaches to gathering local business information, including an email-based referral system. However, the feature that gained the most traction was the ability for users to write and publish reviews of local businesses, which became the defining characteristic of the platform.


Under Stoppelman's leadership, Yelp distinguished itself from competitors through its emphasis on community engagement and the cultivation of an active base of reviewers. The company developed a distinctive culture around its most prolific contributors, organizing events and fostering a sense of community among users who contributed reviews.<ref name="newsweek">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2009-10-21 |title=For Yelp, Locals Aren't Yokels |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/10/21/for-yelp-locals-aren-t-yokels.html |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This approach helped Yelp build a substantial and engaged user base in major metropolitan areas across the United States before expanding internationally.
It was at MRL Ventures, in the summer and fall of 2004, that Stoppelman and fellow PayPal alumnus Russel Simmons began developing the idea that would become Yelp. The original concept was rooted in a simple personal experience: Stoppelman had been looking for a doctor recommendation and found the process of finding reliable local business information online to be frustratingly difficult. The initial iteration of Yelp was built around an email-based referral system, where users could send requests for business recommendations to their friends. However, the founders soon noticed that the most engaging aspect of the service was the unsolicited reviews that users were writing about local businesses. This observation led to a pivotal shift in the product's direction—toward a platform centered on user-generated reviews of local businesses.<ref name="dailybeast">{{cite news |title=For Yelp, Locals Aren't Yokels |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/10/21/for-yelp-locals-aren-t-yokels.html |work=Newsweek |date=2009-10-21 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="businessinsider-success" />


=== Declining Google's Acquisition Offer ===
Stoppelman left Harvard Business School without completing his MBA to dedicate himself to building Yelp full-time. The company was formally incorporated in 2004 and headquartered in [[San Francisco]]. Levchin's MRL Ventures provided early funding and support, and the PayPal network proved valuable in securing additional investment. The decision to leave a prestigious MBA program to pursue a startup was a calculated risk, but one that Stoppelman has described as driven by the conviction that the opportunity was too compelling to pass up.<ref name="sfgate-profile" />


One of the defining moments in Stoppelman's tenure as Yelp CEO came when [[Google]] approached the company with an acquisition offer. The deal, reportedly valued at approximately $500 million, would have represented a significant payday for Stoppelman and other Yelp stakeholders. However, Stoppelman made the decision to turn down the offer, choosing instead to maintain Yelp's independence and pursue the company's growth as a standalone entity.<ref name="sjobs" /><ref name="cleveland">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2010-06 |title=Yelp CEO prizes company's independence |url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/yelp_ceo_prizes_companys_indep.html |work=The Plain Dealer |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Growth and Expansion of Yelp ===


The decision was notable in the technology industry, where many startups at that stage would have accepted such an offer. According to reports, [[Steve Jobs]], the co-founder and then-CEO of [[Apple Inc.]], personally called Stoppelman and encouraged him not to sell the company to Google.<ref name="sjobs" /> Stoppelman has spoken about valuing Yelp's independence and his belief that the company had significant growth potential that would be better realized as an independent entity rather than as a division within Google's expanding portfolio of products and services.
Under Stoppelman's leadership as CEO, Yelp grew from a small San Francisco-based startup into one of the most widely used consumer review platforms on the internet. The company's growth strategy focused initially on building a strong user community in San Francisco before expanding to other major metropolitan areas across the United States.<ref name="dailybeast" />


This decision carried substantial risk. Remaining independent meant Yelp would need to find its own path to profitability and would face ongoing competition from Google itself, which was developing its own local business review and search capabilities. Stoppelman's choice to reject the Google offer became a frequently cited example in discussions about startup acquisition decisions and the tension between immediate financial returns and long-term strategic independence.
A key element of Yelp's early growth was its cultivation of an active community of reviewers, known as "Yelpers." The company invested in community management, hosting events for prolific reviewers and fostering a sense of identity and belonging among its contributor base. This approach helped Yelp differentiate itself from competitors and generated a growing volume of user-generated content that, in turn, attracted more visitors to the site.<ref name="fastcompany">{{cite news |title=Not Just Another Web 2.0 Company: Yelp Basks In Its Star Power |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3002950/not-just-another-web-20-company-yelp-basks-its-star-power |work=Fast Company |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Yelp's IPO and Public Company Leadership ===
Stoppelman's tenure was marked by a significant decision regarding the company's independence. [[Google]] made an acquisition offer for Yelp, which Stoppelman ultimately declined. According to reports, [[Steve Jobs]], then CEO of [[Apple Inc.]], personally called Stoppelman and advised him not to sell the company to Google.<ref name="stevejobs">{{cite news |title=Steve Jobs Called Up Yelp And Said 'Don't Sell Out To Google' |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-called-up-yelp-and-said-dont-sell-out-to-google-2012-7 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Stoppelman has spoken publicly about valuing Yelp's independence, stating his belief that the company could achieve more as a standalone entity than as a division of a larger corporation.<ref name="cleveland">{{cite news |title=Yelp CEO prizes company's independence |url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/yelp_ceo_prizes_companys_indep.html |work=Cleveland.com |date=2010-06 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


On March 2, 2012, Yelp went public on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the ticker symbol YELP.<ref name="ipo">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2012-03-02 |title=Eye-Openers: Yelp Goes Public |url=http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2012/03/02/eye-openers-yelp-goes-public-toronado-gets-sassy/ |work=San Francisco Gate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The initial public offering was a significant milestone for the company and for Stoppelman personally, validating his decision to reject Google's earlier acquisition bid and pursue an independent path. The IPO created considerable wealth for the company's early employees and investors.<ref name="bi_millionaires">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Yelp Millionaires Club |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/yelp-millionaires-club-ipo-2011-11?op=1 |publisher=Business Insider |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
By 2011, Yelp had expanded beyond the United States and launched in international markets, including Australia, as part of its broader strategy to become a global platform for local business reviews.<ref name="inc-australia">{{cite news |title=Yelp Goes Live in Australia as It Prepares for IPO |url=http://www.inc.com/news/articles/201111/yelp-goes-live-in-australia-as-it-prepares-for-ipo.html |work=Inc. |date=2011-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In the period surrounding the IPO, Stoppelman was noted for taking a base salary of $1, a practice adopted by some high-profile technology CEOs as a symbolic gesture of alignment with shareholder interests, with the bulk of compensation coming through stock-based awards.<ref name="salary1">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Yelp CEO takes $1 salary |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57568512-93/yelp-ceo-takes-$1-salary/ |publisher=CNET |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His compensation structure was subsequently adjusted; in 2013, reports indicated changes to his salary and overall compensation package as the company matured as a public entity.<ref name="salary2013">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2013-02-08 |title=Yelp Inc. CEO Stoppelman's 2013 Salary |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2013/02/08/yelp-inc-ceo-stoppelmans-2013-salary.html |work=San Francisco Business Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== IPO and Public Company Leadership ===


As a public company CEO, Stoppelman oversaw Yelp's expansion into new markets and service categories. The company extended its operations internationally, launching in countries including [[Australia]] in 2011 as part of its broader global expansion strategy.<ref name="australia">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2011-11 |title=Yelp Goes Live in Australia as It Prepares for IPO |url=http://www.inc.com/news/articles/201111/yelp-goes-live-in-australia-as-it-prepares-for-ipo.html |work=Inc. |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Under Stoppelman's leadership, Yelp also developed additional features and revenue streams, including advertising products for local businesses, reservation services, and food delivery integrations.
Yelp filed for an initial public offering and began trading on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the ticker symbol YELP on March 2, 2012. The IPO was considered a success, with the stock price rising significantly on its first day of trading.<ref name="sfgate-ipo">{{cite news |title=Eye-openers: Yelp goes public, Toronado gets sassy |url=http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2012/03/02/eye-openers-yelp-goes-public-toronado-gets-sassy/ |work=San Francisco Gate |date=2012-03-02 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The offering created significant wealth for early employees and investors. Stoppelman himself, along with other early team members and investors, held substantial equity positions in the company at the time of its public debut.<ref name="yelp-millionaires">{{cite news |title=Yelp Millionaires Club |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/yelp-millionaires-club-ipo-2011-11?op=1 |work=Business Insider |date=2011-11 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Stoppelman was recognized by ''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]'' for his role in building Yelp into more than a typical Web 2.0 company, noting the platform's influence on local commerce and consumer behavior.<ref name="fastco">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Not Just Another Web 2.0 Company: Yelp Basks In Its Star Power |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3002950/not-just-another-web-20-company-yelp-basks-its-star-power |work=Fast Company |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
The IPO marked a transition for Yelp from a venture-backed startup to a publicly traded company, bringing with it increased scrutiny from investors, analysts, and regulators. Stoppelman navigated this transition while continuing to serve as CEO, a role he has held continuously since the company's founding.<ref name="nyse">{{cite web |title=NYSE Magazine, Fall 2012 |url=http://www.nysemagazine.com/statics/NYSE_Fall_2012.pdf |publisher=NYSE Magazine |date=2012 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Ongoing Leadership and Stock Transactions ===
In a move that attracted media attention, Stoppelman took an annual salary of $1 for 2013, a gesture that placed him among a small group of technology executives—including Steve Jobs and [[Larry Ellison]]—who had at various points taken nominal salaries. His compensation was instead structured around equity-based incentives, aligning his financial interests with the performance of Yelp's stock price.<ref name="salary1">{{cite news |title=Yelp CEO takes $1 salary |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57568512-93/yelp-ceo-takes-$1-salary/ |work=CNET |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="salary2">{{cite news |title=Yelp Inc. CEO Stoppelman's 2013 Salary |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2013/02/08/yelp-inc-ceo-stoppelmans-2013-salary.html |work=San Francisco Business Times |date=2013-02-08 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Stoppelman has continued to serve as CEO of Yelp into the mid-2020s, making him one of the longer-tenured founder-CEOs among publicly traded technology companies. As a public company executive, his stock transactions are disclosed in filings with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]].
=== Continued Leadership and Recent Activity ===


In early 2026, a series of stock transactions by Stoppelman attracted attention from financial media outlets. In January 2026, Stoppelman sold 30,000 shares of Yelp stock.<ref name="quiver">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Insider Sale: Chief Executive Officer of $YELP Sells 30,000 Shares |url=https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Insider+Sale%3A+Chief+Executive+Officer+of+%24YELP+Sells+30%2C000+Shares |work=Quiver Quantitative |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Between January 29 and February 2, 2026, Stoppelman sold a total of 90,000 shares of common stock for approximately $2.46 million.<ref name="investing_com">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells $2.46m in shares |url=https://www.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-246m-in-shares-93CH-4480471 |work=Investing.com |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Additional sales in early February included the sale of 30,000 shares on February 4, 2026,<ref name="mb_feb5">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Jeremy Stoppelman Sells 30,000 Shares |url=https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-jeremy-stoppelman-sells-30000-shares-2026-02-05/ |work=MarketBeat |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> and 6,200 shares in a separate transaction around the same period.<ref name="mb_6200">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Insider Selling: Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Sells 6,200 Shares of Stock |url=https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/insider-selling-yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-sells-6200-shares-of-stock-2026-02-05/ |work=MarketBeat |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Stoppelman has continued to serve as CEO of Yelp for more than two decades since its founding. As a public company CEO, his stock transactions are subject to public disclosure requirements under [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] regulations. In early 2026, SEC filings revealed a series of stock sales by Stoppelman. Between late January and early February 2026, he sold multiple tranches of Yelp shares. On January 21, 2026, he sold 30,000 shares of Yelp stock.<ref name="quiver">{{cite web |title=Insider Sale: Chief Executive Officer of $YELP Sells 30,000 Shares |url=https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Insider+Sale%3A+Chief+Executive+Officer+of+%24YELP+Sells+30%2C000+Shares |publisher=Quiver Quantitative |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Between January 29 and February 2, 2026, he sold an additional 90,000 shares for approximately $2.46 million.<ref name="investing-246">{{cite news |title=Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells $2.46m in shares |url=https://www.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-246m-in-shares-93CH-4480471 |work=Investing.com |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> On February 4, 2026, he sold an additional 30,000 shares.<ref name="marketbeat-feb5">{{cite news |title=Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Jeremy Stoppelman Sells 30,000 Shares |url=https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-jeremy-stoppelman-sells-30000-shares-2026-02-05/ |work=MarketBeat |date=2026-02-05 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> SEC filings also showed that Stoppelman held 152,573 restricted stock units (RSUs) and 55,796 performance units, and had exercised stock options at a price of $20.47 per share. Some of the sales were conducted under a pre-arranged [[10b5-1]] trading plan, a mechanism that allows corporate insiders to set up predetermined schedules for selling company stock to avoid allegations of [[insider trading]].<ref name="stocktitan">{{cite web |title=Yelp (NYSE: YELP) CEO logs new RSU awards, option exercises and sales |url=https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/YELP/form-4-yelp-inc-insider-trading-activity-677c20025164.html |publisher=Stock Titan |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


SEC filings from this period also disclosed that Stoppelman held 152,573 restricted stock units and 55,796 performance-based stock units, with option exercises at a price of $20.47 per share. The sales were conducted under a pre-arranged [[SEC Rule 10b5-1|Rule 10b5-1]] trading plan, a mechanism that allows corporate insiders to set up predetermined trading schedules to avoid potential accusations of insider trading.<ref name="stocktitan">{{cite web |title=Yelp (NYSE: YELP) CEO logs new RSU awards, option exercises and sales |url=https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/YELP/form-4-yelp-inc-insider-trading-activity-677c20025164.html |publisher=Stock Titan |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Financial analysts noted these transactions in the context of Yelp's share performance, with ''[[The Motley Fool]]'' analyzing the sales, which totaled approximately $1.7 million in one batch, amid a year of shifting executive ownership patterns.<ref name="motley">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-13 |title=Is Yelp Stock a Buy or Sell After the CEO Sold Shares Worth $1.7 Million? |url=https://www.fool.com/coverage/filings/2026/02/13/is-yelp-stock-a-buy-or-sell-after-the-ceo-sold-shares-worth-usd1-7-million/ |work=The Motley Fool |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> In Nigeria-focused financial reporting, Investing.com also covered a separate batch of Stoppelman's share sales totaling approximately $2.5 million.<ref name="investing_ng">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells shares worth $2.5m |url=https://ng.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-shares-worth-25m-93CH-2311077 |work=Investing.com Nigeria |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In total, Stoppelman sold approximately 59,000 shares worth roughly $2.5 million in one series of transactions in late January 2026.<ref name="investing-ng">{{cite news |title=Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells shares worth $2.5m |url=https://ng.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-shares-worth-25m-93CH-2311077 |work=Investing.com |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Additional sales on February 4, 2026, included a separate transaction of 6,200 shares.<ref name="marketbeat-6200">{{cite news |title=Insider Selling: Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Sells 6,200 Shares of Stock |url=https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/insider-selling-yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-sells-6200-shares-of-stock-2026-02-05/ |work=MarketBeat |date=2026-02-05 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Financial analysts noted these transactions amid a year of declining share prices for Yelp stock, though such sales by company insiders are routine and do not necessarily indicate a lack of confidence in a company's prospects.<ref name="fool">{{cite news |title=Is Yelp Stock a Buy or Sell After the CEO Sold Shares Worth $1.7 Million? |url=https://www.fool.com/coverage/filings/2026/02/13/is-yelp-stock-a-buy-or-sell-after-the-ceo-sold-shares-worth-usd1-7-million/ |work=The Motley Fool |date=2026-02-13 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Stoppelman is based in [[San Francisco]], California, where Yelp is headquartered.<ref name="sfgate_profile" /> He has been noted in San Francisco social and cultural circles, appearing at various events in the city.<ref name="sfgate_social">{{cite web |title=Dior Homme party |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sfsocial/slideshow/Dior-Homme-party-52208.php |publisher=San Francisco Gate |date= |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Stoppelman has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his prominence in the technology industry. He has been based in [[San Francisco]] for the majority of his career, a city closely associated with Yelp's identity and operations.<ref name="sfgate-profile" />


Stoppelman has maintained a relatively public profile as a technology CEO in San Francisco. He has been profiled in several publications, including a feature in ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' that examined his role as Yelp's leader and his influence on the local business ecosystem.<ref name="vf2014">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2014-10 |title=Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp CEO |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/10/jeremy-stoppelman-yelp-ceo |work=Vanity Fair |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Stoppelman has been photographed at various social and cultural events in San Francisco over the years, reflecting his participation in the city's business and social scene.<ref name="sfgate-social">{{cite web |title=Dior Homme party |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sfsocial/slideshow/Dior-Homme-party-52208.php |publisher=San Francisco Gate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Stoppelman has received recognition from several media outlets and industry publications for his role in building Yelp. ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' included Stoppelman on its New Establishment list in 2011, a ranking of influential figures in business, technology, and media.<ref name="vf2011">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2011 |title=New Establishment 2011: #42 Jeremy Stoppelman |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/business/new-establishment/2011/42-jeremy-stoppelman |work=Vanity Fair |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Stoppelman's role in founding and leading Yelp has earned him recognition in business and technology circles. ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' included him on its New Establishment list in 2011, a ranking of influential figures in business, technology, and media.<ref name="vanityfair2011">{{cite news |title=Vanity Fair New Establishment 2011: Jeremy Stoppelman |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/business/new-establishment/2011/42-jeremy-stoppelman |work=Vanity Fair |date=2011 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The magazine later profiled him again in 2014 as part of its coverage of influential technology executives.<ref name="vanityfair2014" />


He was also featured by the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in connection with Yelp's listing on the exchange in 2012.<ref name="nyse">{{cite web |title=NYSE Magazine Fall 2012 |url=http://www.nysemagazine.com/statics/NYSE_Fall_2012.pdf |publisher=NYSE Magazine |date=2012 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> ''Fast Company'' profiled Yelp under Stoppelman's leadership, highlighting the company's cultural impact and business model as distinct from other Web 2.0 companies of its era.<ref name="fastco" />
The [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]]'s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has recognized Stoppelman as a notable alumnus, highlighting his career trajectory from undergraduate engineering student to technology CEO.<ref name="uiuc" />


As an alumnus of the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], Stoppelman has been recognized by the university's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for his achievements in the technology industry.<ref name="uiuc" /> His association with the PayPal alumni network has also been a recurring element of his public profile, as media coverage frequently contextualizes his career within the broader story of the so-called "PayPal Mafia" and the disproportionate influence its members have had on the technology sector.<ref name="paypalmafia" />
Stoppelman's association with the "PayPal Mafia" has also contributed to his profile in the technology industry. As one of the former PayPal executives who went on to lead a major technology company, he is frequently mentioned alongside figures such as [[Elon Musk]], [[Peter Thiel]], [[Reid Hoffman]], and [[Max Levchin]] in discussions of PayPal's outsized influence on Silicon Valley entrepreneurship.<ref name="paypalmafia" />
 
''[[Fast Company]]'' profiled Yelp under Stoppelman's leadership, noting the company's distinctive position among Web 2.0 companies and the strength of its user community as a competitive asset.<ref name="fastcompany" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Stoppelman's primary contribution to the technology landscape has been the development and growth of Yelp as a platform for local business reviews. Yelp fundamentally altered the relationship between consumers and local businesses by democratizing the review process, allowing ordinary users to share their experiences and opinions in a public forum that could influence the success or failure of local establishments.<ref name="newsweek" /> The platform's star-rating system and review culture became embedded in how many consumers make decisions about where to eat, shop, and seek services.
Jeremy Stoppelman's primary legacy is the creation and sustained leadership of Yelp, a platform that fundamentally changed how consumers discover, evaluate, and choose local businesses. Before Yelp's emergence in 2004, finding reliable information about local businesses—restaurants, doctors, plumbers, and other service providers—depended largely on word of mouth, newspaper reviews, or directories such as the [[Yellow Pages]]. Yelp democratized this process by enabling ordinary consumers to publish reviews that could be read by millions of other users.<ref name="dailybeast" /><ref name="fastcompany" />


The decision to reject Google's acquisition offer remains one of the most discussed aspects of Stoppelman's career. By choosing independence over a lucrative buyout, Stoppelman bet on Yelp's ability to compete as a standalone company against much larger technology firms, including Google itself, which subsequently built out its own competing local review features.<ref name="sjobs" /><ref name="cleveland" /> This decision has been analyzed in business schools and technology industry discussions as a case study in the trade-offs between acquisition and independence for growing technology companies.
The platform's influence extended beyond its direct user base. Yelp's review system became a significant factor in the success or failure of small businesses, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Business owners adapted their practices in response to Yelp reviews, and the platform's star ratings became a widely referenced metric in consumer decision-making. This dynamic also generated controversy, as business owners and critics raised questions about the fairness and accuracy of anonymous reviews, the potential for manipulation, and Yelp's policies regarding the filtering of reviews.<ref name="vanityfair2014" />


As a member of the PayPal alumni network, Stoppelman is part of a generation of technology entrepreneurs who emerged from a single company to reshape multiple sectors of the technology industry. His trajectory from engineer at a payments company to founder-CEO of a consumer platform exemplifies the interconnected nature of Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial ecosystem, where shared experiences at one company can seed the creation of entirely new ventures and industries.<ref name="paypalmafia" />
Stoppelman's decision to reject Google's acquisition offer and take Yelp public as an independent company represented a notable stance on corporate independence in an era when many technology startups sought acquisition by larger companies. His reasoning—that Yelp could better serve its mission as a standalone entity—reflected a philosophy of entrepreneurial independence that resonated with a subset of the startup community.<ref name="cleveland" /><ref name="stevejobs" />
 
As a member of the PayPal Mafia, Stoppelman is part of a broader narrative about the outsized impact of a single company's alumni on the technology industry. His career trajectory—from engineer at a payments startup to co-founder and long-serving CEO of a publicly traded company—exemplifies the pattern of serial entrepreneurship and peer-network-driven company formation that characterized Silicon Valley in the 2000s and 2010s.<ref name="paypalmafia" />


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 06:43, 24 February 2026




Jeremy Stoppelman
Born10 11, 1977
BirthplaceArlington, Virginia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationChief Executive Officer of Yelp
Known forCo-founding Yelp

Jeremy Stoppelman (born November 10, 1977) is an American business executive and entrepreneur who co-founded Yelp, the consumer review platform, and has served as its chief executive officer since the company's inception in 2004. Born in Arlington, Virginia, Stoppelman studied computer engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign before entering the technology industry during the late 1990s dot-com era. He worked at X.com, the online financial services company that became PayPal, where he rose to the position of Vice President of Engineering. After PayPal's acquisition by eBay, Stoppelman enrolled at Harvard Business School, and it was during an internship between his first and second years that the idea for Yelp took shape. He co-founded the company with fellow PayPal alumnus Russel Simmons and guided it through its early growth, an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, and its expansion into an internationally recognized platform for local business reviews.[1][2] Stoppelman is regarded as a member of the so-called "PayPal Mafia," a group of former PayPal employees who went on to found or lead prominent technology companies in Silicon Valley.[3]

Early Life

Jeremy Stoppelman was born on November 10, 1977, in Arlington, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C.[1] He grew up in the Washington metropolitan area and displayed an early interest in technology and computers. Stoppelman attended the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth program as a young student, an experience that exposed him to advanced academic enrichment during his formative years.[4]

His interest in technology deepened throughout his adolescence, and he gravitated toward computer engineering as a discipline. Growing up during the emergence of the personal computer revolution and the early days of the Internet, Stoppelman was part of a generation that witnessed the transformation of computing from a niche hobby into a central feature of modern life. This environment shaped his decision to pursue a technical education and ultimately a career in the technology sector.[1]

Stoppelman's upbringing in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., placed him in proximity to a region that, while not yet the technology hub it would later become, had a significant concentration of government and defense-related technology companies. However, it was the allure of Silicon Valley and the booming internet economy of the late 1990s that would draw him westward after completing his undergraduate education.[5]

Education

Stoppelman enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, one of the leading engineering programs in the United States, where he studied computer engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.[6] The University of Illinois had a strong reputation in computer science and engineering, and its alumni have included numerous figures prominent in the technology industry.

After several years working in the technology sector, including his tenure at PayPal, Stoppelman sought to broaden his skill set beyond engineering. He enrolled at Harvard Business School, pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). It was during his time at Harvard that the concept for Yelp first emerged, ultimately leading Stoppelman to leave the MBA program before completing his degree in order to pursue the startup full-time.[1][5]

Career

Early Career and PayPal

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1999, Stoppelman moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and took a position at @Home Network, a broadband internet service provider that was one of the prominent technology companies of the late 1990s. His tenure at @Home was brief, as the company was among the many technology firms affected by the dot-com bubble bust.[1]

Stoppelman subsequently joined X.com, an online financial services company founded by Elon Musk. X.com merged with Confinity, a company founded by Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, and the combined entity was eventually renamed PayPal. At PayPal, Stoppelman rose through the engineering ranks and attained the title of Vice President of Engineering, a senior technical leadership role at one of the most consequential financial technology startups of the early 2000s.[1][5]

PayPal's trajectory during this period was marked by rapid growth, intense competition, and ultimately a successful initial public offering in 2002 followed by its acquisition by eBay for approximately $1.5 billion. The experience proved formative for Stoppelman, both in terms of the technical and business acumen he developed and the professional network he built. Many of his colleagues at PayPal—including Thiel, Levchin, Reid Hoffman, David Sacks, and others—went on to found or invest in some of the most prominent technology companies of the following decade, a group collectively known in Silicon Valley lore as the "PayPal Mafia."[3]

Stoppelman's association with this group would prove instrumental in the founding and funding of Yelp. The shared experiences and mutual trust built during the high-pressure environment at PayPal created a network of entrepreneurs and investors who frequently collaborated on subsequent ventures.[3]

Founding of Yelp

Following eBay's acquisition of PayPal, Stoppelman decided to attend Harvard Business School to augment his engineering background with formal business training. During the summer between his first and second years at Harvard, he took an internship at MRL Ventures, a startup incubator in San Francisco run by former PayPal executive Max Levchin.[1][5]

It was at MRL Ventures, in the summer and fall of 2004, that Stoppelman and fellow PayPal alumnus Russel Simmons began developing the idea that would become Yelp. The original concept was rooted in a simple personal experience: Stoppelman had been looking for a doctor recommendation and found the process of finding reliable local business information online to be frustratingly difficult. The initial iteration of Yelp was built around an email-based referral system, where users could send requests for business recommendations to their friends. However, the founders soon noticed that the most engaging aspect of the service was the unsolicited reviews that users were writing about local businesses. This observation led to a pivotal shift in the product's direction—toward a platform centered on user-generated reviews of local businesses.[7][5]

Stoppelman left Harvard Business School without completing his MBA to dedicate himself to building Yelp full-time. The company was formally incorporated in 2004 and headquartered in San Francisco. Levchin's MRL Ventures provided early funding and support, and the PayPal network proved valuable in securing additional investment. The decision to leave a prestigious MBA program to pursue a startup was a calculated risk, but one that Stoppelman has described as driven by the conviction that the opportunity was too compelling to pass up.[1]

Growth and Expansion of Yelp

Under Stoppelman's leadership as CEO, Yelp grew from a small San Francisco-based startup into one of the most widely used consumer review platforms on the internet. The company's growth strategy focused initially on building a strong user community in San Francisco before expanding to other major metropolitan areas across the United States.[7]

A key element of Yelp's early growth was its cultivation of an active community of reviewers, known as "Yelpers." The company invested in community management, hosting events for prolific reviewers and fostering a sense of identity and belonging among its contributor base. This approach helped Yelp differentiate itself from competitors and generated a growing volume of user-generated content that, in turn, attracted more visitors to the site.[8]

Stoppelman's tenure was marked by a significant decision regarding the company's independence. Google made an acquisition offer for Yelp, which Stoppelman ultimately declined. According to reports, Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple Inc., personally called Stoppelman and advised him not to sell the company to Google.[9] Stoppelman has spoken publicly about valuing Yelp's independence, stating his belief that the company could achieve more as a standalone entity than as a division of a larger corporation.[10]

By 2011, Yelp had expanded beyond the United States and launched in international markets, including Australia, as part of its broader strategy to become a global platform for local business reviews.[11]

IPO and Public Company Leadership

Yelp filed for an initial public offering and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol YELP on March 2, 2012. The IPO was considered a success, with the stock price rising significantly on its first day of trading.[12] The offering created significant wealth for early employees and investors. Stoppelman himself, along with other early team members and investors, held substantial equity positions in the company at the time of its public debut.[13]

The IPO marked a transition for Yelp from a venture-backed startup to a publicly traded company, bringing with it increased scrutiny from investors, analysts, and regulators. Stoppelman navigated this transition while continuing to serve as CEO, a role he has held continuously since the company's founding.[14]

In a move that attracted media attention, Stoppelman took an annual salary of $1 for 2013, a gesture that placed him among a small group of technology executives—including Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison—who had at various points taken nominal salaries. His compensation was instead structured around equity-based incentives, aligning his financial interests with the performance of Yelp's stock price.[15][16]

Continued Leadership and Recent Activity

Stoppelman has continued to serve as CEO of Yelp for more than two decades since its founding. As a public company CEO, his stock transactions are subject to public disclosure requirements under Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. In early 2026, SEC filings revealed a series of stock sales by Stoppelman. Between late January and early February 2026, he sold multiple tranches of Yelp shares. On January 21, 2026, he sold 30,000 shares of Yelp stock.[17] Between January 29 and February 2, 2026, he sold an additional 90,000 shares for approximately $2.46 million.[18] On February 4, 2026, he sold an additional 30,000 shares.[19] SEC filings also showed that Stoppelman held 152,573 restricted stock units (RSUs) and 55,796 performance units, and had exercised stock options at a price of $20.47 per share. Some of the sales were conducted under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan, a mechanism that allows corporate insiders to set up predetermined schedules for selling company stock to avoid allegations of insider trading.[20]

In total, Stoppelman sold approximately 59,000 shares worth roughly $2.5 million in one series of transactions in late January 2026.[21] Additional sales on February 4, 2026, included a separate transaction of 6,200 shares.[22] Financial analysts noted these transactions amid a year of declining share prices for Yelp stock, though such sales by company insiders are routine and do not necessarily indicate a lack of confidence in a company's prospects.[23]

Personal Life

Stoppelman has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his prominence in the technology industry. He has been based in San Francisco for the majority of his career, a city closely associated with Yelp's identity and operations.[1]

Stoppelman has been photographed at various social and cultural events in San Francisco over the years, reflecting his participation in the city's business and social scene.[24]

Recognition

Stoppelman's role in founding and leading Yelp has earned him recognition in business and technology circles. Vanity Fair included him on its New Establishment list in 2011, a ranking of influential figures in business, technology, and media.[25] The magazine later profiled him again in 2014 as part of its coverage of influential technology executives.[2]

The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has recognized Stoppelman as a notable alumnus, highlighting his career trajectory from undergraduate engineering student to technology CEO.[6]

Stoppelman's association with the "PayPal Mafia" has also contributed to his profile in the technology industry. As one of the former PayPal executives who went on to lead a major technology company, he is frequently mentioned alongside figures such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, and Max Levchin in discussions of PayPal's outsized influence on Silicon Valley entrepreneurship.[3]

Fast Company profiled Yelp under Stoppelman's leadership, noting the company's distinctive position among Web 2.0 companies and the strength of its user community as a competitive asset.[8]

Legacy

Jeremy Stoppelman's primary legacy is the creation and sustained leadership of Yelp, a platform that fundamentally changed how consumers discover, evaluate, and choose local businesses. Before Yelp's emergence in 2004, finding reliable information about local businesses—restaurants, doctors, plumbers, and other service providers—depended largely on word of mouth, newspaper reviews, or directories such as the Yellow Pages. Yelp democratized this process by enabling ordinary consumers to publish reviews that could be read by millions of other users.[7][8]

The platform's influence extended beyond its direct user base. Yelp's review system became a significant factor in the success or failure of small businesses, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Business owners adapted their practices in response to Yelp reviews, and the platform's star ratings became a widely referenced metric in consumer decision-making. This dynamic also generated controversy, as business owners and critics raised questions about the fairness and accuracy of anonymous reviews, the potential for manipulation, and Yelp's policies regarding the filtering of reviews.[2]

Stoppelman's decision to reject Google's acquisition offer and take Yelp public as an independent company represented a notable stance on corporate independence in an era when many technology startups sought acquisition by larger companies. His reasoning—that Yelp could better serve its mission as a standalone entity—reflected a philosophy of entrepreneurial independence that resonated with a subset of the startup community.[10][9]

As a member of the PayPal Mafia, Stoppelman is part of a broader narrative about the outsized impact of a single company's alumni on the technology industry. His career trajectory—from engineer at a payments startup to co-founder and long-serving CEO of a publicly traded company—exemplifies the pattern of serial entrepreneurship and peer-network-driven company formation that characterized Silicon Valley in the 2000s and 2010s.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Yelp's Jeremy Stoppelman: a profile".San Francisco Gate.http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yelp-s-Jeremy-Stoppelman-a-profile-3707980.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp CEO".Vanity Fair.2014-10.http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/10/jeremy-stoppelman-yelp-ceo.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "What Created The PayPal Mafia?".Business Insider.http://www.businessinsider.com/what-created-the-paypal-mafia-2012-11.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Yelp.com".Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/docs/yelpdotcom.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "How Jeremy Stoppelman Became Successful".Business Insider.http://www.businessinsider.com/how-jeremy-stoppelman-became-successful-2012-12.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Jeremy Stoppelman".University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.http://www.ece.illinois.edu/mediacenter/article.asp?id=136.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "For Yelp, Locals Aren't Yokels".Newsweek.2009-10-21.http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/10/21/for-yelp-locals-aren-t-yokels.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Not Just Another Web 2.0 Company: Yelp Basks In Its Star Power".Fast Company.http://www.fastcompany.com/3002950/not-just-another-web-20-company-yelp-basks-its-star-power.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Steve Jobs Called Up Yelp And Said 'Don't Sell Out To Google'".Business Insider.http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-called-up-yelp-and-said-dont-sell-out-to-google-2012-7.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Yelp CEO prizes company's independence".Cleveland.com.2010-06.http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/yelp_ceo_prizes_companys_indep.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Yelp Goes Live in Australia as It Prepares for IPO".Inc..2011-11.http://www.inc.com/news/articles/201111/yelp-goes-live-in-australia-as-it-prepares-for-ipo.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Eye-openers: Yelp goes public, Toronado gets sassy".San Francisco Gate.2012-03-02.http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2012/03/02/eye-openers-yelp-goes-public-toronado-gets-sassy/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Yelp Millionaires Club".Business Insider.2011-11.http://www.businessinsider.com/yelp-millionaires-club-ipo-2011-11?op=1.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "NYSE Magazine, Fall 2012".NYSE Magazine.2012.http://www.nysemagazine.com/statics/NYSE_Fall_2012.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Yelp CEO takes $1 salary".CNET.http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57568512-93/yelp-ceo-takes-$1-salary/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Yelp Inc. CEO Stoppelman's 2013 Salary".San Francisco Business Times.2013-02-08.http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2013/02/08/yelp-inc-ceo-stoppelmans-2013-salary.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Insider Sale: Chief Executive Officer of $YELP Sells 30,000 Shares".Quiver Quantitative.https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Insider+Sale%3A+Chief+Executive+Officer+of+%24YELP+Sells+30%2C000+Shares.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells $2.46m in shares".Investing.com.https://www.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-246m-in-shares-93CH-4480471.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Jeremy Stoppelman Sells 30,000 Shares".MarketBeat.2026-02-05.https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-jeremy-stoppelman-sells-30000-shares-2026-02-05/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Yelp (NYSE: YELP) CEO logs new RSU awards, option exercises and sales".Stock Titan.https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/YELP/form-4-yelp-inc-insider-trading-activity-677c20025164.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Yelp CEO Stoppelman sells shares worth $2.5m".Investing.com.https://ng.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/yelp-ceo-stoppelman-sells-shares-worth-25m-93CH-2311077.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Insider Selling: Yelp (NYSE:YELP) CEO Sells 6,200 Shares of Stock".MarketBeat.2026-02-05.https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/insider-selling-yelp-nyseyelp-ceo-sells-6200-shares-of-stock-2026-02-05/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Is Yelp Stock a Buy or Sell After the CEO Sold Shares Worth $1.7 Million?".The Motley Fool.2026-02-13.https://www.fool.com/coverage/filings/2026/02/13/is-yelp-stock-a-buy-or-sell-after-the-ceo-sold-shares-worth-usd1-7-million/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Dior Homme party".San Francisco Gate.http://www.sfgate.com/sfsocial/slideshow/Dior-Homme-party-52208.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Vanity Fair New Establishment 2011: Jeremy Stoppelman".Vanity Fair.2011.http://www.vanityfair.com/business/new-establishment/2011/42-jeremy-stoppelman.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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