Thursday, October 12, 2006

Would you rather be a professor or a billionaire?

An article in today's New York times profiles the third founder of YouTube, Jawed Karim.

Karim first's (huge) internet success was the introduction of PayPal back in 2002. He "hit the jackpot" when PayPal was bought by eBay.

Karim then went on to develop and found YouTube with more famous friends Steven Chen and Chad Hurley. However, after they founded the company, Karim went back to Stanford to pursue a graduate degree in computer science. His dream is to become a professor.

As early as February 2005, when the site was introduced, Karim said he, Hurley and Chin had agreed that he would not become an employee, but rather an informal adviser to YouTube.

However, he does have a significant equity stake in the company. And, the purchase of YouTube is so significant, he stands to become incredibly wealthy regardless of his more limited involvement.

Karim notes that if another opportunity like YouTube comes along, he could pursue it even in an academic career.

Maybe he'll start teaching Marketing and the Internet next year?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12tube.html

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