Experts
Jimmy Wales
Chairman, Wikia; Co-Founder, Wikipedia
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Innovation happens when government gets out of the way. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Business & Economics, Politics & Policy
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What should be the big issues of the 2008 presidential election?
Pulling out of Iraq now, Wales says, would be immoral. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Politics & Policy, World
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What is America's greatest challenge?
America has gotten a bad rap recently. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Politics & Policy
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The excessively paranoid security at airports doesn't seem to be doing any good whatsoever, says Wales. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Politics & Policy
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A prosperous society is contingent on respect for individual life. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Truth & Justice
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What is the measure of a good life?
The measure of a good life is tied up with productivity. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Love, Sex, & Happiness
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Is America technologically competitive?
The Internet is still the best jurisdiction for freedom of speech. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Business & Economics, Media & Internet
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How do we manage intellectual property online?
There are sustainable business models that can be built around freely licensed content, Wales says. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Business & Economics, Media & Internet, Truth & Justice
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As the first world struggles to sift through too much information, the developing world can't get enough. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Media & Internet
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There is no such thing as too much information. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Media & Internet, Politics & Policy
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What's for lunch? Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Inspiration & Wisdom
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Think more. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Inspiration & Wisdom
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Expect some mass demonstrations in the future. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Future
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It's very difficult now to imagine Europe in a state of war. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Business & Economics, Politics & Policy, World
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By thinking, arguing and discussing rationally, we can make the world a better place. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In History
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Wales is a complete non-believer. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Belief
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Most engineers agree that software patents are a bad idea. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Media & Internet
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The creation of dialogue drives Jimmy Wales. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Inspiration & Wisdom
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Wales works on getting Wikipedia to speak more languages. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In Media & Internet
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A friendly Southerner. Read More
November 19, 2007 | In History, Identity, Media & Internet
Jimmy Wales is an American Internet entrepreneur known for his role in the creation of Wikipedia, a free, open-content encyclopedia launched in 2001. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, holding the board-appointed "community founder" seat. In 2004, he co-founded Wikia, a privately owned, free Web-hosting service, along with Angela Beesley.
Together with Larry Sanger and others, Wales helped lay the foundation for Wikipedia, which subsequently enjoyed rapid growth and popularity. As Wikipedia expanded and its public profile grew, Wales took on the role of the project's spokesman and promoter through speaking engagements and media appearances. Wales has been historically cited as the co-founder of Wikipedia but he disputes the "co-" designation, asserting that he is the sole founder of Wikipedia. Wales' work developing Wikipedia, which has become the world's largest encyclopedia, prompted Time magazine to name him in its 2006 list of the world's most influential people.
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Wales attended a small private school, then a university preparation school, eventually attaining a bachelor's degree and master's degree in finance. During his graduate studies he taught at two universities.
