# Jimmy Wales

_Co-founder of Wikipedia (born 1966)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/jimmy-wales
Last updated: 2026-11-07

> Jimmy Donal "Jimbo" Wales is an American and British internet entrepreneur and former financial trader. He is best known for co-founding Wikipedia, a non-profit free encyclopedia, and Fandom, a for-profit wiki hosting service. He has also worked on Bomis, Nupedia, WikiTribune, and Trust Café.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 7 August 1966 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Huntsville ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P19))
- **Citizenship:** United States; United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P27))
- **Occupation:** businessperson; entrepreneur; Wikimedian; computer scientist; researcher; orator ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P106))
- **Education:** Auburn University; University of Alabama; Indiana University Bloomington; Randolph School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P69))
- **Spouse:** Kate Garvey; Christine Rohan; Pamela Green ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P26))
- **Official website:** jimmywales.com ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P856))
- **Positions held:** non-executive director (2016–2017); Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees (20 June 2003 – 28 October 2006); Founder's seat of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P39))
- **Awards:** Quadriga; EFF Award; Gottlieb Duttweiler Prize; UNESCO Niels Bohr Medal; Internet Hall of Fame; Young Global Leaders; Leonardo Award; Dan David Prize; President's Medal; Nokia Foundation Recognition Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P166))
- **X (Twitter):** jimmy_wales ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P2002))
- **Facebook:** jimmywales ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P2013))
- **Instagram:** jimmy_wales ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P2003))
- **YouTube:** UCEbFsO2sM_wjTn44YAgSrrg ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P2397))
- **LinkedIn:** jimmy-wales-919a8b ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181#P6634))

## Questions

**When was Jimmy Wales born?**  
Jimmy Wales was born on 7 August 1966 in Huntsville.

**What positions has Jimmy Wales held?**  
Positions held by Jimmy Wales include: non-executive director (2016–2017); Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees (2003–2006); Founder's seat of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees.

**Where did Jimmy Wales study?**  
Jimmy Wales was educated at Auburn University, University of Alabama, Indiana University Bloomington, Randolph School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Jimmy Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Wales) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): जिम्मी वेल्स](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q181](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Jimmy Wales by Philip Romano (3x4 cropped).jpg by PhilipRomano (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jimmy_Wales_by_Philip_Romano_(3x4_cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Jimmy Wales, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Jimmy Wales by Philip Romano (3x4 cropped).jpg — PhilipRomano, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Jimmy Wales". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/jimmy-wales. Retrieved 7 November 2026.