Timothy C. Draper is a highly successful entrepreneur and investor, best known for co-founding the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ). He is also the founder of the social network Meetup.
As an entrepreneur, Draper has a track record of launching and growing successful companies. He co-founded Hotmail, which was later sold to Microsoft for $400 million. Draper has also co-founded other notable companies, including Oanda, which was sold to a private equity firm for $99 million.
Draper's entrepreneurial spirit and vision have made a significant impact on the tech industry.
Early Life and Career
Tim Draper was born on June 11, 1958, in California, to a family of venture capitalists. His father, William Henry Draper III, founded the Draper & Johnson Investment Company in 1962.
Draper attended Phillips Academy Andover and then enrolled at Stanford University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1980. He then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1984.
Draper began his career by working at an investment bank, Alex Brown & Sons.
Early Life
Tim Draper was born on June 11, 1958 in California, making him the third in a line of venture capitalists.
His father, William Henry Draper III, founded the Draper & Johnson Investment Company in 1962 and was chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Draper's grandfather, William Henry Draper Jr., founded Draper, Gaither, and Anderson in 1958.
Draper attended Phillips Academy Andover and then enrolled at Stanford University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1980.
He then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1984.
Early Business Career
Draper started his own venture capital firm in 1985 after leaving the investment bank Alex. Brown & Sons.
He was joined by his former colleague John Fisher, who became a partner at the firm in 1991. Fisher's involvement marked a significant turning point in the firm's growth and success.
Business student Steve Jurvetson became the firm's third partner in 1994, further solidifying the firm's position in the venture capital industry.
The firm, which would later become known as Draper Fisher Jurvetson or DFJ, was well on its way to becoming a major player in the world of venture capital.
Notable Investments and Ventures
Timothy C. Draper has made significant investments in various companies, showcasing his forward-thinking approach to business.
Draper's recent investments include Robinhood, Coinbase, and eShares, among others, which are centered around innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, bitcoin, and blockchain.
These investments demonstrate Draper's focus on applying cutting-edge technologies to industries such as finance, healthcare, and government.
Draper was also an early investor in Tesla, participating in the company's Series C and Series D venture rounds in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Hotmail and Viral Marketing
Hotmail and Viral Marketing was a pivotal moment in the history of marketing. Draper invested in Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia, the founders of Hotmail.
Their innovative idea was to automatically attach a brief advertising message to the bottom of outgoing Hotmail emails. This simple yet effective tactic helped spread the word about the service.
Draper and Jurvetson coined the term "viral marketing" to describe this phenomenon. The concept of viral marketing has since become a staple in the marketing world.
Interestingly, the term "viral marketing" itself was documented as early as 1989 in a PC User magazine edition. This shows that the idea of marketing through word of mouth and online sharing was already being discussed before Draper's involvement with Hotmail.
Baidu
Baidu was a significant investment for Draper, marking his first venture into China through the global fund DFJ ePlanet. He negotiated with CEO Robin Li to buy 28% of the company for $9 million in 2001. This investment would be worth approximately $14.8 million in today's dollars.
Tesla
Tesla was a notable investment for Draper, who was an investor in the Series C venture round in 2006 through DFJ. Draper invested again in Tesla's Series D venture round in 2007 through Draper Associates.
Recent Investments
Draper's recent investments showcase his focus on innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, bitcoin, and blockchain. He has invested in companies such as Robinhood, Coinbase, and eShares.
These investments are centered around industries like finance, health care, and government, where Draper sees the potential for disruption and improvement.
California and Politics
Draper has spoken out for free markets and entrepreneurship globally, and against Sarbanes-Oxley regulations, stating that they limit the viability of taking companies public.
He spent $20 million in 2000 on a failed measure to support school vouchers, which would have provided an alternative to traditional public schools.
Draper's efforts to split California into smaller states have been a notable aspect of his political involvement. In early 2014, he filed a petition to divide California into six smaller states, arguing that it was "increasingly ungovernable" as one state.
However, this plan fell short of the required number of valid signatures to make it to the 2016 ballot.
Split California Proposal
In early 2014, Draper filed a petition to divide California into six smaller states, citing that the state was "increasingly ungovernable" as one entity.
The petition was accepted by California's Secretary of State Debra Bowen to begin collecting signatures.
On September 12, 2014, the plan fell short of the required number of valid signatures to land it on the 2016 ballot.
Draper announced the collection of "about 600,000" signatures for a new petition in April 2018, this time to divide California into three new states.
This time, the petition collected a sufficient number of signatures to qualify as an initiative in the 2018 general election.
However, the California Supreme Court blocked the measure from appearing on the November 2018 ballot on July 18, 2018, the day before ballots were sent to print.
Politics
Draper has spoken out for free markets and entrepreneurship globally, and against Sarbanes-Oxley regulations, stating that they limit the viability of taking companies public. He believes these regulations stifle innovation and growth.
In 2000, Draper spent $20 million on a failed measure to support school vouchers.
Personal and Financial
Tim Draper is a man of many passions, including sports. He played tennis, baseball, and basketball from a young age.
At 6 ft 4 in, Draper still enjoys playing basketball several times a week with a group of regular players, including his son Adam.
Draper's children are also involved in the venture capital world, with Adam managing Boost VC, Jesse managing Halogen VC, and Billy managing Path Ventures.
Tim Draper's net worth is an impressive $3 billion, thanks in part to his savvy investment in Bitcoin. He famously bought 30,000 coins from the US Marshalls for $19 million in 2014.
Personal Life
Draper's family is involved in the venture capital industry, with three of his children running their own funds. Adam Draper is the managing director of Boost VC.
He played several sports from a young age, including tennis, baseball, and basketball. At 193.0 cm (6 ft 4 in), Draper still plays basketball several times a week with friends and his son.
Jesse Draper is the managing director of Halogen VC, and Billy Draper is the managing director of Path Ventures.
Donations
Draper has made significant contributions to various campaigns over the years.
One notable example is the $23,386,553 donation to Proposition 38, School Vouchers in 2000.
Draper also donated $100,000 to Proposition 32, Paycheck Protection in 2012.
Here are the details of Draper's donations to past propositions:
Calculating Net Worth
Calculating Net Worth can be a complex task, but let's break it down with a real-life example. Tim Draper is an American venture capital investor with a net worth of $3 billion.
To calculate your own net worth, start by adding up your assets, such as cash, investments, and property. Tim Draper's success is a great reminder that a smart investment can pay off big time, as he famously bought 30,000 bitcoins for $19 million in 2014.
Assets can include anything of value, like a car or jewelry, as well as intangible assets like patents or intellectual property. Those 30,000 coins grew to be worth nearly $2-3 billion just a few years later, assuming a BTC price of $60-90,000.
You'll also want to subtract your liabilities, such as debts and loans, from your total assets to get your net worth. This will give you a clear picture of your financial situation.
It's a good idea to review your net worth regularly, just like Tim Draper's investment in Bitcoin paid off in a big way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Tim Draper pay for his bitcoin?
Tim Draper paid approximately $19 million for nearly 30,000 bitcoins in 2014. Adjusted for inflation, the equivalent value in 2023 is around $24.1 million.
Is Jesse Draper related to Tim Draper?
Yes, Jesse Draper is related to Tim Draper, as she is his daughter. She is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur in her own right, as seen in her work with Halogen Ventures.
How do I contact Tim Draper?
Contact Tim Draper by sending an email to [email protected]. Reach out to him directly via this email address for further information or to connect.
Sources
- Official website (timothydraper.com)
- "San Mateo: Draper University welcomes first class of entrepreneurial 'superheroes'" (mercurynews.com)
- "Venture Capitalist Draper Says He Donated to Harris and Trump" (bloomberg.com)
- "Tim Draper on X" (x.com)
- "Tim Draper says he has signatures needed for third try to break up California" (bizjournals.com)
- "'Six Californias' plan falls short of making November 2016 ballot" (latimes.com)
- Six Californias measure heading for 2016 ballot, backers say (sfgate.com)
- "DRAPER FISHER JURVETSON / On the Record: Tim Draper" (sfgate.com)
- "Tim Draper: Venture capitalist's eccentricity 'runs deep'" (mercurynews.com)
- "Billionaire bitcoin enthusiast Tim Draper is backing a new cryptocurrency for the first time" (cnbc.com)
- "Robinhood CEO Opens Up About How He Convinced Tim Draper to Back His Crazy Idea" (observer.com)
- "Why VC Tim Draper Keeps Defending Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes" (fortune.com)
- "Venture Capitalist Draper Bets $400,000 More on Bitcoin Revival" (bloomberg.com)
- "Venture Capitalist Tim Draper Wins Bitcoin Auction" (nytimes.com)
- "Elon Musk 'probably should have taken' Tesla private, early investor Tim Draper says" (cnbc.com)
- "Tim Draper's DFJ, riding high, breaks with ePlanet Ventures" (venturebeat.com)
- Melissa Lee Parker Becomes the Bride Of Timothy Cook Draper in California (nytimes.com)
- "Why VC Tim Draper Keeps Defending Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes" (fortune.com)
- "Venture Capitalist Tim Draper Wins Small Piece of Bitcoin Auction" (nytimes.com)
- "Tim Draper's Los Angeles-based blockchain-focused venture studio adds a venture partner" (techcrunch.com)
- "Goren Holm Ventures Reaps Draper Investment" (marketsmedia.com)
- "Exclusive: Tim Draper is leaving DFJ" (fortune.com)
- Entrepreneurs page (hbs.edu)
- "Venture capitalist Tim Draper who wants to divide California into 3 states has East Chicago roots" (nwitimes.com)
- DFJ DragonFund (dfjdragon.com)
- DFJ Frontier (dfjfrontier.com)
- Draper Triangle (drapertriangle.com)
- Draper Fisher Jurvetson Gotham (dfjgotham.com)
- DFJ ePlanet (dfjeplanet.com)
- Draper University of Heroes (draperuniversity.com)
- Official biography of Timothy Draper (dfj.com)
- Contra Costa Times, "Tech investor Tim Draper launches 'Six Californias' ballot measure to divide the Golden State," December 23, 2013 (contracostatimes.com)
- Draper University, "Our Founder," accessed April 13, 2018 (draperuniversity.com)
- DFJ, "Timothy Draper," accessed April 13, 2018 (dfj.com)
- Tim Draper Net Worth (celebritynetworth.com)
- Tim Draper: If You Understand the Adoption Curve, You'll ... (substack.com)
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