Kim Beom-su
$4.6B
Born
Mar 27, 1966
Age
59
Source of Wealth
Online services
Residence
Seoul,
Citizenship
South Korea
Marital Status
Married
Children
2
Education
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Seoul National University; Master of Science, Seoul National University
- Kim Beom-su is the founder of Kakao, South Korea's biggest messaging app, which is installed in 90% of the country's smartphones. He stepped down as chairman and left the board in 2022.
- Kakao's tens of millions of users also use the app for gaming, shopping and chatting.
- In 2014 Kakao acquired the country's No. 2 search engine Daum in an all stock transaction worth $3.3 billion, which resulted in a back door listing.
- That same year the South Korean government classified Kakao as a large company; it is the first tech startup that made it into the big leagues.
- In 2021 Kim signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.
- Kim grew up in poverty and paid his way through college by offering private tutoring, sometimes skipping meals to save money.
- In 2017 he diversified into crypto and bought into Upbit, a top exchange in South Korea through his holding company K Cube Ventures.
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