Famous Quote
“All the great companies started when nobody believed in them.”
Why #85
Moritz backed Google, Yahoo, PayPal, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Stripe from Sequoia Capital, generating hundreds of billions in value. His journalistic instincts and contrarian judgment made him one of the most successful venture capitalists in history.
The Story
Michael Moritz was the lead investor at Sequoia Capital behind some of the most important technology investments in history: Google, Yahoo, PayPal, YouTube, LinkedIn, Zappos, Stripe, and Kayak. During his tenure, Sequoia became arguably the most successful venture capital firm ever, with a portfolio that has generated hundreds of billions in value.
Moritz's journey from journalist to VC legend is unusual. He was a reporter at Time magazine (where he wrote the first major profile of Steve Jobs) before joining Sequoia. His journalistic instincts — the ability to quickly assess people, spot trends, and cut through hype — made him an exceptional investor. He led Sequoia's investment in Google at a $100M valuation; Google is now worth $2T+.
Born in Cardiff, Wales, Moritz earned degrees from Oxford and Wharton before moving to Silicon Valley. He was knighted by the UK government for his philanthropic work, which includes over $1 billion in donations to Oxford University and various educational causes. His book 'Return to the Little Kingdom' was one of the first serious accounts of Apple's founding.
Key Achievements
Led Sequoia's investments in Google, Yahoo, PayPal, YouTube, LinkedIn, Stripe
Google investment at $100M valuation — now worth $2T+
Partner at Sequoia Capital for 30+ years
Former Time magazine journalist — first major Steve Jobs profile
Donated $1B+ to education and philanthropy
Knighted by the UK government for philanthropic work
By the Numbers
20,000x+
Google Investment Return
Hundreds of $B
Sequoia Portfolio Value
$1B+
Philanthropic Giving
Google, PayPal, YouTube, Stripe
Major Investments
Fun Facts
He was a journalist at Time magazine before becoming a VC — he wrote the first major profile of Steve Jobs.
He grew up in Cardiff, Wales — far from Silicon Valley.
He invested in Google when it was valued at just $100 million.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his charitable donations.
His book 'Return to the Little Kingdom' was one of the first inside accounts of Apple's founding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time?
The greatest entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). Each built companies that fundamentally changed how the world works — from personal computing and smartphones to e-commerce, cloud computing, and social media.
What makes someone a successful entrepreneur?
Successful entrepreneurs share several traits: the ability to identify unmet needs, willingness to take calculated risks, relentless execution, and resilience in the face of failure. They combine vision with practical problem-solving and are willing to persist long after most people would quit. Capital and credentials matter far less than most people think — resourcefulness beats resources.
Can you become an entrepreneur without a business degree?
Absolutely. Many of the greatest entrepreneurs had no business education. Steve Jobs dropped out of college. Richard Branson left school at 16. Sara Blakely was selling fax machines. Henry Ford had no formal engineering training. Jack Ma was an English teacher. What matters is not the degree — it is the ability to see an opportunity, build something people want, and persist through failure.
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