Eric Yuan

Eric S. Yuan is a Chinese-American billionaire businessman, engineer, and the founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. He was born on February 20, 1970, in Tai'an, Shandong Province, China. Yuan's early interest in videotelephony was sparked during his university years, motivated by the long train journeys he took to visit his girlfriend. He holds a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and a master's degree in geological engineering from Chinese universities, along with an executive program completion from Stanford University in 2006.12

Yuan's career began at WebEx, a web conferencing startup where he was one of the first 20 hires. After WebEx was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2007, he served as Vice President of Engineering. In 2011, after his proposal for a mobile-friendly video conferencing system was rejected by Cisco, Yuan left to establish Zoom Video Communications. The company quickly gained traction, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became a vital tool for remote work and education, leading to significant growth in user engagement and company valuation.123

Under Yuan's leadership, Zoom went public in April 2019 and became one of the most successful tech IPOs of that year. His net worth surged during the pandemic, reflecting the widespread adoption of Zoom's services, which now includes various communication tools beyond video conferencing. As of recent estimates, Yuan owns approximately 22% of Zoom's shares, contributing to his billionaire status.145

Yuan is recognized not only for his business acumen but also for his contributions to technology and society. He was named Time Businessperson of the Year in 2020 and was included in the Time 100 Most Influential People list that same year. He has also launched philanthropic initiatives through Zoom Cares, focusing on education, climate change, and social equity.23 Yuan resides in Santa Clara, California, with his family, and is a naturalized U.S. citizen.12