Jason Citron

Jason Citron is an influential American entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and CEO of Discord, a popular communication platform initially designed for gamers. Born on September 21, 1984, in San Francisco, California, Citron grew up in a family with a strong background in business and technology, which sparked his early interest in programming and game development.1

Early Life and Education

Citron's fascination with technology began at a young age, thanks to his grandfather, who introduced him to computers. By age 13, he was already creating video games using QBASIC. He pursued formal education in this field at Full Sail University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development in 2004.13

Career Highlights

OpenFeint and Early Ventures

Citron's career kicked off with the founding of Aurora Feint, which later transformed into OpenFeint, a social platform for mobile gaming. OpenFeint gained significant traction and was sold to the Japanese company GREE for $104 million in 2011. Following this success, he founded Hammer & Chisel, focusing on high-quality mobile games. However, recognizing the need for better communication tools among gamers led him to pivot towards creating Discord in 2015.12

Discord's Evolution

Under Citron's leadership, Discord quickly became a vital platform for communication within the gaming community and has since expanded to serve a broader audience. As of 2024, Discord boasts over 150 million active users monthly and has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The platform differentiates itself from traditional social networks by fostering smaller, more intimate group interactions rather than broad public engagement.24

Citron has also navigated significant challenges during his tenure at Discord, including turning down a reported $10 billion acquisition offer from Microsoft and managing layoffs during the post-pandemic slowdown.23 His vision for Discord emphasizes safety and community engagement, particularly among younger users.

Personal Life

While Jason Citron maintains a relatively private personal life, he is known to value his family deeply and often returns to Florida for visits. He continues to drive innovation within the tech industry through his work with Discord.3

In summary, Jason Citron's journey reflects his passion for technology and gaming, culminating in the establishment of Discord as a leading communication platform that reshapes how people connect online.