Janus Friis Net Worth

Janus Friis Net Worth and Salary

Janus Friis, known for co-founding Skype, has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, according to Forbes. While his salary isn’t publicly known, he made a fortune after eBay bought Skype for $2.6 billion in 2005. Since then, Friis has invested in various other successful tech companies.

Early Life and Education

Friis was born on June 26, 1976, in Denmark. He grew up in a small town called Sønderborg. There’s not much information available about his childhood, but he did attend the University of Copenhagen to study economics.

Career

After dropping out of college, Friis co-founded his first tech company in 1997, called StartupFarms. It was an internet-based platform that allowed people to create their own company websites.

In 2001, Friis co-founded KaZaA, one of the first popular peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms. It allowed users to share MP3 files with others around the world. However, the platform was also known for being used to share copyrighted materials illegally. In 2006, KaZaA was sold to a company called Altnet.

Two years earlier, in 2003, Friis co-founded Skype with Niklas Zennstrom. The platform allowed users to make voice and video calls over the internet for free. It quickly became popular and was eventually purchased by eBay for $2.6 billion in 2005. Friis and Zennstrom later sued eBay in 2009 for copyright infringement, but the case was settled out of court.

After eBay bought Skype, Friis invested in several successful startups, including Joost, Rdio, and Jolicloud.

Personal Life

Friis keeps his personal life very private, so not much is known about his personal relationships or interests.

Real Estate

In 2017, Friis purchased a property in Malibu, California, for $12.3 million. The estate spans over 13,000 square feet and has features such as multiple fireplaces, a library, a gym, and a pool.

Legacy

Friis will most likely be remembered for co-founding Skype, which revolutionized the way people communicate over the internet.

FAQs

What was Janus Friis’ role at Skype?

Friis was one of the co-founders of Skype and was responsible for overseeing the technical development of the platform. He worked closely with Niklas Zennstrom to create the infrastructure that allowed users to make free calls over the internet.

What other companies has Janus Friis invested in?

After eBay purchased Skype, Friis invested in several tech startups, including Joost, Rdio, and Jolicloud.

Did Janus Friis make his fortune solely from Skype?

While Friis certainly made a large portion of his fortune from the sale of Skype to eBay, he has also invested in numerous other successful tech companies over the years.

What is Janus Friis’ nationality?

Janus Friis was born and raised in Denmark, so his nationality is Danish.

Is Janus Friis still active in the tech industry?

While Friis isn’t as active in the tech industry as he used to be, he is still involved in several projects. In 2018, he co-founded a company called Sonect, which provides virtual ATMs for retailers.

How did Janus Friis meet Niklas Zennstrom?

Friis and Zennstrom met while working at a Swedish technology consultancy called Tele2. They later went on to co-found KaZaA together before eventually creating Skype.

What is KaZaA?

KaZaA was a popular peer-to-peer file-sharing platform that allowed users to share MP3 files with each other. It became one of the most widely-used file-sharing platforms of the early 2000s, but was eventually shut down due to copyright infringement issues.

Did Janus Friis have any involvement in the lawsuit against eBay?

Yes, Friis was one of the plaintiffs in the 2009 lawsuit against eBay. The lawsuit alleged that eBay had violated the terms of the sale agreement for Skype, but it was eventually settled out of court.

What other philanthropic endeavors has Janus Friis been involved in?

While not much is known about Friis’ personal life, he has been involved in several philanthropic endeavors. In 2006, he and Zennstrom founded the Zennstrom Philanthropies, which provides funding for various social and environmental causes.

Does Janus Friis have any involvement in Sonos?

No, while Friis was involved in the founding of Sonos, he is no longer involved with the company.

What is Janus Friis’ current net worth?

As of 2021, Janus Friis’ net worth is estimated to be around $1.3 billion.

What is Sonect?

Sonect is a company that provides virtual ATMs for retailers. The technology allows customers to withdraw cash using just their smartphones, without the need for an actual physical ATM.

What is Janus Friis known for?

Janus Friis is probably best known for co-founding Skype, which revolutionized the way people communicate over the internet.

What is Janus Friis’ background in economics?

Friis attended the University of Copenhagen to study economics, but he dropped out before completing his degree.

What has Janus Friis’ involvement been in Jolicloud?

Friis was an early investor in Jolicloud, a cloud-based operating system that allows users to access their files and applications from any device.