Chris DeWolfe
Encyclopedia
Chris DeWolfe is an American
entrepreneur
, and one of the creators of Myspace
(along with Tom Anderson
), of which he is also the former CEO
. He has the sixth account ever made on the site. During DeWolfe's tenure, MySpace became the top social network, with over 135 million worldwide unique visitors a month . Under DeWolfe, music became a defining feature of MySpace, which was credited with challenging and reinventing the music label industry with the MySpace Music section, which allowed unsigned artists to post their music for free and launched the careers of several famous musicians, among them Lily Allen
and Sean Kingston
.
DeWolfe was integral to the sale of MySpace to News Corporation in 2005 for $580 million and remained as its CEO until March of 2009, at which point, MySpace was larger than its competitor, Facebook. On April 22, 2009, News Corp. announced DeWolfe would step down as CEO and will be a strategic adviser to Myspace and serve on the board of MySpace China. The former Facebook executive Owen Van Natta
replaced him.
In 2010, DeWolfe won backing from Austin Ventures
to purchase MindJolt
, a social gaming platform, with former MySpace colleagues Aber Whitcomb
and Colin Digiaro. In 2011, MindJolt became one of the few multi platform game developers when it acquired two additional companies--SGN, a mobile games company, and Hallpass Media, a free online gaming network.
DeWolfe went to Lincoln High School, then graduated from the University of Washington
in 1988, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Fraternity. He has been profiled in many major publications such as The New York Times
, USA Today
, Fortune
, , and BusinessWeek
, and also is an investor in the travel site, GoGoBot.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, and one of the creators of Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
(along with Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson (MySpace)
-External links:* on * * on...
), of which he is also the former CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. He has the sixth account ever made on the site. During DeWolfe's tenure, MySpace became the top social network, with over 135 million worldwide unique visitors a month . Under DeWolfe, music became a defining feature of MySpace, which was credited with challenging and reinventing the music label industry with the MySpace Music section, which allowed unsigned artists to post their music for free and launched the careers of several famous musicians, among them Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
and Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
.
DeWolfe was integral to the sale of MySpace to News Corporation in 2005 for $580 million and remained as its CEO until March of 2009, at which point, MySpace was larger than its competitor, Facebook. On April 22, 2009, News Corp. announced DeWolfe would step down as CEO and will be a strategic adviser to Myspace and serve on the board of MySpace China. The former Facebook executive Owen Van Natta
Owen Van Natta
Owen Van Natta is currently the Executive Vice President of Business at Zynga, an internet company that makes online social games. In this position, Van Natta is responsible for the company’s revenue strategy, corporate development, international expansion and brand. Prior to officially joining...
replaced him.
In 2010, DeWolfe won backing from Austin Ventures
Austin Ventures
Austin Ventures is a private equity firm focused on venture capital and growth equity investments in business services and supply chain, financial services, new media, Internet, and information services companies nationally with a focus on Texas. The firm, which is based in Austin, Texas, was...
to purchase MindJolt
MindJolt
MindJolt Games is a San Francisco, California based casual gaming company. It was formerly a top 20 application on Facebook. It has about 1,300 games from 1,000 developers....
, a social gaming platform, with former MySpace colleagues Aber Whitcomb
Aber Whitcomb
Aber Whitcomb is the CTO of MindJolt. Previously, he was the CTO and a founder of MySpace and ran technology for MySpace under the blanket of Fox. He graduated from the University of Washington and was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was born and raised in Bellingham. He has the third account...
and Colin Digiaro. In 2011, MindJolt became one of the few multi platform game developers when it acquired two additional companies--SGN, a mobile games company, and Hallpass Media, a free online gaming network.
DeWolfe went to Lincoln High School, then graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1988, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
Fraternity. He has been profiled in many major publications such as The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
, , and BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
, and also is an investor in the travel site, GoGoBot.