Jerry Yang: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Jerry Chih-yüan Yang (楊致遠 Pinyin: Yáng Zhìyuǎn) (born 1968) is the Taiwanese American co-founder, Chief Yahoo and Director of Yahoo! Inc. In 1999 his net worth was US$9 billion.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan Yang moved to San Jose, California when 10, with his single mother (Lily) and younger brother (Ken). His father had died when Yang was 2. He claimed that despite his mother being an English teacher, he only knew one English word on his arrival. Despite this initial obstacle, Yang managed to receive straight-As and three years later, be in an advanced-placement English class.

Yang received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He co-created the Yahoo! Internet navigational guide in April 1994 with David Filo and co-founded Yahoo! Inc. in April 1995. Yang married Akiko Yamazaki, a Japanese American raised in Costa Rica.

See also: Chinese American