Jan Koum, born in 1976, began his career in the tech industry after immigrating to the United States from Ukraine with his mother in the late 1990s. He started working as a security tester at Ernst & Young, where his knack for identifying vulnerabilities in systems was quickly recognized.

In 2009, Koum met Brian Acton, another former Yahoo employee, and together they began brainstorming ideas for a new mobile messaging app. Seeing the potential in instant messaging, Koum and Acton developed WhatsApp, initially focusing on status updates. The app gained traction, and in 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for a staggering $19 billion, making Koum and Acton household names in the tech world.

Jan Koum’s Current Net Worth (2025)

As of 2025, Jan Koum’s estimated net worth is $10.4 billion, according to Forbes. This significant wealth is primarily attributed to his co-founding of WhatsApp, the popular messaging app.

Career

Jan Koum, born in Ukraine, immigrated to the U.S. with his mother in 1992. He worked at Ernst & Young and Yahoo before co-founding WhatsApp in 2009 with Brian Acton. In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, making Koum a billionaire.

Other Ventures

After WhatsApp, Koum served on Facebook’s board of directors until 2018. He also invested in various startups like Snapchat and Uber. In 2019, he joined the board of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

Assets

Koum’s assets include a $100 million mansion in Atherton, California, a private jet, and investments in tech startups and real estate. He also has a significant stake in WhatsApp, which continues to generate revenue and grow in user base.

Annual Income

While Jan Koum’s annual income is not publicly disclosed, it’s estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars. This comes from his WhatsApp stake, investments, and other ventures. His wealth has primarily grown from the initial WhatsApp acquisition, with his annual income being a smaller portion of his overall net worth.

Frequently Asked Questions about  Jan Koum

Frequently Asked Questions: Jan Koum Net Worth

1. What is Jan Koum’s net worth?

Jan Koum’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 billion.

2. How did Jan Koum make his fortune?

Jan Koum made his fortune as the co-founder and CEO of WhatsApp, a popular messaging app that was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion.

3. What is Jan Koum’s background?

Jan Koum was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States with his mother at the age of 16. He later worked at Yahoo! before co-founding WhatsApp in 2009.

4. When was WhatsApp founded?

WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton.

5. How did Jan Koum and Brian Acton meet?

Jan Koum and Brian Acton met while working together at Yahoo! in the early 2000s.

6. What was Jan Koum’s role at WhatsApp?

Jan Koum served as the CEO of WhatsApp until 2018, when he left the company after a disagreement with Facebook over the app’s strategy.

7. What happened to Jan Koum’s stake in WhatsApp after the Facebook acquisition?

After the acquisition, Jan Koum’s stake in WhatsApp was converted into Facebook shares, which he still owns.

8. What is Jan Koum’s investment portfolio like?

Jan Koum has invested in several tech startups, including Airbnb, Pinterest, and Uber. He also owns a stake in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

9. What is Jan Koum’s philanthropic work like?

Jan Koum is known for his philanthropic work, including donating $556 million to charity in 2015 and funding a new building at his alma mater, San Jose State University.

10. What is Jan Koum’s current role and projects?

After leaving WhatsApp, Jan Koum has kept a low profile and has not announced any new projects. He is currently focusing on his philanthropic efforts and personal investments.