Discover Craigslist's Founder Craig Newmark's Surprising Journey from Side Hustle to Billion-Dollar Business

Distinguished man in suit at event, Craig Newmark Journey.

Craigslist: A Million-Dollar Side Hustle Story

Craigslist, the popular online classifieds platform, has reached an impressive milestone—its 30th anniversary. Craig Newmark, the mind behind the iconic site, has taken the opportunity to clarify some misconceptions about Craigslist’s origin and his personal journey.

The Start of Something Big

Back in 1995, at the dawn of the internet boom, Newmark moved to San Francisco and began sharing an email bulletin to inform a small group about local events and happenings. This initial side hustle was driven by his passion for connecting people and sharing information.

A Growing Mailing List

As word spread, this simple mailing list began to grow rapidly—eventually reaching over 240 subscribers. Newmark’s dedication to keeping everyone informed led him to migrate his list to a listserver to manage the demand. This dedication is a testament to the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the organic growth of a concept that would become a major player in the online marketplace.

Financial Insights: A Business Worth Billions

Despite being a privately held company, Newmark revealed that Craigslist garners approximately 20 billion page views each month and operates with an annual revenue of around $694 million. However, he dispels the notion of being a billionaire, attributing this misconception to his philanthropic choices which included donating all his equity from Craigslist.

The Philanthropy Behind the Success

Now at 72, Newmark has shifted his focus from building Craigslist to philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of giving back. His journey illustrates that success isn’t just about accumulating wealth; it’s also about how one can impact the community positively.

For aspiring entrepreneurs and side hustlers, Newmark’s story is a powerful reminder that even small beginnings can lead to phenomenal growth. Building connections and staying true to one's values in business could pave the way for lasting success.

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Discover Craigslist's Founder Craig Newmark's Surprising Journey from Side Hustle to Billion-Dollar Business

Craigslist: A Million-Dollar Side Hustle Story

The Start of Something Big

A Growing Mailing List

Financial Insights: A Business Worth Billions

The Philanthropy Behind the Success

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