The richest person on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi is Pierre Omidyar. He is the founder and chairman of eBay, a popular online marketplace. Omidyar resides in Honolulu but has a significant presence and investments on the Big Island. With a net worth of approximately $11.4 billion, he tops the list of the wealthiest individuals in Hawaiʻi.
Pierre Omidyar’s success story is a remarkable one. He was born in France to Iranian parents and moved to the United States at a young age. In 1995, at the age of 28, he created eBay as an online platform for people to buy and sell goods. The company quickly grew and became a global phenomenon, revolutionizing the way people conduct e-commerce.
Omidyar’s wealth has allowed him to engage in various philanthropic endeavors. In 1998, he and his wife established the Omidyar Network, a foundation that supports social causes and invests in for-profit companies that aim to create positive social impact. Through this foundation, Omidyar has supported initiatives in education, human rights, and economic development.
While Pierre Omidyar is the richest person on the Big Island, there are other notable wealthy individuals in Hawaiʻi. Jay Shidler, a real estate investor and founder of The Shidler Group, is another prominent figure. Blair Parry-Okeden, an Australian-American heiress to the Cox Enterprises fortune, also resides in Hawaiʻi and is among the wealthiest individuals in the state.
Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL, also has connections to Hawaiʻi. Although he is not primarily based on the Big Island, his investments in the state’s tourism and technology sectors have contributed significantly to his wealth. Case has been an advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation in Hawaiʻi, recognizing the potential for economic growth in the region.
Lastly, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle Corporation, is another billionaire with ties to Hawaiʻi. Ellison purchased the majority of the island of Lanai in 2012 and has invested in various projects on the island, including luxury resorts and sustainable energy initiatives. While Lanai is not part of the Big Island, Ellison’s presence in the state’s economy cannot be overlooked.
Pierre Omidyar is the richest person on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, with a net worth of approximately $11.4 billion. However, there are other wealthy individuals in the state, such as Jay Shidler, Blair Parry-Okeden, Steve Case, and Larry Ellison, who have made significant contributions to Hawaiʻi’s economy and communities.