Angel investor Jason Calacanis initially became a notable figure because of his entrepreneurial ventures during the dot-com bubble. His most successful project was co-founding Weblogs, Inc. Later on, he became an author and podcast host. As of 2022, Jason Calacanis has a net worth of $100 million.
Background
Jason was born on November 28, 1970, and was raised in Brooklyn, New York. Calacanis is one of three children. All of them are boys of Irish and Greek descent.
For his secondary education, he went to Xaverian High School and he graduated from the institution in 1988. He then proceeded to Fordham University and earned a degree in psychology.
After college, Jason didn’t immediately dive into the world of business. He began his career as a reporter documenting the rise of the online industry in New York in the 1990s.
Business Career
Calacanis saw great potential in the internet for business opportunities. So, he founded Rising Tide Studios, a media company that issued print and digital periodicals. Its publications include Venture Reporter, Silicon Alley Reporter, and Digital Coast Reporter.
However, his first online pursuit wasn’t much of a success. In 2003, he earned his big break by co-founding Weblogs, Inc. with fellow internet entrepreneur Brian Alvey. Billionaire Mark Cuban helped them out with an angel investment and the blog network instantly became a hit.
Two years after starting the venture, Weblogs was purchased by Time Warner’s America Online for over $25 million. Later on, Jason worked at Netscape and Sequoia Capital. He also launched the search engine Mahalo.com, which was later shut down in 2014.
Other Endeavors
In 2009, Calacanis tried various business pursuits. He established the Open Angel Forum, a medium to connect early-stage companies with angel investors. They managed events with the LAUNCH Conference.
He also started a weekly one-hour podcast titled “This Week in Startups” in 2009. The show was briefly closed in 2012, but it’s currently one of the most influential podcasts related to angel investing. In 2022, Jason co-hosted another podcast called “All In” with Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks & David Friedberg.
In 2017, he published his book, “Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups”. Jason created The Syndicate, an angel investing club that hosts three syndicates. Furthermore, he is behind the creation of Australia’s Sydney Launch Festival, which gives local businesses a chance to go global.
Net Worth and Earnings
In the last decade, Jason Calacanis has invested in more than 300 businesses. He became an angel investor in known brands like Trello, Thumbtack, Uber, Calm, Wealthfront, and Robinhood. But before that, he already accumulated a considerable amount from selling Weblogs, Inc.
Today, it is reported that the renowned tycoon brings in $4 million every year from his businesses and investments. Of course, there’s also his earnings from his podcasts, book sales, and angel investing club. This is why he is currently worth $100 million.
Personal Life
Jason Calacanis is married to Jade Li. Together, they are blessed with three children. They once lived in Los Angeles, California, but the family moved to San Francisco.
