Elon Musk, Amy Rowe Klement, Peter Thiel, Julie Anderson, Max Levchin, Reid Hoffman. 

What do these powerhouse entrepreneurs all have in common? 

Hint: They all played a role in the meteoric rise of PayPal.

Find out the intricate web behind one of the biggest startups in the world, as Alex chats with the author of "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley," Jimmy Soni.

They dive into the history of PayPal and discuss the early days of the company, its vision, and the talented individuals who were part of its success. How did PayPal start as the result of a broken AC unit and a simple ploy to get free air conditioning from a college campus? How did Elon Musk’s role in PayPal fundamentally shape his views on banking? Find out how some of today’s most seminal minds collided and how things culminated into the height of Silicon Valley’s fintech revolution.

For a fascinating glimpse into one of history’s most fundamentally impactful fintech companies, you don’t want to miss this ep!

Read “The Founders” here.

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00:01:59 - Book on PayPal's Genius Team

00:09:02 - Paths Crossed: Silicon Valley Engineers

00:13:21 - Evolution of PayPal Founder's Ideas

00:19:21 - David Sacks: From Email to Product Officer

00:21:31 - Elon Musk's Early Banking Experience

00:24:03 - Elon Musk's Financial Services Interest

00:32:33 - eBay and X.com's Email Money Concept

00:39:13 - PayPal's Merger Against Elon's Will

00:44:32 - Shorting the Stock Market: Peter Thiel's Proposal

00:50:39 - PayPal's Evolution in Fintech Industry

00:52:24 - PayPal: From Startup to Modern Regulations

00:57:37 - Elon Musk's Vision for Efficiency

Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/

And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page.

Follow Jimmy: 

Website: https://jimmysoni.com/books/the-founders/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1501197266

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni/

Follow Alex: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson