Halli Thorleifsson is a name that many people may not be familiar with, but his story is one of courage, innovation, and success. He is an Icelandic entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and musician who has an estimated net worth of $150 million. How did he achieve this remarkable feat despite facing many challenges in his life? Let’s find out.
Early Life and Education
Halli Thorleifsson was born on February 4th, 1977 in Reykjavik, Iceland. His parents were Þorleifur Gunnlaugsson and Anna Jóna Jónsdóttir. Unfortunately, when he was 11 years old, his mother was killed and his stepfather, actor Jóhann Sigurðarson, was seriously injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. He also suffered from a genetic muscular dystrophy disease that forced him to use a wheelchair at the age of 25.
Despite these hardships, he did not give up on his dreams. He attended the University of Iceland, where he earned a BA and an MS in computer science. He also developed a passion for music and played in several bands.
Career and Achievements
In 2014, Halli Thorleifsson founded Ueno, a creative technology services company that worked with clients such as Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Uber, and more. His business acumen and innovative ideas led to him being named the Icelandic businessman of the year by the Icelandic Association of Business and Economists in 2019.
In early 2021, he sold Ueno to Twitter for an undisclosed amount. He joined the company as Senior director of product design. In an unusual agreement, he chose to receive most of the purchase price as salary in order to maximize the tax he would pay for the sale in Iceland. He paid a significant amount in taxes, out of respect to Iceland for the disability benefits he received. As a result, he paid the second highest tax of any individual in Iceland in 2021.
In March 2023, he engaged in a viral Twitter discussion with Twitter CEO Elon Musk on why he lost access to his work computer and was laid off. Musk insulted Thorleifsson and suggested he hadn’t done any work for several months. The internet caught wind of this Twitter spat and the whole rallied behind Thorleifsson whose disability made it difficult for him to work due to losing strength in his upper body. It turns out that Thorleifsson negotiated a $100 million termination clause with Twitter in case he was fired. Elon Musk went on a disrespectful tirade but backpedaled on his comments later.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Halli Thorleifsson is not only a successful entrepreneur, but also a generous philanthropist and a social activist. He has donated to various causes, such as education, health, and environmental protection. He also helped launch a project called Ramp Up Reykjavik, a collaborative venture undertaken by local businesses, labor unions, government ministries, associations, banks, and city officials with the intention of helping local businesses install wheelchair ramps to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. After the project’s success, a new project called Ramp Up Iceland was started with the intention of building 1,500 ramps around Iceland by 2026.
He also announced on Twitter that he plans to open a restaurant in his hometown in honor of his mother. The restaurant will be named after her and will feature her artwork and recipes.
Conclusion
Halli Thorleifsson is an inspiration to many people who face challenges in their lives. He has shown that with determination, creativity, and hard work, anything is possible. He has also demonstrated that success is not only measured by money, but also by the impact one can have on the world. He is a true example of an Icelandic entrepreneur who has made his mark on the global stage.