Marc Andreessen is as synonymous with the World Wide Web as Google. While younger tech enthusiasts may not know him, he is one of the most important figures in the industry.
Andreessen is a World Wide Web Hall of Fame first-ballot inductee. He also has a net worth of roughly 1.7 billion dollars, with most of his money coming from technology innovations and selling companies.
He’s an internet entrepreneurship pioneer, successful businessman, and one of the top tech investors, according to the Wall Street Journal and other similar publications. That’s why it’s worth listening to him when discussing success or recommending reading materials.
Who is Marc Andreessen?
Marc Andreessen is an American software engineer and co-founder of Netscape Communications Corporation. Born in 1971 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Andreessen learned BASIC on his own while in grammar school.
Initially, he wanted to write video games. But as his skills improved, Andreessen was able to design a computer program to complete his math homework.
While at the University of Illinois, he had a part-time job at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, or NCSA. That’s where his first major accomplishment came when together with Eric Bina and peers, he made Mosaic.
It was one of the first browser applications with integrated graphics designed to simplify browsing for less tech-savvy users.
Andreessen graduated in 1993 with a BA in computer science. His first destination was Silicon Valley in California. A year later, Andreessen founded Mosaic Communications Corporation together with James Clark.
The founder recruited the people who helped him build Mosaic in the first place. Together they created a new browser. Although its original name was Mozilla or the Mosaic Killer, the team changed its name to Netscape Navigator.
The new browser was an instant hit. By 1996, it had a staggering 75% of the market share.
Andreessen was in charge of the company’s technical path. In the first quarter of 1996, Netscape Communications Corporation made $55 million in revenue. Later that same year, Andreessen appeared on the cover of Time magazine.
In 1999, Andreessen went to America Online, Inc (AOL) to become its new chief technology officer after AOL bought Netscape. But he didn’t stay there long before leaving to found LoudCloud, Inc (Opsware) and remain a general partner until selling the company.
The new company came to the attention of Hewlett-Packard in 2007, and Andreessen sold another successful technology company for well over a billion dollars. He now resides in Atherton and can be followed under the Twitter handle pmarca (if his infamous India tweet was rightly criticized).
Marc Andreessen recommended reading
The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money are Challenging the Global Economic Order
Andreessen is an experienced engineer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist, and this book by Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey is one of his top recommendations. It tackles a complex topic with significant implications for the world’s future economy.
Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism
Andreessen also recommends a book by Eric Burns dealing with the concept of manufactured outrage. It’s an interesting look at how the media thrived in colonial America that draws similarities with modern media environments and practices.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins’s book discusses some of the dark aspects of starting and running a business. It talks about how intelligence agencies and multinational companies use blackmail to favor certain businesses and industries.
Zero to One
Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters is an international bestseller. It’s a book on startups, entrepreneurship, and building the future through business.
12 Rules for Life
Jordan B. Peterson’s bestseller is a must-read for budding entrepreneurs. It explains how to avoid creating chaos in your life so you can develop healthy, successful habits.
Extreme Ownership
Written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Extreme Ownership is a book about Navy Seals. But the #1 New York Times bestseller isn’t only for seals. It’s a blueprint everyone can use to find balance and achieve their ideal results.
Conspiracy
Ryan Holiday’s Conspiracy follows one of the longest and most outrageous legal battles in the U.S. It’s a story about the rise and fall of Gawker Media in its battle against Peter Thiel and Hulk Hogan.
What You Do Is Who You Are
Author Ben Horowitz wrote an exciting and insightful book about creating a business culture. This book is valuable to both entrepreneurs, new business owners, and experienced CEOs.
Becoming Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. Despite many claims against his technical and coding abilities, it’s no secret that Job’s vision contributed significantly to Apple’s success.
Poor Charlie’s Almanack
This book contains many of the best speeches and talks of Charlie Munger. The Berkshire Hathaway vice-chairman offers a wealth of information regarding financial investments, seed round funding, and economics.
High Output Management
Andrew S. Grove wrote one of the staples of business management, especially for Silicon Valley companies. The former Intel CEO explains the essential skills required to become an entrepreneur and leader and achieve peak performance.
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FAQ
How did Marc Andreessen get rich?
Marc Andreessen became a billionaire by growing his startups into successful software companies and selling them to industry giants. Examples include Netscape, Opsware, Ning, and others. The valuation of his first company was around $4.3 billion.
What did Marc Andreessen invent?
Andreessen is the co-author of Mosaic, and also invented Netscape, the first widely used web browser in the world.
How much did Marc Andreessen make on Netscape?
The deal to acquire Netscape saw the Andreessen Horowitz duo get $4.3 billion from AOL.
What is Marc Andreessen doing now?
Andreessen serves on the board of directors at one of the world’s largest tech giants, Meta Platforms. The entrepreneur is also a general partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, with substantial stakes in GitHub, Instagram, OpenGov, Oculus VR, real estate startup Flow, and other businesses.
Where did Marc Andreessen go to school?
Andreessen attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
