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Tech

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Left Tinder after a harassment lawsuit; founded Bumble and took it public at 31.

Whitney Wolfe Herd was born in 1989 in Salt Lake City, Utah, US. Whitney Wolfe Herd's background is described as Jewish father, Catholic mother. Growing up, the family was affluent — property-developer father, stay-at-home mother; attended a private Catholic high school. Left Tinder after a harassment lawsuit; founded Bumble and took it public at 31.

Born
1989 · Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Roots
Jewish father, Catholic mother
Family
Affluent
Property-developer father, stay-at-home mother; attended a private Catholic high school.
Education
Southern Methodist University (international studies)
Started with
20% stake
Partnered with Badoo's Andrey Andreev, who funded and majority-owned Bumble at launch.
Affiliations & societies
Kappa Kappa GammaDocumented
Joined the sorority at SMU.
Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

  1. 2010 · age 20
    First venture in college

    Sells bamboo tote bags to fund Deepwater Horizon relief.

  2. 2012 · age 22
    Joins the team that builds Tinder

    Runs marketing; credited as a co-founder and with naming the app.

  3. 2014 · age 24
    Leaves Tinder, sues

    Files a sexual-harassment and discrimination suit; it settles.

  4. 2014 · age 25
    Founds Bumble

    With backing from Badoo founder Andrey Andreev; women send the first message.

  5. 2019 · age 30
    Andreev exits$3B

    Blackstone buys his majority stake at a ~$3B valuation; she becomes CEO of the group.

  6. 2021 · age 31
    IPO$2.2B IPO

    The youngest woman at the time to take a US company public; briefly a billionaire.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Whitney Wolfe Herd from?

Whitney Wolfe Herd was born in 1989 in Salt Lake City, Utah, US. Their background is described as Jewish father, Catholic mother.

When was Whitney Wolfe Herd born?

Whitney Wolfe Herd was born in 1989, in Salt Lake City, Utah, US.

What is Whitney Wolfe Herd's background or ethnicity?

Whitney Wolfe Herd's roots are described as Jewish father, Catholic mother. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.

Where did Whitney Wolfe Herd go to school?

Whitney Wolfe Herd's education: Southern Methodist University (international studies).

What was Whitney Wolfe Herd's family background growing up?

At birth the family was affluent. Property-developer father, stay-at-home mother; attended a private Catholic high school.

How did Whitney Wolfe Herd get started?

Whitney Wolfe Herd started with 20% stake. Partnered with Badoo's Andrey Andreev, who funded and majority-owned Bumble at launch.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.