Early Life and Education
Chris Larsen was born in San Francisco, California, in 1960. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in International Business and Accounting in 1984, and later earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1991. His father worked as an aircraft mechanic, and his mother was a freelance illustrator.
Rise to Success
Larsen's career began in consumer finance, leading to his co-founding E-Loan in 1996. E-Loan was among the first online mortgage lenders. He then co-founded Prosper Marketplace, a peer-to-peer lending platform. In 2012, Larsen co-founded Ripple Labs, Inc., and developed Ripple, software for instant money transfer. He served as CEO of Ripple until December 2016 and is now the Executive Chairman. Ripple uses blockchain technology to facilitate fast and secure cross-border payments.
Key Business Strategies
Larsen focused on solving the inefficiencies of the traditional financial system, and advocating for financial privacy. His strategies include leveraging blockchain technology for faster and cheaper cross-border transactions. Ripple has partnered with over 100 financial institutions, including American Express and Santander.
Philanthropy
Larsen has contributed to COVID-19 relief efforts by donating to San Francisco food banks. He has also made significant contributions to local causes and political campaigns. Larsen donated $1 million to the San Francisco Police Department for officer wellness and community engagement.