Early Life
Tony Xu was born in Nanjing, China, in 1983 or 1984, immigrating to the United States at age four with his parents. His mother, a doctor in China, was unable to practice medicine in the US and worked various jobs, including as a server in a Chinese restaurant. Xu's father was a professor.
Rise to Success
Xu earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2013. While at Stanford, he co-founded DoorDash with Andy Fang, Stanley Tang, and Evan Moore. The company quickly became a leader in the food delivery market, going public in December 2020 and making Xu a billionaire.
Key Business Strategies
DoorDash's success can be attributed to its focus on end-to-end delivery, serving suburban areas, and operational speed. Xu emphasized building one product and making fast decisions. DoorDash expanded to over 40 countries, with significant market share in the US.
Philanthropy
Xu and his wife, Patti, are signatories to the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.