How I Built This with Guy Raz PayPal: Max Levchin (June 2022)
73 snips
Mar 3, 2025 
Max Levchin, co-founder of PayPal and founder of Affirm, shares his journey from Soviet Ukraine to Silicon Valley's tech scene. He discusses the formation of PayPal with notable figures like Elon Musk and the challenges they faced, including Musk's ouster as CEO. Levchin reflects on the intense work culture and pivotal moments in the company's rapid growth, driven by innovation. His transition to entrepreneurship after PayPal's acquisition by eBay showcases his relentless drive to create impactful fintech solutions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Family History
- Max Levchin's grandparents, both physicists, survived WWII due to their defense work, sending them to Siberia.
- His grandmother, a renowned astrophysicist, orchestrated the family's emigration from Ukraine while battling cancer.
Early Programming
- Levchin learned programming early on, helping his mom with a state-mandated coding project.
- He quickly surpassed her skills, using translated computer science books to advance.
Immigrating to the US
- Levchin's family emigrated to the US after the collapse of the Soviet Union, landing in Chicago in 1991.
- His parents initially worked odd jobs – his father painted signs, and his mother babysat.