My First Million I was offered $200M at 24 and I turned it down
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Jan 31, 2025 
Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress and Automattic, shares his incredible journey, including the bold decision to turn down a $200M offer at just 24. He reflects on WordPress's early struggles and its rise to dominance, as well as the competitive battle between WooCommerce and Shopify. Mullenweg discusses the ethical implications of open-source software and highlights innovative hiring practices that prioritize writing skills over traditional qualifications. His insights offer a fascinating look at the intersection of entrepreneurship and community-driven technology.
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Turning Down $200 Million
- Matt Mullenweg was offered $200 million for WordPress at age 24, but he turned it down.
- Instead, he took the offer as a valuation for a funding round and sold some stock, securing his first million.
WordPress's Humble Beginnings
- WordPress's early growth was slow, initially having more developers than users.
- Matt Mullenweg even hosted upgrade parties at his apartment to help early adopters.
WordPress as Dark Matter
- WordPress powers a significant portion of the web, but its ecosystem generates far more revenue than Automattic itself.
- Automattic, Mullenweg's company, earns more than half its revenue from non-WordPress products.
