The founder of Craigslist has given away half a billion dollars

Perception of Newmark and His Philanthropy

• Many commenters view him positively: modest lifestyle, “knows what enough is,” and a product that didn’t chase maximal growth.
• Some praise his support for journalism, veterans, cybersecurity, and animal causes, and like that he doesn’t seek celebrity.
• Others are skeptical, arguing that rich people generally gain wealth via exploitation and philanthropy doesn’t redeem that.

Effectiveness and Targets of Donations

• Questions about logistics: how much has already been given vs pledged, and in what form (cash vs company equity) remain somewhat unclear.
• Some want more detail on impact: which orgs, what outcomes, and whether his giving is cost‑effective vs other options (e.g., global health).
• One commenter analyzes a veteran‑family nonprofit he supports and notes substantial spend on staff but also large reach via programs and events.

Craigslist Business Model and Scale

• Discussion of how Craigslist made so much money: low fees on select categories (especially jobs, some rentals, cars) across decades plus compounding investment gains.
• A cited figure: revenue peaked around $1B in 2018.
• Compared to typical “unicorn” growth paths, Craigslist is seen as intentionally small, simple, and profitable with a tiny staff.

Impact on Society: Newspapers, Journalism, and Jobs

• Several argue Craigslist gutted newspaper classified revenues and thus local journalism, doing more harm than his later media philanthropy can repair.
• Others counter that similar disruption would have happened anyway, and praise him for funding independent journalism after the fact.
• Some wish he had built more companies and jobs rather than focusing on giving money away.

Scams, Prostitution, and Safety

• Many complain about rampant scams in rentals and sales; opinions differ on whether Craigslist does “nothing” vs relies on user flagging and limited moderation.
• Strong criticism that early “adult services” ads generated huge revenue while facilitating sexual exploitation and trafficking; others respond that illegality of sex work is the core problem and that many ads reflected consensual work.

Broader Debates: Capitalism, Inequality, and Philanthropy

• Long subthread on whether American capitalism is opportunity‑rich or structurally zero‑sum and exploitative.
• Debates over tax burden of the top 1%, wealth concentration, and whether wealth “should be taken” rather than donated voluntarily.
• Skepticism of billionaire philanthropy and “effective altruism”: some see it as impact‑focused and structural, others as image‑laundering that rarely fixes root causes.