Xavier Niel
Xavier Niel
Xavier Nielis a French entrepreneur and businessman, active in the telecommunications and technology industry and best known as founder and majority shareholder of the French Internet service provider and Mobile operator Iliad trading under the Free brand. He is also co-owner of the newspaper Le Monde, and co-owner of the rights of the song "My Way" and owner of Monaco Telecom. He currently acts as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors & Chief Strategy Officer for Iliad...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth25 August 1967
CountryFrance
The question for France and all countries is, 'Do you favour foreign Internet operators that do not pay, or do you favour national operators who pay?'
Personally, I have invested in around ten U.S. companies and will continue to do so. That doesn't give me a strong experience in the American market. But I have an understanding of the public.
We have 200,000 kids a year who drop out of the French school system and have no hope. They become a drag on society.
When you love competition, you don't want the market to consolidate.
We need to create an ecosystem which will make young people want to start their own company.
We have to help young people, because at the end of the day, we won't have an economy if we don't have them.
The most sought-after candidates in the world today by companies like mine are people who make computer software - there's a shortage of talent.
Stephane Richard is far more attuned to the market than Didier Lombard.
Nobody believed in the success of the Internet.
I'm always investing. I'm constantly in talks with someone about some opportunity.
I have done a lot of stupid things in my life.
I don't think Steve Jobs had much desire to share his fortune.
I don't like clothes. I don't especially like cars. I have a very nice house. I get sick on a boat.
Giving only 50% of your fortune is not enough.