Famous Quote
“Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.”
Why #86
Doerr backed Amazon, Google, and Netscape — three of the most important internet companies — and brought OKRs to Google, creating the goal-setting framework used by thousands of companies. His $1.1B Stanford gift is the largest climate philanthropy in academic history.
The Story
John Doerr at Kleiner Perkins backed Amazon, Google, Intuit, Netscape, Slack, Twitter, and dozens of other companies that defined the internet era. He is also the person who brought OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) from Intel to Google, creating the goal-setting framework now used by thousands of companies worldwide. His book 'Measure What Matters' turned OKRs into a global management phenomenon.
Doerr joined Kleiner Perkins in 1980 and over the next four decades became the most recognizable venture capitalist in the world. His early investments in Amazon ($8M in 1996) and Google ($12.5M in 1999) are among the most profitable VC bets in history. He served on Google's board for over 20 years and was a mentor to Jeff Bezos and Larry Page.
In recent years, Doerr has focused on climate technology, donating $1.1 billion to Stanford's School of Sustainability — the largest gift in Stanford's history. His climate fund at Kleiner Perkins has invested in companies working on renewable energy, carbon capture, and sustainable agriculture.
Key Achievements
Backed Amazon ($8M), Google ($12.5M), Netscape, Intuit, Slack, Twitter
Brought OKRs from Intel to Google — now used by thousands of companies
Wrote 'Measure What Matters' — bestseller on OKRs
Donated $1.1B to Stanford for sustainability research
Partner at Kleiner Perkins for 40+ years
Board member at Google for 20+ years
By the Numbers
$8M (1996)
Amazon Early Investment
$12.5M (1999)
Google Early Investment
$1.1B
Stanford Donation
Hundreds of $B
KP Portfolio Value
Fun Facts
He worked at Intel under Andy Grove before becoming a VC — that's where he learned OKRs.
He invested $8 million in Amazon in 1996 — that stake was eventually worth over $10 billion.
He once said his greatest investment was not Google or Amazon but introducing OKRs to the world.
His $1.1 billion donation to Stanford is the largest gift in the university's history.
He keeps a 'speed dial' list of the 10 most important people he needs to talk to every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time?
The greatest entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). Each built companies that fundamentally changed how the world works — from personal computing and smartphones to e-commerce, cloud computing, and social media.
What makes someone a successful entrepreneur?
Successful entrepreneurs share several traits: the ability to identify unmet needs, willingness to take calculated risks, relentless execution, and resilience in the face of failure. They combine vision with practical problem-solving and are willing to persist long after most people would quit. Capital and credentials matter far less than most people think — resourcefulness beats resources.
Can you become an entrepreneur without a business degree?
Absolutely. Many of the greatest entrepreneurs had no business education. Steve Jobs dropped out of college. Richard Branson left school at 16. Sara Blakely was selling fax machines. Henry Ford had no formal engineering training. Jack Ma was an English teacher. What matters is not the degree — it is the ability to see an opportunity, build something people want, and persist through failure.
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