LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman belongs to the group nicknamed the PayPal Mafia.
The PayPal Mafia is an informal name for former PayPal employees and founders who later created, led, funded, or helped develop influential technology companies. Hoffman joined PayPal in 2000, became a senior executive, and later co-founded LinkedIn, making him one of the group’s best-known members.
The nickname reflects the unusually strong professional and social network formed at PayPal. After eBay acquired PayPal in 2002, many early employees moved on to launch companies or venture-capital firms. Their connections and repeated startup successes made the group especially influential in Silicon Valley. Other associated names include Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, David Sacks, Roelof Botha, and YouTube co-founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley.
“Mafia” is figurative, not a description of organized crime. The label became widely known after a 2007 Fortune article featuring former PayPal employees in mafia-style clothing. Also, membership is informal: there is no official roster, and lists vary depending on whether they include investors, executives, and later associates.