Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman, the man who brought us LinkedIn, has quite the resume. A Stanford and Oxford graduate, he initially considered a career in academia or even the clergy before succumbing to the siren call of Silicon Valley. Perhaps the pull of connecting everyone on a professional level was his own secular form of ministry.

He wasn't always a tech guru; his early forays included attempts at online dating and social networking before they were cool (and profitable). Then came LinkedIn, the digital rolodex that made networking a competitive sport. Now, instead of just bragging about your connections, you can literally see them displayed for all the world to judge.

Beyond LinkedIn, Hoffman's venture capital firm, Greylock Partners, has thrown money at a who's who of tech startups. He's the guy who got in on the ground floor of Facebook and has since become one of the most influential figures in the tech world. It seems his knack for knowing who's who extends beyond his own professional network to spotting future unicorns.

So, while his personal Jewish identity might not be the most pronounced, his impact on the professional world, and frankly, the kvell-worthiness of his financial success, are undeniable. He's built a platform that allows millions to connect and, presumably, to brag about their own achievements, proving that even a little bit of Jewish origin can go a long way in making a mark.