Is Steve Chen A-List?
No — Steve Chen is currently ranked B tier — a well-known figure with a strong career but not quite a household name.
Reached A-list in 2006
Google Acquisition of YouTube
Lost A-list status in 2011
Dropped to B tier — AVOS Systems Founded
Ranking Timeline
PayPal Early Career
Early career, works for PayPal as software engineer, early lessons in tech industry.
YouTube Co-founded
Co-founds YouTube with Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim, revolutionizing online video.
Google Acquisition of YouTube
YouTube is acquired by Google for $1.65 billion, making Chen a millionaire.
AVOS Systems Founded
Founds AVOS Systems, Inc. and develops the MixBit video editing app.
Google Ventures Entrepreneur
Joins Google Ventures as an entrepreneur-in-residence, mentoring startups.
Tech Advisor and Investor
Continues to work with Google Ventures and invests in emerging tech companies.
Last updated: February 23, 2026