Max Levchin is the founder and CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. He has been leading the company since its inception in 2012. Levchin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s not just...

Max Levchin is the founder and CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. He has been leading the company since its inception in 2012. Levchin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s not just any tech guy; he played a key role in creating PayPal and has experience with well-known companies like Yelp and Slide, the latter being acquired by Google. His approach focuses heavily on long-term performance. Rather than traditional executive bonuses, Levchin’s compensation is mostly tied to the value of Affirm’s stock through a unique "Value Creation Award" that has strict performance conditions. His total compensation is notably low compared to industry standards—about $409,807 in 2022—highlighting his commitment to performance-based pay. Recently, he has seen fascinating fluctuations in his company’s stock value, peaking at nearly $4 billion in insider trading values in October 2021. The evolution of his leadership style aims to revolutionize finance by delivering honest financial products that improve lives, positioning Affirm as a player in the digital payment space.