Daniel Georg Ek, born on February 21, 1983, is a Swedish entrepreneur and technologist best known as the co-founder and executive chairman of Spotify, the world's leading music streaming platform. Ek demonstrated entrepreneurial talent from a young age, building websites for businesses at 13 and managing a team of developers by 16. Before Spotify, he worked at several web-based companies and founded Advertigo, an online advertising firm, which he sold in 2006. This sale provided him with the resources to pursue his vision for revolutionizing the music industry. Ek co-founded Spotify in 2006 with Martin Lorentzon, launching the service in 2008 as a legal, user-friendly alternative to music piracy.
Ek stepped down from his role as CEO of Spotify on January 1, 2026, transitioning to the role of executive chairman. In his new position, Ek will focus on capital allocation, guiding Spotify's future direction, and supporting the senior team. Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström, who previously served as co-Presidents, have assumed the roles of co-CEOs. Beyond Spotify, Ek is involved in other ventures, including Prima Materia, an investment company pledging to invest in European "supercompanies". He is also the co-founder and chairman of Neko Health, a Swedish company focused on preventative healthcare solutions. As of December 2025, Forbes estimated Ek's net worth at $8.7 billion.
