Jimbo Wales is an American internet entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia that allows users to edit and contribute content. Born on August 7, 1966, in Huntsville, Alabama, he has played a significant role in promoting open access to information and knowledge sharing on the internet. Wales co-founded Wikipedia in 2001, which quickly grew to become one of the largest and most popular reference websites worldwide. He is also known for his work with Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that supports Wikipedia and its sister projects, advocating for free knowledge and educational resources.