Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes is an American entrepreneur, author, and nonprofit leader best known as a co-founder of Facebook and a former spokesman for the company.

Chris Hughes is an American entrepreneur, author, and nonprofit leader best known as a co-founder of Facebook and a former spokesman for the company. He later worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and co-founded the Economic Security Project, which advocates for guaranteed income.

What it is

Chris Hughes co-founded Facebook while at Harvard University and served as its spokesman until 2007. After leaving, he directed online organizing for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. He later bought and ran *The New Republic* from 2012 to 2016, and co-founded the Economic Security Project in 2016, a policy group focused on guaranteed income and economic security.

Why it matters

Hughes’ early role at Facebook helped shape the platform’s growth and public image. His later work on economic policy—especially guaranteed income—has influenced debates in Canada and elsewhere about poverty reduction and social safety nets. His books, including *Fair Shot* (2018), argue for addressing inequality through direct cash transfers.

Key details

Hughes was born November 26, 1983, and studied at Harvard. He is married to Sean Eldridge. His wealth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of US dollars, though no exact figure is publicly verified. He authored *Fair Shot* (2018) and *Marketcrafters* (2025).