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Daniel Ek

Person

CEO of Spotify and a friend of the podcast, who has been leading the charge against Apple's App Store policies.


First Mentioned

1/2/2026, 4:45:39 AM

Last Updated

1/3/2026, 3:50:27 AM

Research Retrieved

1/2/2026, 4:55:20 AM

Summary

Daniel Ek is a Swedish entrepreneur and technologist best known as the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Spotify. Born in Stockholm in 1983, Ek demonstrated early business acumen by running a web development company as a teenager. After selling his online marketing firm, Advertigo, in 2006, he co-founded Spotify with Martin Lorentzon to provide a legal alternative to music piracy. Under his leadership, Spotify has grown to serve over 700 million users globally. Ek has been a prominent figure in regulatory challenges against Apple, particularly in the European Union, where his complaints contributed to the implementation of the Digital Markets Act and a $2 billion antitrust fine against Apple. As of late 2025, his net worth is estimated at $8.7 billion, and he is scheduled to transition to the role of Executive Chairman of Spotify in January 2026.

Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Education

    KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Alumnus)

  • Full Name

    Daniel Georg Ek

  • Net Worth

    $8.7 billion (estimated December 2025)

  • Citizenship

    Sweden

  • Date of Birth

    1983-02-21

  • Place of Birth

    Vantörs parish, Stockholm, Sweden

  • Number of Children

    2

Timeline
  • Daniel Ek is born in Stockholm, Sweden. (Source: Wikidata)

    1983-02-21

  • Ek sells his online marketing firm, Advertigo, to the Swedish company Tradedoubler. (Source: Britannica Money)

    2006-01-01

  • Ek co-founds Spotify with Martin Lorentzon. (Source: Britannica Money)

    2006-04-23

  • Ek marries Sofia Levander. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2016-08-27

  • The EU imposes a $2 billion fine on Apple following a complaint from Spotify and Daniel Ek regarding anti-competitive practices. (Source: All-In Podcast Episode 169)

    2024-03-04

  • Spotify announces that Daniel Ek will transition from CEO to Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026. (Source: Spotify Newsroom)

    2025-09-30

  • Forbes estimates Daniel Ek's net worth at $8.7 billion. (Source: Wikipedia)

    2025-12-01

  • Scheduled date for Daniel Ek to formally assume the role of Executive Chairman of Spotify. (Source: Spotify Newsroom)

    2026-01-01

Daniel Ek

Daniel Georg Ek (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈdɑ̂ːnɪɛl ˈjěːɔrj ěːk]; born 21 February 1983) is a Swedish businessman and technologist. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Spotify. As of December 2025, his net worth was estimated at $8.7 billion by Forbes.

Web Search Results
  • Daniel Ek | Biography, Spotify, & Facts | Britannica Money

    Daniel Ek (born February 21, 1983, Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish entrepreneur who in 2006 cofounded Spotify, an Internet music-streaming service that provides listeners with legal, ad-supported access to millions of songs, rejecting traditional models of downloading and eliminating per-song costs. [...] Ek grew up in Ragsved, near Stockholm, and, as a teenager, he created Web sites for businesses and ran Web hosting services out of his bedroom. He dropped out of college and worked for several Web-based companies before founding Advertigo, an online marketing firm that he sold in 2006 to the Swedish company Tradedoubler. He then established Spotify with Tradedoubler’s cofounder, Martin Lorentzon, and became CEO. Ek’s innovative business model for providing access to music online differed from [...] Entertainment & Pop Culture Literature Sports & Recreation Visual Arts Image GalleriesInfographicsPodcastsSummariesTop QuestionsBritannica Kids Read More Mark ZuckerbergSean ParkerStewart Butterfield # Daniel Ek Swedish entrepreneur Written bySteve Alexander Steve Alexander Freelance Technology Writer. Fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

  • Daniel Ek - Wikipedia

    Daniel Georg Ek (Swedish pronunciation: (/wiki/Help:IPA/Swedish "Help:IPA/Swedish"); born 21 February 1983) is a Swedish businessman and technologist. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Spotify. As of December 2025, his net worth was estimated at $8.7 billion by Forbes. ## Early life and education [edit] [...] | Daniel Ek | | Ek in 2025 | | Born | Daniel Georg Ek (1983-02-21) 21 February 1983 (age 42) Stockholm, Sweden | | Occupation | Businessman | | Years active | 2006–present | | Title | Co-founder, chairman and CEO of Spotify Co-founder and chairman of Neko Health Co-founder of Prima Materia Chairman of Helsing "Helsing (company)") | | Spouse | Sofia Levander ​ (m. 2016)​ | | Children | 2 | | Website | open.spotify.com | | Signature | [...] 1983 births 21st-century Swedish businesspeople Businesspeople from Stockholm KTH Royal Institute of Technology alumni Living people Spotify people Swedish billionaires Swedish technology company founders Hidden categories:

  • Hire Daniel Ek | Co-Founder & CEO of Spotify | Speaker Agent

    0207 0787 876 0207 0787 876 ## Horizontal menu 0207 0787 876 # Daniel Ek Daniel Ek is the mastermind behind one of the world's most prominent digital music services; Spotify. This entrepreneur and technologist has taken the speaking circuit by storm, with his online interview and speeches earning thousands of views. The success of Spotify is a testament to Daniel's business expertise, which, combined with technology, makes up the foundation of his speaking topics. Book Daniel Ek Today! [...] Those who may not know Daniel Ek by name will surely know him by creation. As the co-founder and CEO of Spotify, he has first-hand knowledge for the intricate process of forming a market-leading business. As a business motivational speaker, Daniel uses his decades of experience to take his audience on an insightful journey through his career. This speaker leaves a lasting positive impression on clients, who are inspired by his story to embrace their own professional opportunities. [...] Born and raised in Sweden, Daniel initially studied Engineering at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, before focusing his attention on IT instead. It was this decision that sealed Daniel's highly successful, profitable career. From the age of 13, he has had a keen interest in business, starting with a small website development company in his teens. Daniel was quickly charging thousands for a single website, before headhunting classmates to work for him. Though in the beginning, he had to

  • Founder Story: Daniel Ek of Spotify - Frederick AI

    In the heart of Stockholm, a young programmer's frustration with music piracy sparked a revolution that would reshape the global music industry. Daniel Ek, the co-founder and CEO of Spotify, transformed his love for technology and music into a platform that now boasts over 600 million active users worldwide. His journey from a small apartment in Sweden to the helm of a $50 billion company is a testament to the power of vision, persistence, and the ability to solve complex problems at scale. [...] Daniel Ek's journey to founding Spotify began long before 2008. Born in 1983 in Stockholm, Sweden, Ek showed an early aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship. At just 13 years old, he was already building websites for local businesses, charging them $100 to $200 per site. [...] In 2002, when Napster shut down and Kazaa took over, Ek had a realization that would shape the future of music streaming. He understood that the problem wasn't just about technology; it was about creating a service that could satisfy both consumers and the music industry.

  • Spotify Announces Leadership Evolution: Daniel Ek to Become ...

    Today, Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) announced that Founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek will transition to the role of Executive Chairman effective January 1, 2026. The company also announced Gustav Söderström, co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, co-President and Chief Business Officer, as its co-Chief Executive Officers. They will report to Daniel Ek and will also serve on the company’s Board of Directors subject to shareholder approval. [...] “I always believed that Spotify could play an important role in revolutionizing listening around the world, and with more than 700 million users, we’ve truly charted a new course bringing creativity to every corner of the globe,” said Daniel Ek. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav–who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase. This [...] This evolution formalizes how Spotify has successfully operated since 2023 with the co-presidents largely leading strategic development and operational execution of Spotify. As Executive Chairman, Ek’s role will more closely reflect a European Chairman setup, where he will determine capital allocation, map the long term future of Spotify and continue to provide support and guidance to its senior team.

Location Data

Daniel's kitchen, 연희로11가길, 연희동, 서대문구, 서울특별시, 03707, 대한민국

restaurant

Coordinates: 37.5664802, 126.9273083

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