eBay

E-commerce

Founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar, eBay is a global e-commerce pioneer connecting tens of millions of active buyers and sellers in over 190 markets worldwide.

View Official eBay Careers

Official eBay Careers Website

Quick Facts

Founded: 1995
Founder: Pierre Omidyar
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Public Ticker: NASDAQ: EBAY

About eBay

eBay was founded in San Jose, California in September 1995 as AuctionWeb by computer programmer Pierre Omidyar. It grew into one of the defining platforms of the dot-com era, popularizing online auctions and fixed-price retail commerce.

Today, eBay operates in over 190 markets worldwide, supporting small businesses, enterprise sellers, and individual collectors. The company focuses on core enthusiast categories including collectibles, luxury watches, sneakers, refurbished electronics, and automotive parts.

What eBay Does

Global Marketplace

Consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer online auction and buy-it-now marketplace.

Authenticity Guarantee

In-person inspection and verification service for sneakers, luxury handbags, watches, and trading cards.

eBay Motors

One of the world's largest marketplaces for auto parts, accessories, vehicles, and garage tools.

Managed Payments & Financial Services

Integrated global payment processing, seller financing, and buyer protection programs.

Career Areas

Types of professional roles found inside eBay.

Software Engineering (Platform/Search/AI)
Data Engineering & Analytics
Product Management
UX & Service Design
Category Management & Business Dev
Trust, Safety & Counterfeit Protection
Global Marketing & Brand
People & Workplace Operations

eBay's History

1995
AuctionWeb Founded
Pierre Omidyar launches AuctionWeb in San Jose; officially renamed eBay in 1997.
1998
NASDAQ IPO
eBay lists on NASDAQ, becoming one of Silicon Valley's landmark public companies.
2002
PayPal Acquisition
Acquires payment gateway PayPal for $1.5 billion (later spun off as independent public firm in 2015).
2020
Authenticity Guarantee Launch
Introduces physical authentication hubs for luxury goods, sneakers, and sports cards.
2023
AI Seller Tools Released
Launches generative AI image background removal and automatic listing description generators.