Eric Yuan: From 8 Visa Rejections to a $4.7 Billion Zoom Success

Eric Yuan’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and vision. Born in China, Yuan dreamed of working in the U.S. during the early 1990s tech boom. However, his visa applications were rejected eight times over two years. Yet he refused to quit.

Finally entering the U.S., Yuan worked at WebEx and later Cisco, where he noticed gaps in user experience for video conferencing. Fueled by the idea that distance should never be a barrier, he founded Zoom in 2011. Initially, investors were skeptical — the market seemed saturated. But Yuan’s insistence on simplicity, reliability, and user-centered design paid off spectacularly.

Zoom became a household name, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing families, schools, and businesses to stay connected. As of today, Yuan’s net worth exceeds $4.7 billion, and Zoom remains a leader in global communications.

Yuan’s story isn’t just about building a company — it’s about how patience, belief, and relentless action can turn rejection into world-changing success.