# Kristo Käärmann

> Kristo Käärmann is the co-founder and CEO of Wise, the global fintech company making cross-border money transfers radically cheaper and faster. A former Deloitte and PwC consultant, he turned a personal frustration with hidden bank fees into one of Europe's most valuable tech companies—and became Estonia's first billionaire in the process.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO of Wise
- **Organizations:** Wise plc, Wise Payments Limited, Wise Investments Holdings Ltd, Wise Financial Holdings Ltd, Kotilda OÜ
- **From:** Estonia
- **Nationality:** Estonian
- **Education:** Secondary education, Tallinna Inglise Kolledž, Master's in Computer Science (Informaatika), University of Tartu
- **Known for:** Co-founded Wise, one of Europe's most valuable fintech companies, Became Estonia's first billionaire alongside co-founder Taavet Hinrikus, World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, 2015

## Career timeline

- **2002** — Launched first business, Investor.ee, an online investment tracking portal at age 19
- **2006** — Graduated from University of Tartu with a Master's in Computer Science
- **2006–2010** — Worked as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte, focusing on banking systems and data strategy
- **2010** — Co-founded TransferWise (later Wise) with Taavet Hinrikus in London
- **2011** — TransferWise officially launched after a TechCrunch article brought first customers
- **2015** — Named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer; ranked No. 8 on CNBC's Disruptor 50 list
- **2017** — Wise turned profitable six years after founding; customers sending £1 billion monthly
- **2019** — Recognized in Fortune's 40 Under 40 list
- **2021** — Wise listed on the London Stock Exchange via direct listing at $11 billion valuation; became Estonia's first billionaire
- **2022** — First Estonian to appear on the Forbes Billionaires list
- **2024** — FCA fined £350,000 for breach of senior manager conduct rules related to tax disclosure
- **2025** — Wise announces plan to move primary listing to the US; shareholders approve CEO supervoting extension

## Achievements

- Co-founded Wise, one of Europe's most valuable fintech companies
- Became Estonia's first billionaire alongside co-founder Taavet Hinrikus
- World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, 2015
- Fortune 40 Under 40, 2019
- Ranked #1913 on Forbes Billionaires list (2026) with estimated net worth of $2.2 billion
- Ranked 156th on The Sunday Times Rich List 2023 with net worth of £1.134 billion
- Built Wise to profitability within six years of founding

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — Wise shareholders approve plan to shift primary stock listing to the United States and extend CEO supervoting rights for an additional ten years.
- **2025-06** — Wise reports 23% growth in cross-border payments and rising profitability for FY2024.
- **2025-04** — Wise opens new Asia-Pacific hub office in Singapore.
- **2025-03** — Wise moves into larger London and Tallinn offices, expanding its global footprint.
- **2024-10** — UK Financial Conduct Authority fines Kristo Käärmann £350,000 for a breach of senior manager conduct rules related to tax disclosure.
- **2024-08** — FinTech Magazine publishes a 'Lifetime of Achievement' profile celebrating Käärmann's career and impact.

## Links

- Website: https://kaarmann.com/
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kkaarmann
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/kaarmann
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkaarmann/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kristo-k-rmann
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-30