Name: Clément Delangue
Role:
Co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face
Net Worth:
As of March 2025, Clément Delangue’s net worth is estimated at $50 million.
Profile Overview:
Clément Delangue is a French entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face, an open-source platform that has become a cornerstone of the AI community. Known for democratizing artificial intelligence, Hugging Face enables researchers, developers, and organizations to share and collaborate on AI models and datasets. Under Delangue’s leadership, the company has grown into a global hub for open-source AI, hosting over 300,000 models and partnering with major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM. His vision emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity in AI development, making him a prominent advocate for open-source innovation.
Bio:
Born in La Bassée, France, Clément Delangue showed entrepreneurial talent from a young age, becoming one of France’s top eBay sellers at just 17. He pursued higher education at ESCP Business School, earning a Master in Management degree while studying across multiple countries. His academic journey included stints at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), University College Dublin, and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. He also completed a non-degree program in Computer Science at Stanford University.
Delangue’s professional career began with roles in product management and machine learning startups. He worked at Moodstocks (acquired by Google) and Mention before founding Hugging Face in 2016 with Julien Chaumond and Thomas Wolf. Initially conceived as a chatbot for teenagers, Hugging Face pivoted to become an open-source platform for AI tools. The company has since grown into an influential player in the AI industry, valued at $4.5 billion after raising $235 million in funding in 2023.
Clément Delangue’s Role in Artificial Intelligence:
Clément Delangue is a leading advocate for open-source AI development. Through Hugging Face, he has created a platform that empowers individuals and organizations to host, share, and collaborate on machine learning models. This approach has democratized access to cutting-edge AI technologies while fostering innovation across industries.
Hugging Face’s contributions include hosting influential models like Meta’s LLaMA 2 and Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion. The platform also provides tools for ethical AI development by enforcing community standards to prevent harmful applications of AI. Delangue believes that open-source AI is essential for ensuring transparency and inclusivity in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Nationality:
French
Age:
35 years old (as of March 20, 2025).
Educational Qualification:
- Master’s Degree: Management from ESCP Business School (2008–2012).
- Additional Studies:
- Postgraduate Program at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (2010–2011).
- Computer Science program at Stanford University (2011–2012).
- Exchange programs at University College Dublin and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Sources of Wealth:
- Hugging Face: Open-source AI platform hosting over 300,000 models.
- Startup Success: Roles at Moodstocks (acquired by Google) and Mention.
- Investments: Partnerships with major tech companies like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and IBM.
- Funding Rounds: Raised $235 million in 2023 at a valuation of $4.5 billion.
Random Fact:
The name “Hugging Face” was inspired by the popular emoji 🤗 used to represent warmth and friendliness—a reflection of the company’s collaborative ethos. Clément Delangue’s leadership has transformed Hugging Face into a global hub for open-source AI innovation. His commitment to transparency and inclusivity continues to shape the future of artificial intelligence while empowering researchers and organizations worldwide.
Check here to see the most influential people in AI
