Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales Abruptly Ends Interview After 48 Seconds Over "Co-Founder" Dispute

November 15, 2025

BERLIN — In a tense and brief exchange that lasted just 48 seconds, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales stormed out of a podcast interview on Friday after host Tilo Jung pressed him on whether he should be called the "founder" or "co-founder" of the online encyclopedia.The confrontation unfolded on Jung's popular German podcast, Jung & Naiv, known for its in-depth political discussions. Wales, 59, introduced himself confidently at the start: "I'm Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia."Jung immediately challenged the title: "You're the founder or co-founder?"

What followed was a rapid escalation. Wales dismissed the query as irrelevant, calling it "the dumbest question in the world" and insisting, "It doesn't matter."Jung persisted, asking, "Isn't that like, when it comes to Wikipedia, a problem? What are the facts?"

Wales pushed back, arguing that the distinction is "not a fact, it's an opinion." When Jung circled back to Wales' personal claim—"But for you, you're the founder..."—Wales interrupted: "Can I just say again, it doesn't matter. I've answered your question four times... You know what? I'm done."At that point, Wales ended the interview and left the set, leaving Jung and viewers stunned.

The incident has reignited a long-standing debate within Wikipedia's community. While Wales is widely credited with launching the site in 2001 alongside Larry Sanger, Sanger has publicly claimed co-founder status, accusing Wales of downplaying his role in early development. Wikipedia's own entry on its history lists both as founders, though Wales has historically preferred the singular title in public appearances.

Critics on social media quickly weighed in, with some praising Wales for refusing to engage in what they called "pedantic trivia," while others accused him of evading accountability. The clip, shared widely by user

@JoshWalkos

 on X, has already amassed over 500,000 views.

Neither Wales nor Jung has commented further as of press time. The abrupt walkout marks a rare public meltdown for Wales, who has built a reputation as a calm advocate for free knowledge.This event underscores ongoing tensions in tech history narratives, where credit for collaborative innovations often sparks fierce disputes. Wikipedia, now a cornerstone of global information with over 6 million English articles, continues to thrive despite the controversy. 17GEN4.com