CEO & Co-founder Brave Software
Creator of the JavaScript programming language and co-founder of Mozilla. Currently CEO of Brave Software, a privacy-focused browser company. Resigned as Mozilla CEO in 2014 after controversy over his 2008 donation supporting California Proposition 8.
In 2020, users discovered that Brave browser was automatically inserting referral codes into URLs for cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and Trezor, and into search results for terms like 'bitcoin' and 'ethereum.' Eich acknowledged the practice was a mistake and said it would be made opt-in.
In 2015, Brendan Eich co-founded Brave Software to build a privacy-focused web browser that blocks third-party ads and trackers by default. Brave reached 100 million users by October 2025. Eich also advocated for GDPR-style privacy regulation in the US, writing to the US Senate in 2018 that GDPR was 'a great leveller.'
Appointed Mozilla CEO on March 24, 2014, Eich faced immediate backlash from employees and the public over his 2008 Proposition 8 donation. Half of Mozilla's board stepped down, OkCupid urged users to boycott Firefox, and CREDO Mobile collected 50,000+ signatures demanding his resignation. Eich expressed 'sorrow for causing pain' but resigned April 3, 2014, stating he 'cannot be an effective leader' under the circumstances. Mozilla confirmed he was not fired.
In 2008, Brendan Eich donated $1,000 to support California Proposition 8, which sought to ban same-sex marriage. He also donated $2,100 to Prop 8 supporter Tom McClintock between 2008-2010. The donation became public in 2012 when it was uncovered in public donor records.