I read an article about how Jimmy Wales probably couldn't have earned money on Wikipedia. I am not well versed in the subject but if Wikipedia is worth 5 billion in stock, what prevented Wales from selling half of it and giving the remainder to the Wikipedia foundation?
It can be assumed that the market value would be lower if it wasn't "for profit" but surely there must have been some value in the stock regardless had it been sold? Is there some legal restriction? To clarify my question - I am aware of the Wikipedia foundation's status as an NGO and that they do not operate for profit. I am wondering if Wales in theory could have commercialized Wikipedia and both A) made a profit for himself and B) given enough shares to the Wikipedia foundation to keep them in controll of the website.
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