Jimmy Wales storms off podcast after heated Wikipedia founder debate

A single question about Wikipedia’s origins sent Jimmy Wales storming off set. Why does this decades-old debate still provoke such raw emotion?

, and Administrator

2025 November 15 . 7:02 AM

1 min read

In this picture, we see the man in the black blazer is standing. He is holding something in his... — In this picture, we see the man in the black blazer is standing. He is holding something in his hand and he is trying to talk something. In the background, we see a white banner and a white color board on which we can see the logos of the organizations.

Jimmy Wales storms off podcast after heated Wikipedia founder debate

Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, abruptly ended a podcast interview on the German show Jung & Naiv on November 14, 2025. The interview, which lasted less than a minute, is now considered the shortest in the show's history. Wales introduced himself as the 'founder of Wikipedia' but was pressed by host Tilo Jung to clarify his role. Jung referenced the historical conflict regarding Larry Sanger's involvement, a topic that has long been sensitive for Wales. Wales repeatedly stated, 'It doesn't matter' and 'I've answered your question four times', before walking off the set. Wales' frustration was evident as he declared, 'It's stupid. Don't ask me interview questions!' before leaving. Sanger, who co-founded Wikipedia with Wales, served as the project's chief organizer and only paid editor from 2001 to 2002, significantly influencing its early development. The controversy surrounding their roles has followed Wikipedia since its inception. The incident underscores Jimmy Wales' known sensitivity regarding the distinction between founder and co-founder of Wikipedia. Despite the brevity of the interview, it has sparked discussion about the roles of Wales and Sanger in the creation and early development of the online encyclopedia.