My journey with the Linux Operating System

Thursday, 18 December 2025

VLC software developer_ Thank you

very much Jean-Baptiste Kempf for bringing the VLC software

to the World

Who’s an unsung hero of the tech world?

Sean Kernan

Writer at seanjkernan.substack.comNov 11

This man:

Jean-Baptiste Kempf. He developed the VLC media player which many millions use, including myself. It plays both audio and video with great efficiency.

He was offered millions of dollars to sell it to a company, who would have invariably put ads or membership fees on this product—and he refused.

Today, the product has no tracking, no costs, and is extremely reliable and accessible to everyone—all because he chose not to give in to greed.

Jean-Baptiste, we salute you.

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Comments

Hussain

· Nov 11

It's one of the first apps that I download everytime I buy/get a new PC/Laptop (alongwith 7Zip and Chrome). Plays just about any format you throw at it.

Samuel Gantner

· Nov 11

Chrome was my go-to as well until they decided to ban ublock from the chrome store. Now I’m team Firefox.

Ankit Ankit

Brave

Cade Vaughn

· Nov 11

Torrenting created the need for VLC and was much appreciated. Downloading codec packs to get the audio to function. The kazaa and Napster of 2000–05 were always a curveball

Liron Kufert

· Nov 11

Torrents from emule always worked great on vlc. There were movies that had very few sources so often a tiny bit of the file would not download. You could still watch the movie on vlc, you would only get a glitch where the missing part was supposed to be, but still it worked great. And you could add su…

(more)

Ashley Pieterse

· Nov 13

Been using VLC for decades. Where other software flounders when playing media, VLC works without fail. Jean-Baptiste Kempf is a hero. He is a brave and a decent man. He is a pioneer!

Ralph Ranch

· Nov 11

So, how much is Mr. Kempf worth today?

John Redmond

· Nov 11

Google’s AI tells me

As of 2025, Jean-Baptiste Kempf's net worth is estimated to be around $20 million

is that not enough money for you?

Ralph Ranch

John Redmond: Too much money for me!! I know Mr. Kempf's estimated net worth.There was tongue-in-cheek layered in my open question. He could be worth much-much more, if he wasn't an outstanding World Citizen…🫡🌻

Cliff P. Edge

· Nov 11

Km player from Korea is actually superior, primarily because it has an extensive bookmark function. In Notepad, you can edit, modify, clone and save different bookmark files, and each file can store bookmarks of dozens of videos. But there's much, much more. It too is free.