Jordan-born AI billionaire Amjad Masad moved to the U.S. in 2012 at age 24 and founded vibe coding outfit Replit with his wife, Haya Odeh, in California four years later. In March, it was valued at $9 billion. Read more about American immigrants leading in their industries: https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2026/06/09/america-doesnt-work-without-immigrants-heres-why/?utm_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ForbesMainTwitter #Forbes250 Photo: Robert Severi for Forbes
Forbes profiles Replit founder Amjad Masad as the collaborative coding startup reaches a $9 billion valuation
Masad immigrated from Jordan to the U.S. in 2012.
Many users praised Amjad Masad's inspiring journey building Replit into a $9 billion company after immigrating from Jordan, while others responded with anti-immigrant hostility and calls for deportation.
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Jordan-born AI billionaire Amjad Masad moved to the U.S. in 2012 at age 24 and founded vibe coding outfit Replit with his wife, Haya Odeh, in California four years later. In March, it was valued at $9 billion. Read more about American immigrants leading in their industries: https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2026/06/09/america-doesnt-work-without-immigrants-heres-why/?utm_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ForbesMainTwitter #Forbes250 Photo: Robert Severi for Forbes

@Forbes Using WHOSE money??: The AMERICAN TAXPAYERS MONIES.
Say it again: HE USED THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS MONIES to propel his company to $9B.

@Forbes “Jordan-born” is a strange way to hide the fact that Amjad Masad is ethnically Palestinian.

@6nubc1 @Forbes are you retarded?

@Forbes That’s an impressive journey in just over a decade. Stories like this highlight how innovation can come from anywhere when talent meets opportunity.

@6nubc1 @_christinahaanh @Forbes no ur retarded. U dont know shit

@6nubc1 @Forbes Replit (his co) isn’t funded by US government grants or subsidies. Capital came from rounds of private venture capital

@6nubc1 @Forbes You are very stupid btw If an immigrant with no background there, no family, no connections can get in and use your money, then you’re probably a retard that can never get anything but to complain

@aurum0x @_christinahaanh @Forbes Go eat sh1t.
Stop using America as your economic zone.

@sling_007 @Forbes Source trash manipulation by new Wiki revisionist owners.

@sling_007 @Forbes What’s strange? Where’s his mum from? Where’s he from?
I know lots of people that were born in different countries to their parents and none identify by the parents country

@_christinahaanh @Forbes And where did those “private” venture capital get their monies?
I know so many VC who also got their money from our US govt thru grants etc.
I was even asked to co-found one girl.
I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABT 🙄

@amasad If you are selawy then I believe you’re in my family clan dar Masad. We also showed up as distant relatives on 23&me.

@sato942_ @Forbes If you’re not a tax paying American 3-5th generation, go EAT SH1T 💩

@Forbes Cool- now do this person 👇

@elie2222 @Forbes Stop playing dumb, squatter. It’s clear this is an editorial decision by Forbes.
Amjad identifies as Palestinian not “Jordan born”

@6nubc1 @Forbes Monies? Are you from Vietnam? 😂

@Forbes He needs to be deported.

@Forbes @amasad 👏 💥 incredibly inspiring story

@RatifSsemujju @Forbes Go eat sh1t foreigner