D aniel Ek is a Swedish billionaire technology entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Spotify, the world's largest and most popular music streaming service. A self-taught programmer from a young age, Ek became a millionaire in his early 20s by founding and selling an online advertising company. Seeking a new challenge, he teamed up with Martin Lorentzon in 2006 to create a legal, ad-supported music streaming platform that would combat online piracy.

As CEO, Ek has been the visionary leader behind Spotify, navigating the incredibly complex and often contentious negotiations with major record labels to build a comprehensive music library. He has guided the company's global expansion and its transition to a successful 'freemium' business model, which offers both a free, ad-supported tier and a premium subscription service. He led Spotify through an unconventional direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018 and has since made a massive bet on the future of audio by investing billions in podcasting. He remains one of the most influential figures in the global music and technology industries.