Stripe vs Worldpay: Founders, CEOs and History
Stripe was founded in 2010 by Patrick Collison, John Collison and is led by Patrick Collison. Worldpay was founded in 1971 by Nick Ogden and is led by Cameron Bready (CEO of parent Global Payments).
Company facts
Founders
Stripe
Patrick Collison
Patrick Collison is Stripe's co-founder and CEO. Before Stripe he co-founded Auctomatic, an eBay seller-tools startup that was acquired in 2008. In 2010 he and his brother John started Stripe to make online payments easy for developers to integrate.
John Collison
John Collison is Stripe's co-founder and President. He has focused on Stripe's commercial expansion, large-customer relationships and partnerships with banks and card networks.
Worldpay
Nick Ogden
Nick Ogden founded WorldPay in 1997 as one of the early services for accepting card payments online in multiple currencies. The business later became part of Royal Bank of Scotland's card processing operations. The current Worldpay, Inc.
CEOs and their tenures
Stripe
- Patrick Collison2010–present
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
He built Stripe from a developer payments API into a platform that handled $1.9 trillion of business volume in 2025.
Source - John Collison2010–present
Co-founder and President
John Collison co-founded Stripe and serves as President, focusing on commercial growth, large customers and partnerships with banks and card networks.
Source
Worldpay
- Philip Jansen2013–2018
Chief Executive Officer, Worldpay Group plc (2013 - 2018)
Took the UK business from private equity ownership to a public listing and sale.
Source - Charles Drucker2024–2026
Chief Executive Officer (2024 - 2026)
Guided Worldpay's separation from FIS and its sale to Global Payments.
Source
Timeline: Stripe and Worldpay side by side
1971Worldpay
Fifth Third Bank forms Midwest Payment Systems.
1997Worldpay
Nick Ogden launches the original WorldPay online payment service in the UK.
2010Stripe
Stripe is founded
Patrick and John Collison founded Stripe to simplify online payments for developers.
2011Stripe
Stripe launches publicly
Stripe became known for developer-friendly payment APIs and fast onboarding.
2011Worldpay
Fifth Third Processing Solutions adopts the Vantiv name.
2012Worldpay
Vantiv lists on the NYSE.
2018Worldpay
Vantiv acquires Worldpay Group and becomes Worldpay, Inc.
2019Worldpay
FIS acquires Worldpay.
2020Stripe
Paystack acquisition
Stripe acquired Paystack to deepen payment infrastructure in African markets.
2024Worldpay
GTCR closes its purchase of a 55% stake; Charles Drucker returns as CEO.
2025Stripe
Bridge acquisition completed
Stripe completed the Bridge acquisition and expanded stablecoin infrastructure.
2025Stripe
$1.9T in total volume
Businesses on Stripe generated $1.9 trillion in total volume, up 34% from 2024.
2026Stripe
$159B tender valuation
Stripe announced a tender offer for current and former employees at a $159 billion valuation in February 2026.
2026Stripe
$53B PayPal bid dropped
Stripe and Advent International made a joint offer of about $53.4 billion for PayPal in July 2026 and abandoned it in late August.
2026Stripe
OpenRouter acquisition agreed
Stripe agreed to acquire AI model gateway OpenRouter in August 2026, reportedly for about $7.5 billion.
2026Worldpay
Global Payments completes its $24.25 billion acquisition of Worldpay.
Acquisitions
Stripe
- OpenRouter2026$7.5B
- Bridge2025$1.1B
- Privy2025Undisclosed
- Metronome2025Undisclosed
- Lemon Squeezy2024Undisclosed
- Recko2021Undisclosed
Worldpay
- Worldpay Group plc2018$10.4B
- Mercury Payment Systems2014$1.6B
- Litle & Co.2012$361M
Questions about Stripe vs Worldpay
Who is the CEO of Stripe, Inc. and Worldpay, Inc.?
Stripe, Inc. is led by Patrick Collison and Worldpay, Inc. is led by Cameron Bready (CEO of parent Global Payments). Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Stripe, Inc. founded vs Worldpay, Inc.?
Worldpay, Inc. was founded in 1971 — 39 years before Stripe, Inc., which was founded in 2010. Worldpay, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Stripe, Inc..
How many employees does Stripe, Inc. have compared to Worldpay, Inc.?
Stripe, Inc. employs approximately 9,000 people, while Worldpay, Inc. employs approximately 8,500. Stripe, Inc. has the larger workforce at 9,000 employees, compared to Worldpay, Inc.'s 8,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Stripe, Inc. and Worldpay, Inc. headquartered?
Stripe, Inc. is headquartered in United States / Ireland and Worldpay, Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Stripe, Inc. and Worldpay, Inc.?
Stripe, Inc. was founded by Patrick Collison, John Collison. Worldpay, Inc. was founded by Nick Ogden.
Which company has a longer operating history — Stripe, Inc. or Worldpay, Inc.?
Worldpay, Inc. has been operating for approximately 55 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Stripe, Inc. has been in operation for around 16 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Stripe vs Worldpay overview