CO-FOUNDER, QUALCOMM INC.
Irwin Jacobs was one of the co-founders of Qualcomm Inc., which developed the CDMA technology that paved the way for cellphones and today is one of the world’s leading chip makers and San Diego’s largest, publicly traded company. Jacobs served as Qualcomm’s CEO for two decades. He and his wife Joan are among the region’s most generous philanthropists and have given more than $100 million to each of the San Diego Symphony, UC San Diego and the UC San Diego Health system. The Jacobses also donated $11 million to the Symphony to assist with the development of its new outdoor venue, named Jacobs Park in their honor
