Sal Khan

Salman Amin Khan, widely known as Sal Khan, is an American educator and entrepreneur best known for founding Khan Academy. His interest in education developed while he was an undergraduate at MIT, where he also created mathematics software for children with ADHD and tutored fourth- and seventh-grade students in Boston. He earned three degrees from MIT and later received an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Khan began tutoring his cousins in mathematics remotely in the mid-2000s. As the number of people seeking his help grew, he began recording instructional videos and posting them online. The lessons became increasingly popular, eventually leading him to focus on building an educational platform rather than continuing his career in finance.

Khan Academy developed into a nonprofit organization offering educational videos, exercises, personalized learning tools, and resources for teachers and students. Khan remains the organization's founder and CEO, guiding its vision of making high-quality education accessible regardless of a learner's location or financial circumstances.

Khan has also promoted mastery learning, an approach that allows students to develop understanding and skills before moving on to more advanced material. His work has contributed to wider discussions about online education, blended learning, technology in classrooms, and the use of digital tools to supplement traditional teaching.

Beyond Khan Academy, Khan founded Schoolhouse.world, Khan Lab School, and Khan World School, organizations focused on personalized and mastery-based education. He has also written and spoken extensively about the future of education and technology.

In recent years, Khan Academy has expanded its use of artificial intelligence through Khanmigo and other educational tools. In 2026, the organization continued developing AI-supported resources for students and teachers, including interactive learning features and targeted practice tools.