Swiss Dropout Worth $14 Billion Moves Startup Away From Porn

A college dropout from Switzerland has amassed a $14 billion fortune to become one of the country’s richest people by creating a rising star in electronic payments.

Guillaume Pousaz is the founder and chief executive officer of Checkout.com, which this year raised funding at a valuation of $40 billion, making it worth more than British telecoms giant Vodafone Group Plc. But in its formative years, his company also got business from clientele Pousaz doesn’t like to talk about: porn and gambling websites.

His path to create one of Europe’s most valuable startups circles the globe — from the U.S., where he ...