Jared Isaacman

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Jared Isaacman is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and private astronaut. He is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, a payment processing company that he started in 1999 when he was just 16 years old. Isaacman dropped out of high school to pursue his business interests and earned a GED. Shift4 Payments has grown into a significant company in the payments industry, processing billions of dollars annually for various sectors, including hospitality and retail.

In addition to his business ventures, Isaacman is a trained pilot and aviation enthusiast. In 2009, he set a world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet, completing the journey in 61 hours. He is also the founder of Draken International, a defense firm that provides tactical flight services for the U.S. military and owns one of the world's largest fleets of privately owned fighter jets. Isaacman sold a majority stake in Draken to private equity firm Blackstone in 2019.

In 2021, Isaacman financed and commanded the first all-civilian spaceflight, known as Inspiration4, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission orbited Earth for three days, aiming to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The flight marked a milestone in private space exploration. Isaacman purchased the mission through SpaceX, continuing his efforts to advance commercial spaceflight. In 2023, he announced the Polaris Program, a series of missions aimed at further advancing human space exploration, with the first mission, Polaris Dawn, expected to include spacewalks and higher orbital flights.

Isaacman has been recognized for his contributions to both business and space exploration. He resides in New Jersey with his family and remains active in aviation, frequently participating in airshows and philanthropic efforts. His net worth is estimated to be over $1.9 billion, largely due to his success with Shift4 Payments and other business ventures.