Bob Parsons is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, born on November 27, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the founder of GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain registrar, and a former US Marine.
After serving in the Vietnam War, Parsons attended the University of Baltimore, where he earned a degree in accounting. He then worked as a CPA before founding his first software company, Parsons Technology, in 1984. The company grew quickly and was sold to Intuit for $64 million in 1994.
In 1997, Parsons founded GoDaddy, a company that offers website hosting and domain registration services. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly, becoming the world’s largest domain registrar and hosting provider. In 2011, GoDaddy was sold to a private equity consortium for $2.25 billion.
Parsons’ wealth has been estimated at $2.7 billion by Forbes as of 2021, making him one of the richest people in the world. He has used his wealth to support various philanthropic causes, including the Semper Fi Fund, a charity that supports injured and critically ill members of the US armed forces and their families.
Parsons has also been active in politics, serving as a member of President Donald Trump’s transition team in 2016. He is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and has authored a book, “The 16 Rules for Success,” which outlines his philosophy on achieving success in business and life.
In addition to his business and philanthropic pursuits, Parsons is also an avid hunter and has faced criticism for controversial hunting practices. He has been vocal in his support of the Second Amendment and has used his wealth to support pro-gun causes.
Despite controversy surrounding some of his personal beliefs and practices, Bob Parsons’ entrepreneurial success and philanthropic efforts have earned him widespread recognition and respect in the business world.
Here’s a timeline of Bob Parsons’ life and career:
- 1950: Bob Parsons is born on November 27 in Baltimore, Maryland.
- 1968-1972: Parsons serves in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
- 1975: Parsons graduates from the University of Baltimore with a degree in accounting.
- 1984: Parsons founds his first software company, Parsons Technology, which sells a range of consumer software products.
- 1994: Intuit acquires Parsons Technology for $64 million.
- 1997: Parsons founds GoDaddy, a company that offers website hosting and domain registration services.
- 2006: GoDaddy becomes the largest domain registrar in the world.
- 2011: GoDaddy is sold to a private equity consortium for $2.25 billion.
- 2016: Parsons serves on President Donald Trump’s transition team.
- 2021: Forbes estimates Parsons’ net worth at $2.7 billion.
Throughout his life and career, Bob Parsons has been known for his entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropic efforts, and controversial personal beliefs and practices.
5 Interesting Facts about Bob Parsons:
- Bob Parsons is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and has ridden across the United States multiple times.
- He is a licensed pilot and owns his own airplane.
- Parsons is also a big fan of golf and has played with famous golfers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
- He owns several luxury properties around the world, including a home in Hawaii and a ranch in Montana.
- In 2018, he purchased a majority stake in the Arizona Coyotes NHL hockey team.
5 Quotes from Bob Parsons:
- “Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new.”
- “The only time you’re allowed to get scared is when you’re doing something that can genuinely hurt you.”
- “Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.”
- “Anything that is measured and watched improves.”
- “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks, and that means you’re not going anywhere.”
