Bob Parsons

Bob Parsons

Parsons in 2017
Born Robert Ralph Parsons
(1950-11-27) November 27, 1950
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater University of Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
Occupation

Founder & Director,
GoDaddy.com
Founder & CEO,
YAM Worldwide, Inc.

Founder,
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
Net worth Increase US$2.6 billion (April 2017)[1]
Spouse(s) Renee Parsons
Website tbrpf.org

Robert Ralph "Bob" Parsons (born November 27, 1950) is an American entrepreneur, billionaire, and philanthropist. In 1997, he founded the GoDaddy group of companies, including domain name registrar GoDaddy.com, reseller registrar Wild West Domains and Blue Razor Domains.[2] In July 2011, Parsons sold approximately 70 percent of Go Daddy to a private equity consortium and resigned his position as CEO.[3][4] In June 2014, he stepped down from his position as Executive Chairman and currently serves on Go Daddy's board.[3][5] Parsons owns 28 percent of the company and is its largest shareholder.[6][7]

As of April 2017, Parsons had an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion and was ranked #290 on the Forbes 400 ranking of the world's wealthiest people.[1]

Parsons is the CEO and founder of YAM Worldwide, Inc., which is home to his entrepreneurial ventures in the fields of powersports, golf, real estate and marketing.[8]

In 2012, Parsons and his wife Renee founded The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which provides funding, primarily in the greater Phoenix area, to non-profit organizations.[9] In December 2013, they joined The Giving Pledge, an initiative started by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett that requires signators to commit at least half of their fortunes to charity.[10]

Background

Evening Parade with Parsons as guest of honor in 2014

Parsons was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His family lived in Baltimore's inner city and struggled financially. Parsons has said about those days, "I've earned everything I've ever received. Very little was given to me. I've been working as long as I can remember. Whether it was delivering or selling newspapers, pumping gas, working in construction or in a factory, I've always been making my own money."[11]

After almost flunking out of high school, Parsons enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.[12][13] He was assigned to the 26th Marine Regiment which was attached to and operated as part of the 1st Marine Division. In 1969, he served as a rifleman in the Delta Company of the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, during a tour of duty in Vietnam, in the Quảng Nam Province.[14]

He was wounded on duty, medically evacuated and spent two months at a naval hospital recovering from his wounds. As a result of his service and injury, he earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Purple Heart.[15]

Education

In 1975, Parsons obtained an accounting degree from the University of Baltimore, graduating magna cum laude.[16] He then began his career in IT and software sales industry[17]

The University of Baltimore conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on May 21, 2008.[18]

Parsons Technology

In 1984, he founded Parsons Technology in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and began selling MoneyCounts, a home accounting program. In late 1987, Parsons was able to quit his job and focus completely on selling and overseeing growth of MoneyCounts. Eventually, Parsons Technology grew to be a 1,000-employee, privately held company. On September 27, 1994, Parsons completed the sale of Parsons Technology to Intuit, Inc. for $64 million.[19]

GoDaddy

Parsons in 2008.

Parsons founded the Internet domain registrar and Web hosting company GoDaddy in 1997.[2] In July 2011, Parsons sold approximately 70 percent of GoDaddy to a private equity consortium led by KKR & Co. L.P. and Silver Lake, and resigned his position as CEO.[3][4] In June 2014, Parsons stepped down from his position as Executive Chairman. He currently serves on GoDaddy's board.[3][5] Parsons owns 28 percent of the company and is its largest shareholder.[6]

YAM Worldwide, Inc.

In 2012, Parsons founded the Scottsdale, AZ-based YAM Worldwide Inc., “home of [Parsons’] entrepreneurship operations…in the fields of power sports, golf, real estate, marketing, innovation and philanthropy.”[8][20][21]

YAM Capital is YAM Worldwide’s private lending and investment arm, specializing in commercial real estate lending and acquisition of closely held middle-market companies.[22][23]

In 2013, Parsons acquired Martz Agency, a 25-employee public relations firm in Scottsdale, AZ.[24]

Motorcycle dealerships

YAM Worldwide subsidiaries LZ Delta, L.L.C. and MS LZ Delta, L.L.C. operate Harley-Davidson and multi-brand motorcycle dealerships in Arizona, Mississippi, and Tennessee.[25] They include:

Parsons is also founder and CEO of Scottsdale-based Spooky Fast Customs, which creates customized motorcycle designs and fabrications.[26]

In April 2014, Parsons announced plans to build the “world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealership” in Scottsdale.[26]

Golf

In September 2013, Parsons purchased The Golf Club Scottsdale, a 292-acre members-only golf course, for $600,000 and undisclosed debt, and renamed it Scottsdale National Golf Club.[27][28] In 2014, Parsons purchased undeveloped properties adjacent to his golf course including a 223-acre parcel for a reported $55 million, a 41-acre parcel for $5.4 million, and a smaller tract for $2.3 million.[29] Also in 2014, Parsons announced plans to build a new clubhouse, nine-hole practice facility, and second 18-hole golf course on the property.[28]

Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG)

In January 2015, Parsons launched Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), a high-end golf club manufacturing company.[30][31] The same month, professional golfer Ryan Moore used prototype PXG irons and wedges when he played in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, a PGA Tour event.[31] PXG is expected to launch a full line of golf equipment including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters.[31][32]

Real estate holdings

Since 2012, YAM Properties has purchased more than 675,000 square feet of commercial real estate in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun region.[33] YAM properties include:

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

Bob and Renee Parsons receiving an award for their work with The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

In 2012, Bob and Renee Parsons established the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation. Since then, the foundation has awarded over $121 million to more than 86 charities and organizations worldwide. A third of the total money awarded has been spent in local Arizonian charities.[42] Bob Parsons was said to have resigned his position as executive chairman at GoDaddy in order to devote more time to his other interests, among them his foundation,[43] while Renee Parsons manages the foundation on a day-to-day basis.[44]

They have joined Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates' Giving Pledge in 2010 and accepted to donate half their wealth to charity.[42] Since its inception, the foundation has donated over $10 million on a yearly basis, placing it among the state's 10 biggest givers.[44] During 2012-2014, the foundation donated over $72 million,[45] and its assets amount to more than $9.5 million.[46]

The foundation receives funding requests from charities through its website, and subsequently evaluates them and makes donations based on the requesting charities needs.[44] Its main focus areas can be categorised in disaster relief, veterans and the Phoenix community. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the foundation pledged $500 thousand for Hope for Haiti and a further $4 million towards relief efforts.[47] With regards to veterans, the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation has supported several veterans' organizations, mainly the Semper Fi Fund, with donations exceeding $8.5 million, mostly in the form of matching donations.[48][49][50] In or around Phoenix, Arizona, it has donated more than $8 million to UMOM and its New Day Centers, which the organization spent in part to pay off the mortgage for one of its biggest facilities. It has also donated at least $10 million to the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, helping it open its new center.[44][51]

Other projects the foundation was involved with include the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, which amounted to three grants totaling $3.7 million to upgrade its laser system;[52] the Girl Scouts through the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program;[53] $4 million in scholarship funds for theDream.us;[54] a $1.5 million grant to the Phoenix Children's Hospital in support of one of its community outreach programs;[55] $1 million towards the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center;[56] $1.4 million for the Murphy Kids Dental Clinic;[57] and $2 million to Circle the City, in order for the organization to launch a new primary health care center.[58]

Elephant shooting controversy

In 2011, Parsons was denounced by animal rights and other groups for tweeting a video in which he shoots and kills an elephant in Zimbabwe. In response to the shooting, Gawker called Parsons "insane"[59] and "ridiculous."[60] NBC News said "It's definitely the kind of thing only a super rich CEO/founder of a privately-held company could get away with."[61] Parsons said, "elephants are not endangered and probably there are too many of them." [62] According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora elephants are listed as Schedule II.

Political activities

In 2012, Parsons donated $1 million to Restore Our Future, Mitt Romney's Super PAC.[63]

On December 8, 2016, Parsons donated $1 million to 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee. [64]

In the January 9, 2017 episode (around the 45:00 mark) of The Forward Podcast with Lance Armstrong, Parsons proudly proclaimed "I'm a Deplorable!" and stated that Donald Trump had been his early choice among the 17 major candidates in the 2016 Republican Primary. "[Trump] was the guy that always resonated with me. [...] Everything so far he said he'd do he's done, which is almost unheard of in politics, he gets no credit for it! [...] I think when everything is all said and done, he's gonna be one of the best presidents we've ever had." He also mentioned he had never voted for Obama.[65]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bob Parsons: Real Time Net Worth". Forbes. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 Sanders, Monica. "Rags to Riches: Bob Parsons, Founder of GoDaddy.com". LegalZoom. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Damouni, Nadia. "KKR, Silver Lake to buy Go Daddy for $2.25 billion: sources". Reuters. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Bort, Julie. "Why GoDaddy's Founder Bob Parsons Is Leaving The Company". Business Insider. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 Bishop, Todd. "GoDaddy files for $100 million IPO, founder Bob Parsons resigns as chairman". GeekWire. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 Whitford, David. "GoDaddy Founder Bob Parsons: Entrepreneurship Is 'a Little Spooky'". Inc.com. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Russ Wiles and Angelique Soenarie. "GoDaddy plans initial public offering of stock; chairman Bob Parsons to step down". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Company Overview of YAM Worldwide Inc.". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Anderson, J. Craig. "Go Daddy exec, wife plan major philanthropic effort". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "More billionaires pledge to give away fortunes". CNN Money. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Bob Parsons blog
  12. ↑ Sloan, Paul (February 28, 2007). "Who's Your Go Daddy?". CNN Money. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  13. ↑ David, Andersen; Lameen Witter (February 17, 2006). "Former Marine, GoDaddy CEO Talks About His Rise to Success". Marine Corps News. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  14. ↑ Draper, John (December 7, 2005). "GoDaddy's Remarkable Daddy". Worthwhile. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  15. ↑ Jackson, Ron (October 2004). "Underachiever to Overlord: Go Daddy's Bob Parsons Started Slow Then Built Two Business Empires". Domain Name Journal. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  16. ↑ "University of Baltimore". University Relations. April 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  17. ↑ Sloan, Paul. "Who's Your Go Daddy?". CNN Money. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  18. ↑ Larson, Jane (May 28, 2008). "Go Daddy extends sponsorship of Danica Patrick". The Arizona Republic. Gannett. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  19. ↑ "Form:10-Q". SEC Edgar Filing Information. June 12, 1996. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  20. ↑ "Robert R. Parsons CPA". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "YAM Worldwide Overview". YAM Worldwide. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "YAM Capital". YAM Capital. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Ringle, Hayley. "Parsons planning big things for Martz after purchase". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  24. ↑ Ringle, Hayley. "Bob Parsons buys Scottsdale PR firm Martz Agency". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "GoDaddy Founder Bob Parsons Acquires Harley-Davidson Dealership". Motorcycle & Powersports News. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  26. 1 2 Corbett, Peter. "GoDaddy founder plans largest Harley dealership". azcentral.com. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  27. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Bob Parsons buys Golf Club Scottsdale in latest big real estate deal". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  28. 1 2 Duthie, Chris. "Scottsdale National Gains Traction". Colorado AvidGolfer. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  29. ↑ Sunnucks, Mike. "Bob Parsons buying more land next to his Scottsdale country club". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  30. ↑ Newman, Matt. "GoDaddy Founder Bob Parsons Debuts Parsons Xtreme Golf". Golf.com. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  31. 1 2 3 Arbon, Travis. "GoDaddy founder takes a swing at the golf industry with newest venture". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  32. ↑ Kozuchowski, Zak. "First Look: Parsons Xtreme Golf Irons". GolfWRX. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  33. ↑ "About YAM Properties". YAM Properties. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  34. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Go Daddy's Bob Parsons buys Scottsdale real estate for $37 million". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  35. 1 2 Dionne, Paul. "MetLife Sells Scottsdale Shopping Center to Bob Parsons of GoDaddy". Vizzda.com. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  36. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Go Daddy's Bob Parsons plunks down $27.3M for Glendale property". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  37. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Go Daddy's Bob Parsons buys Glendale office project for $13M". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  38. 1 2 "GoDaddy Founder Keeps Rolling...Adds Centerpoint On Mill to Valley Holdings". Business Real Estate Weekly of Arizona. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  39. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Tempe's Centerpoint on Mill sold to Bob Parsons for $38 million". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  40. ↑ Hansen, Kristena. "Parsons buys Hayden station for $26.5 million". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  41. ↑ Sunnucks, Mike. "Bob Parsons buys Tempe center next to ASU for $29M". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  42. 1 2 Anaya, Catherine. "Philanthropic Parsons spread wealth to help better Arizona". CBS5AZ. CBS5AZ. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  43. ↑ BORT, JULIE. "Why GoDaddy's Founder Bob Parsons Is Leaving The Company". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Anderson, J. Craig. "Go Daddy exec, wife plan major philanthropic effort". USA Today. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "#1054 Bob Parsons". Forbes. Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "Bob and Renee Parsons". GlassPockets. GlassPockets. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  47. ↑ Shook, Milton. "How GoDaddy's Parsons Is Creating a Self-Sustaining Community in Haiti". Inside Philanthropy. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  48. ↑ "The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation – GoDaddy "Matching Challenge" Raises $5MM to Help Injured Service Members via the Semper Fi Fund". Semper Fi Fund. Semper Fi Fund. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  49. ↑ Held, Tom. "GoDaddy Founder Doubles Up His Year-End Donation for Veterans’ Care". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  50. ↑ "GoDaddy Founder Gives $1 Million to Launch The Bob Parsons Veterans Center at UB". University of Baltimore. University of Baltimore. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  51. ↑ Oltean, Liviu. "UMOM Details Plans for Affordable Housing Project in Sunnyslope". MHN Online. MHN Online. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  52. ↑ "Keck Observatory Completes $4 Million Adaptive Optics Fund". Keck Observatory. Keck Observatory. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  53. ↑ "$288,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Helps Arizona Girls Break the Intergeneration". Girl Scouts AZ. Girl Scouts AZ. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  54. ↑ Brown, Brandon. "Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will match donations to DREAMer scholarship fund". Phoeniz Business Journal. Phoeniz Business Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  55. ↑ "Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation Awards $1.5 Million to Phoenix Children's Hospital". Philanthropy News Digest. Philanthropy News Digest. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  56. ↑ "$1M Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Enables New Initiative". Dignity Health. Dignity Health. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  57. ↑ "$1.4MM Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Enables CASS to Triple the Impact of Non-Profit Pediatric Dental Center". CASSAZ. CASSAZ. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  58. ↑ "The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Makes $2MM Commitment to Delivering Health Care to Homeless Individuals". Yahoo Finance. Market Wired. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  59. ↑ Chen, Adrian. "Has GoDaddy's Elephant-Killing CEO Finally Gone Too Far?". Gawker.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014.
  60. ↑ Chen, Adrian. "Meet GoDaddy's Ridiculous Elephant-Killing CEO". Gawker.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  61. ↑ "GoDaddy CEO kills elephant, videotapes act". NBC News Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  62. ↑ Cooper, Charles (March 31, 2011). "GoDaddy CEO: Elephant hunts help the locals". CBS News. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  63. ↑ Schouten, Fredreka (21 September 2012). "Romney has campaign debt, less cash on hand". USA Today. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  64. ↑ http://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/286/201704180300150286/201704180300150286.pdf
  65. ↑ Armstrong, Lance (9 January 2017). "Bob Parsons". Retrieved 15 February 2017.
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