Early Life
Jared Taylor Isaacman was born on February 11, 1983, in Summit, New Jersey. He is the youngest of four children. Isaacman grew up in New Jersey, attending schools in Westfield and Bernards Township. At a young age, he showed an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a computer services business while in high school. He later earned his GED.
Rise to Success
Isaacman founded United Bank Card, later renamed Harbortouch and then Shift4 Payments, in 1999 at the age of 16. He has served as the CEO since its inception. Shift4 Payments processes payments for a large number of businesses in the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industries. By 2020, the company was processing $200 billion in payments annually. He is also the founder of Draken International, a company that provides adversary training to the U.S., British, and other NATO air forces.
Key Business Strategies
Isaacman's key business strategy has centered on identifying opportunities in the payment processing and aerospace industries. At Shift4 Payments, he built a successful company by focusing on technology solutions. In the aerospace sector, his involvement in private spaceflights, including commanding the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, demonstrates a focus on innovation and pushing boundaries. The company went public on the NYSE in June 2020, raising $345 million.
Philanthropy
Isaacman is committed to philanthropy, notably raising over $250 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the Inspiration4 mission. In 2021, he and his family signed The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half their wealth to philanthropic causes. He has also donated to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.