Bob Parsons
Robert Ralph Parsons (born November 27, 1950) is an American entrepreneur, billionaire, and philanthropist. In 1997, he founded the GoDaddy group of companies, including Internet domain name registrar GoDaddy.com, reseller registrar Wild West Domains, and Blue Razor Domains.[1] In July 2011, Parsons sold approximately 70 percent of GoDaddy to a private equity consortium and resigned his position as CEO.[2][3] In June 2014, he stepped down from his position as Executive Chairman and served on the board until 2018.[2][4][5][6]
For other people with the same name, see Robert Parsons.
Bob Parsons
Entrepreneur
Founder of GoDaddy.com
Founder of YAM Worldwide, Inc.
Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
Founder of Parsons Xtreme Golf
Renee Parsons
Parsons is the founder and CEO of YAM Worldwide, Inc., which is home to his entrepreneurial ventures in the fields of powersports, golf, real estate, and marketing.[7]
In 2012, Parsons and his wife Renee founded The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which provides funding, primarily in the greater Phoenix area, to nonprofit organizations.[8] 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.[9]
As of September 2023, Parsons is ranked No. 314 on the Forbes 400 list of The Richest People in America.[10]
Parsons Technology[edit]
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.[20]
Political activities[edit]
Parsons is a registered Independent.[64]
In 2012, Parsons donated $1 million to Restore Our Future, Mitt Romney's Super PAC.[65]
On December 8, 2016, Parsons donated $1 million to 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee.
[66]
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."[67] In an interview with Esquire magazine in 2023, Parsons stated that he was "no longer a fan" of Trump, and was neither a Democrat nor a Republican.[64] He added that in retrospect, the U.S. president that he thinks most highly of is former U.S. President Barack Obama.[64]
Controversies[edit]
In 2011, Parsons was criticized by animal rights and other groups for tweeting a video in which he shoots and kills an elephant on a safari in Zimbabwe.[68][69] In response, Parsons said, "elephants are not endangered and probably there are too many of them."[70] According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora elephants are listed as Schedule II.[71] Parsons was unapologetic and believed the controversy would not harm his company, saying "For anyone leaving GoDaddy, someone new has come. It has had minimal impact—and probably overall, I see it as a net positive. All publicity is good publicity if you’re [in] the right. I can’t quantify it for you. I didn’t do this to promote GoDaddy."[72]
GoDaddy was criticized as sexist for advertising practices between its first Super Bowl ad in 2005 through the company's IPO in 2014.[73] "The Go Daddy girl was my idea," Parsons said. "I told the ad agency, I want a really well-endowed, good-looking gal in a tight T-shirt, with our name right across her breasts."[74] He used his blog to draw attention to ads that were rejected from television as too racy.[75]