Billionaire Jared Isaacman: The Visionary Behind SpaceX's Inspiration4 Mission

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Did you catch billionaire Jared Isaacman's television commercial during the Super Bowl on Sunday? He bought a 30-second spot to tell people about "the world's first all-civilian" space mission. He purchased all four seats on the upcoming SpaceX mission dubbed Inspiration4. Why? Well, it's all for a good cause! He's hoping to raise $200 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to fight childhood cancer. He's so serious about this mission that he donated the first $100 million himself. The mission will take place aboard a SpaceX Dragon rocket and is set to launch at the end of 2021. This mission is not just about raising money for St. Jude; it represents the culmination of a childhood dream of going to space.

Fewer than 600 people have been to space since the first manned space flight in 1961. Now, in 2021, we are entering a new era of space travel, where it is opening up to commercial flights for regular people who can afford it. Jared Isaacman will be one of the first non-astronauts to travel to outer space. He and three other people will be the passengers on the first of many commercial space flights, with Inspiration4 set to orbit the Earth.

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Biography of Jared Isaacman

Detail	Information
Name	Jared Isaacman
Date of Birth	February 11, 1983
Birthplace	New Jersey, USA
Education	GED
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Pilot
Companies Founded	Harbortouch, Shift4Payments
Family	Married, two daughters

Jared Isaacman was born in New Jersey and attended high school in Far Hills, Somerset County. As a young teenager, he started working on computers, providing technical support and repairs. By the age of 16, he was offered a full-time job by one of his clients, prompting him to drop out of high school to pursue this opportunity while obtaining his GED.

In 1999, Isaacman founded his first company from his parents' basement. This venture evolved into a retail payment processing company known as United Bank Card, which later became Harbortouch and then Shift4Payments. Today, he serves as the CEO of Shift4Payments, which processes billions in payments annually for a significant portion of the U.S. restaurant and hotel industry, including big names like Hilton and KFC.

Aside from his business endeavors, Isaacman is also a skilled pilot. He co-founded Draken International, which trains military pilots and maintains a fleet of fighter jets. His passion for aviation is evident, as he previously flew with the Black Diamond Jet Team, showcasing his love for flying.

Isaacman is married and has two daughters, reflecting his commitment to family alongside his adventurous spirit. In 2008, he attempted to set a world record for flying around the globe in a light jet. Although he narrowly missed the mark, he succeeded the following year, completing the journey in record time and raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

His lifelong ambition to go to space played a significant role in his decision to purchase all four seats on SpaceX's first commercial flight. Isaacman hopes to use this mission not only to fulfill a dream but also to raise substantial funds for St. Jude Children's Hospital. The identities of the other three passengers remain undisclosed, with plans to reveal them in March.