David Sacks

David Sacks is a prominent American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and podcaster, best known as a member of the PayPal Mafia and a co-founder of Geni.com and the venture capital firm Craft Ventures. He gained further public recognition as a co-host of the popular technology and business podcast The All In Podcast. His career spans key roles in major technology companies, including serving as the Chief Operating Officer of PayPal and as an early investor and board member at Uber, Yammer, and SpaceX.

Early life and education

He was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved to the United States as a child, growing up in Tennessee. He attended the University of Chicago, where he earned a degree in economics and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School, graduating in 1998. During his time at Stanford University, he was an editor for the Stanford Law Review and developed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship.

Career

His professional career began at the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. In 1999, he joined Confinity, which soon merged with X.com to become PayPal. He served as PayPal's first Product Manager and later its Chief Operating Officer, playing a critical role in the company's growth before its acquisition by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. Following the PayPal exit, he founded Geni.com, a genealogy and social networking website, which was later acquired by MyHeritage. In 2006, he co-founded the enterprise social networking service Yammer, serving as its Chief Executive Officer until its acquisition by Microsoft in 2012 for $1.2 billion. He then turned to venture capital, co-founding Craft Ventures in 2017, a firm that has invested in companies like Uber, SpaceX, and Affirm. He is also a co-host of The All In Podcast, a show featuring discussions on technology, economics, and politics with fellow investors.

Political views and activism

He is known for his involvement in political and cultural commentary, often expressing views aligned with a conservative or libertarian perspective. He was a significant donor and fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis during the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. Previously, he supported the presidential campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy and has been critical of certain Democratic Party policies, particularly regarding regulation and foreign policy. He has used his platform on The All In Podcast and social media to advocate for reduced government spending, a more restrained foreign policy, and skepticism towards environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing principles. His political activism also includes supporting organizations focused on free speech and opposing what he views as cancel culture.

Personal life

He is married to Jacqueline Tortorice, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs. The couple has three children and resides in San Francisco, California. He is an avid student of history and geopolitics, interests frequently reflected in his podcast discussions and public commentary. Outside of his professional and media endeavors, he maintains a relatively private family life.

Works and publications

While not a traditional author, his primary published works are in the form of podcast episodes and public speeches. He is a co-producer and co-host of The All In Podcast, which consistently ranks among the top business podcasts on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. He has authored influential internal memos and presentations during his tenure at companies like PayPal and Yammer, which were circulated within the Silicon Valley community. His commentary and investment theses are frequently cited in financial and technology media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, and TechCrunch.

Category:American entrepreneurs Category:American venture capitalists Category:PayPal