Lindell, Mike

Lindell, Mike
Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Mike Lindell
Birth name	Michael James Lindell
Birth date	1961
Birth place	Mankato, Minnesota, United States
Occupation	Businessman, inventor, political activist
Known for	Founder of MyPillow; political advocacy regarding the 2020 United States presidential election

Lindell, Mike is an American entrepreneur and political activist best known as the founder and chief executive officer of MyPillow and for his prominent advocacy tied to the 2020 United States presidential election. He has been a frequent media presence, aligning with conservative figures and organizations and engaging in legal disputes and public controversies. Lindell’s career spans manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and high-profile political engagement.

Early life and education

Lindell was born in Mankato, Minnesota and raised in Mankato Township, Minnesota and later in Battle Creek, Michigan and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served in the United States Air Force during the 1980s and has recounted periods of substance addiction and recovery that intersected with rehabilitation programs in Hennepin County, Minnesota facilities and faith-based recovery communities in Minnesota. Lindell attended vocational programs and business seminars in the Twin Cities region and has referenced influences from speakers associated with Evangelical Protestantism and Televangelism networks.

Business career and MyPillow

Lindell founded MyPillow, Inc. after developing an inner-fill material and holding prototype demonstrations at events such as state fairs and regional retail shows across Minnesota and the Midwestern United States. He scaled production in facilities located in Shakopee, Minnesota and other manufacturing sites, employing workers drawn from local communities including veterans and recovery program participants. MyPillow expanded distribution through retail partnerships with chains like Walmart, QVC, The Home Shopping Network, and specialty stores, while Lindell leveraged infomercial marketing strategies similar to those used by Ron Popeil and other direct-response marketers. He received recognition from organizations such as the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and participated in trade associations representing small manufacturers.

Political activity and advocacy

Lindell’s political engagement includes support for Republican Party candidates and alignment with figures like Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and commentators associated with Fox News and other conservative media outlets. He has supported policy initiatives promoted by organizations such as Turning Point USA and has appeared at events hosted by groups connected to conservative activism and evangelical leaders. Lindell has donated to political campaigns and causes associated with Minnesota Republican Party efforts and national ballot initiatives, and he has collaborated with strategists linked to Conservative Political Action Conference affiliates and state-level political operatives. His advocacy extended to media collaborations with hosts from One America News Network, Newsmax, and syndicated conservative talk-radio personalities.

Role in 2020 election controversies and legal issues

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Lindell publicly promoted claims regarding voting systems and election outcomes, engaging with cybersecurity researchers and consultants including figures who have testified before state legislatures and committees such as those in Arizona and Georgia. He supported legal challenges involving attorneys who appeared before courts in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin and aligned with litigators associated with cases heard in federal courts and state supreme courts. Lindell sponsored events and produced documentary-style media alleging vulnerabilities in voting infrastructure manufactured by companies like Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, leading to defamation litigation brought by those corporations in New York and Virginia venues. He faced business consequences including partnerships terminated by retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond and media distribution changes involving QVC and CW Network affiliates. Lindell also engaged with civil suits and subpoenas from state attorneys general in jurisdictions including Minnesota while coordinating with legal teams drawing from networks of election litigation counsel and independent forensic consultants.

Media appearances and public persona

Lindell has maintained a visible media profile with regular appearances on Fox Business Network, Newsmax, and One America News Network, as well as interviews with personalities from The Joe Rogan Experience-adjacent circles and conservative podcasters. He produced and promoted documentary projects and hosted conferences featuring speakers from conservative think tanks and activist organizations, often joined by political operatives, former administration officials, and commentators. Lindell’s public persona blends entrepreneurship with activism, drawing commentary from journalists at outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and MSNBC, and prompting analysis from academics at institutions such as Harvard University and Stanford University. His branding and rhetoric have generated both support among segments of the conservative movement and criticism from advocacy organizations focused on electoral integrity, civil liberties groups, and nonprofit watchdogs.

Category:1961 births Category:American businesspeople Category:Living people