“One of the best times at a start-up is when you've got the eight people in the basement eating Chinese food and everybody kind of shares knowledge, and you share in your successes and failures together, and you learn together.”

American entrepreneur, pilot, and commercial astronaut

Jared Isaacman is an American entrepreneur, pilot, and commercial astronaut. Born in 1983, he founded Shift4 Payments and later served as its chief executive until 2025. He also became known for co-founding Draken International, and since December 2025 he has served as the 15th administrator of NASA. His work spans payments, aviation, and spaceflight. Shift4 Payments grew under his leadership, while Draken International provides adversary training to the U.S. and other air forces. Forbes estimated his net worth at US$1.5 billion in April 2025, reflecting his place as a prominent business figure as well as a public-facing pilot and astronaut.