Taking computer programmers under his wings since he was young, Jack Dorsey has been running two tech heavyweights – Twitter & Square. 

Currently, CEO of Twitter and mobile payments company, Square, Dorsey has proved himself a versatile personality in the tech world. As a tech mogul, Jack has spent his whole life trying to change the world for the better with technology.

Jack was technology enthusiast from a young age

Jack Dorsey was born on 19th November 1976 in St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Tim Dorsey, was a worker at a mass spectrometers developing company, while his mother, Marcia, was a homemaker. His family has Italian roots. He was raised Catholic and sent to Catholic High School and Bishop DuBourg High School.

By age 14, he developed an interest in dispatch routing. A few open source software that Dorsey created in dispatch logistics’ area are still being used by numerous cab companies. 

He attended Missouri University of Science and Technology before transferring to the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. However, he later dropped out of college to start a company.

Dorsey began his own business; a company to dispatch taxis, couriers, & emergency services from the web. Around that time, his other projects included the networks of medical devices & “Frictionless Market”. He was fascinated by the technological challenge of real-time communication.

Dorsey’s net worth reached a billion not long after Twitter launch

Co-founders of Twitter Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone clad in black Tuxedo, pose for a picture

After he dropped out from college, he headed to Oakland, California, where he came up with an idea that would combine broad reach of dispatch software with instant messaging ease.

Dorsey approached Silicon Valley company called Odeo to pitch his concept. Later, Dorsey collaborated with former Odeo executive Biz Stone and Odeo co-founder Evan Williams to start a new company called Obvious that later evolved into Twitter.

Within just two weeks, Dorsey built a simple site where the users could post short messages limiting up to 140 characters. He posted world’s first tweet: ‘just setting up my twttr’ on 21 March 2006.

Jack Dorsey posted the first tweet in 2006 after creating the site in 14 days after they planned

In October 2008, Williams took over the CEO position, while Dorsey became the chairman of the board. In 2011, Dorsey returned as an Executive Chairman and Williams was replaced by Dick Costolo as chairman. After Costolo’s departure from the position, Dorsey became the permanent CEO of Twitter.

A founder is not a job, it’s a role, an attitude.

– Jack Dorsey

Dorsey later developed a small business platform, Square, that allows people to receive credit card payments through a small device plugged into their mobile or PC.

Twitter may have revolutionized the way people communicate but its pioneer isn’t done yet. He says, in terms of technology, we’re going to see better and more immediate experiences every day.

What is the reason behind Jack Dorsey’s declining net worth?

Is Jack Dorsey gay?

Jack Dorsey has reached his forties but he has still no plans or intentions of getting married. While his attention has been divided into two tech giants, he has had a few relationship over the years. He has an on and off relationship with actress Kate Greer. Jack started seeing Kate in 2010.

Dorsey also dated British model and actress Lily Cole for six months. Rumors have also surfaced that Jack is gay and is dating Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson.