Marc Benioff, born on September 25, 1964, in San Francisco, California, exhibited entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. At 15, he founded Liberty Software, creating and selling video games for the Atari 8-bit, with royalties helping to fund his college education.
Benioff graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1986. During his time at USC, he interned at Apple, where he wrote assembly code for the Macintosh, an experience that profoundly influenced his future endeavors.
Career at Oracle and the Birth of Salesforce
After college, Benioff joined Oracle Corporation, where he spent 13 years in various roles, including sales, marketing, and product development. At 23, he was named Oracle’s Rookie of the Year and later became the company’s youngest vice president. Despite his success, Benioff envisioned a new model for enterprise software delivery. In 1999, he founded Salesforce from a San Francisco apartment, introducing the revolutionary concept of delivering software over the internet, coining the term “The End of Software.”
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Pioneering Cloud Computing
Salesforce’s introduction of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model transformed the software industry. By offering customer relationship management (CRM) solutions via the cloud, Salesforce eliminated the need for complex installations and maintenance. Under Benioff’s leadership, Salesforce expanded its offerings, including the development of a platform for third-party applications, solidifying its position as a leader in cloud computing.
Philanthropy and the 1-1-1 Model
Benioff is renowned for integrating philanthropy into his business model. He established the Salesforce Foundation and the 1-1-1 model, dedicating 1% of the company’s equity, 1% of its product, and 1% of employees’ time to charitable causes. This approach has inspired over 20,000 companies to adopt similar philanthropic commitments.
Together with his wife, Lynne, Benioff has donated hundreds of millions to various causes, including a $100 million contribution to UCSF Children’s Hospital and significant investments in climate change initiatives and homelessness research.
Ownership of Time Magazine and Investment Ventures
In 2018, Marc and Lynne Benioff acquired Time magazine for $190 million, aiming to preserve its journalistic integrity and legacy.
Benioff also founded Time Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in companies focused on sustainability and innovation, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Universal Hydrogen.
Advocacy and Social Impact
Benioff is an outspoken advocate for social issues. He has taken stands on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, gender pay equity, and homelessness. Notably, he opposed Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015 and has committed substantial resources to address homelessness in San Francisco.
Recognition and Awards
Benioff’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including being named “Innovator of the Decade” by Forbes and one of the “World’s 25 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune. He has also been recognized by the Harvard Business Review as one of the “10 Best-Performing CEOs” and was appointed a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur by the French government.
Personal Life
Marc Benioff is married to Lynne Benioff, and they have two children. The family resides in San Francisco, California. Benioff is a second cousin of television writer David Benioff, known for co-creating the series “Game of Thrones.”
Marc Benioff’s visionary leadership and commitment to social responsibility have not only transformed the tech industry but have also set a new standard for integrating business success with philanthropic efforts.
