Bob Parsons

$4.07 B

Ranked #1016 in World

About Bob Parsons

Robert Ralph Parsons, born November 27, 1950, overcame a financially troubled childhood in Baltimore to become a renowned American entrepreneur, billionaire, and philanthropist. After a challenging early life, punctuated by military service in Vietnam, he excelled academically and founded the successful firms Parsons Technology and GoDaddy. His ventures, covering technology, golf, and motorcycle dealerships, have cemented his status in multiple industries. Through YAM Worldwide, Parsons extends his influence into real estate and media production, while his philanthropic efforts via The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation notably assist disaster relief, veterans, and community projects in Phoenix. Despite varied political contributions, he's faced controversies over his conduct and GoDaddy's advertising.

Born

November 27, 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Age

75 years

Source Of Wealth

Web Hosting

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Scottsdale, Arizona

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, University of Baltimore

Spouse

Renee Parsons

Robert Ralph Parsons, born on November 27, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland, had a challenging upbringing. His parents' gambling habits led to financial struggles, and he nearly flunked out of high school. Seeking a change, Parsons enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a rifleman in Vietnam.

During his time in Vietnam, Parsons was wounded in action and received several honors, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and Purple Heart. After completing his military service, he returned to the United States and pursued higher education. Parsons obtained an accounting degree from the University of Baltimore in 1975, graduating magna cum laude.

Bob Parsons: Family

Robert Parsons is married to Renee Parsons, and together they have established The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The foundation focuses on disaster relief, veterans, and the Phoenix community, making it one of Arizona's biggest givers.

Bob Parsons: Career Highlights

Parsons' entrepreneurial journey began in 1984 when he founded Parsons Technology in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The company developed MoneyCounts, a home accounting program, and grew to 1,000 employees. In 1994, Parsons sold Parsons Technology to Intuit, Inc. for $64 million.

Building on his success, Parsons founded GoDaddy in 1997, an Internet domain registrar and web hosting company. Under his leadership, GoDaddy grew exponentially, and in 2011, Parsons sold approximately 70% of the company to a private equity consortium. He stepped down as CEO in 2014 and fully relinquished his board seat in 2018.

In 2012, Parsons established YAM Worldwide, Inc., based in Scottsdale, Arizona. YAM Capital serves as the private lending and investment arm of YAM Worldwide. Additionally, Parsons acquired Martz Agency, a public relations firm, and rebranded it to BIG YAM, The Parsons Agency. He also launched Sneaky Big Studios in Scottsdale for production, post-production, and recording studio services. Furthermore, Parsons established The YAMWOOD Foundry for custom furniture, signs, and lighting fixtures.

Parsons' ventures extend to motorcycle dealerships.

Through YAM Worldwide subsidiaries, he operates Harley-Davidson and multi-brand motorcycle dealerships. He is the founder and CEO of Spooky Fast Customs, specializing in customized motorcycle designs and fabrications. In 2015, Parsons announced plans to build the "world's largest Harley-Davidson dealership" in Scottsdale, which successfully opened the same year.

Parsons has a passion for golf, which led him to purchase The Golf Club Scottsdale in 2013 and rename it Scottsdale National Golf Club. He acquired adjacent properties for expansion and plans to construct a new clubhouse, practice facility, and second golf course. In 2015, Parsons launched Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), a high-end golf club manufacturing company.

Parsons' real estate holdings are substantial. YAM Properties has acquired over 675,000 square feet of commercial real estate in Arizona's Valley of the Sun region. Notable properties include Scottsdale Grayhawk Center, Citadelle Plaza, Arrowhead Professional Center, McDowell Mountain Marketplace, Centerpoint on Mill, Hayden Station, The Cornerstone shopping center, Westgate Entertainment District, and Shops at Norterra.

Bob Parsons: Companies

Parsons Technology
GoDaddy
YAM Worldwide, Inc.
Spooky Fast Customs
Scottsdale National Golf Club
Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG)
YAM Properties

Bob Parsons: Major Achievements

Founded Parsons Technology and sold it for $64 million.
Founded GoDaddy and grew it into a multi-billion dollar company.
Established YAM Worldwide, Inc. and its various subsidiaries.
Launched Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), a successful golf club manufacturing company.
Acquired and expanded Scottsdale National Golf Club.
Built the "world's largest Harley-Davidson dealership" in Scottsdale.
Established The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, making significant contributions to various charitable causes.

Bob Parsons: Awards & Achievements

Combat Action Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Purple Heart
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (1995)
Arizona State University Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (2015)
Phoenix Business Journal's Most Admired CEO (2016)
Arizona Gives Day's Philanthropist of the Year (2017)

Bob Parsons: Personal Life & Legacy

Robert Parsons is known for his philanthropic efforts through The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

He and his wife, Renee, have donated over $10 million annually, supporting numerous charities and causes. Parsons is also an avid golfer and has made significant contributions to the sport through his golf club manufacturing company, Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG).

Bob Parsons: Trivia

Parsons was a Marine Corps drill instructor before serving in Vietnam.
He is a licensed pilot and owns several aircraft, including a Boeing 737.
Parsons is a car enthusiast and owns a collection of classic and exotic vehicles.
He is a fan of the Arizona Cardinals football team and the Phoenix Suns basketball team.
Parsons has been involved in several controversies, including criticism for his social media posts and GoDaddy's advertising practices.

Wealth History

Timeline

November 27, 1950

Robert Ralph Parsons is born in Baltimore, Maryland.

1975

Parsons obtains an accounting degree from the University of Baltimore, graduating magna cum laude.

1984

Parsons founds Parsons Technology in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

1994

Parsons sells Parsons Technology to Intuit, Inc. for $64 million.

1997

Parsons founds GoDaddy, an Internet domain registrar and web hosting company.

2011

Parsons sells approximately 70% of GoDaddy to a private equity consortium and resigns as CEO.

2012

Parsons founds YAM Worldwide Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona.

2013

Parsons purchases The Golf Club Scottsdale and renames it Scottsdale National Golf Club.

2014

Parsons steps down from his position as Executive Chairman of GoDaddy.

2015

Parsons launches Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), a high-end golf club manufacturing company.

2018

Parsons fully relinquishes his board seat at GoDaddy.

Bob Parsons : FAQs

What is Bob Parsons's current net worth?

Bob Parsons's current net worth is $4.07 billion.

What is Bob Parsons's current global rank among billionaires?

Bob Parsons holds the 1016th position globally among billionaires.

What is Bob Parsons's current ranking within the United States?

Bob Parsons holds the 381st position in United States.

What was the change in Bob Parsons's net worth compared to the previous year?

Bob Parsons's net worth decreased by 0 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 4.07 billion dollars.

What are Bob Parsons's main sources of wealth?

Bob Parsons's main source of income comes from Web Hosting.

In which industry does Bob Parsons primarily operate?

Bob Parsons is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Bob Parsons educational background?

Bob Parsons holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from the University of Baltimore.

How old is Bob Parsons?

Bob Parsons is 75 years old.

Who is Robert Ralph Parsons and what is his significance?

Robert Ralph Parsons, born on November 27, 1950, is an American entrepreneur, billionaire, and philanthropist known for founding major companies such as Parsons Technology and GoDaddy.

What struggles did Robert Parsons face in his early life and how did he overcome them?

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Parsons faced financial struggles due to his parents' gambling habits. Despite nearly flunking out of high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, served as a rifleman in Vietnam, and later obtained an accounting degree magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore in 1975.

How did Robert Parsons' company, Parsons Technology, contribute to the tech industry?

Robert Parsons founded Parsons Technology in 1984, created MoneyCounts, a home accounting program, grew the company to 1,000 employees, and sold it to Intuit, Inc. for $64 million in 1994.

What are the key achievements of Robert Parsons with GoDaddy and YAM Worldwide?

Robert Parsons founded GoDaddy in 1997, became a leading internet domain registrar and web hosting company, and sold a majority stake in 2011. He later founded YAM Worldwide in 2012, establishing ventures in private lending, advertising, studio production, and custom manufacturing.

What philanthropic efforts has The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation undertaken?

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, established in 2012, focuses on disaster relief, veterans, and the Phoenix community, donating over $10 million annually and supporting various charities including Hope for Haiti, Semper Fi Fund, and Phoenix Children's Hospital.