David Duffield

$8.49 B

Ranked #420 in World

About David Duffield

David Arthur Duffield, a renowned tech entrepreneur from New Jersey, has pioneered multiple successful ventures contributing significantly to the software industry. A Cornell University alumnus, Duffield's illustrious career began at IBM, followed by the founding of several companies, including PeopleSoft and Workday. His PeopleSoft venture, acquired by Oracle for $10.7 billion, positioned him as a key player in enterprise software. Committed to philanthropy, Duffield established Maddie’s Fund and the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, promoting animal welfare and supporting community initiatives. His benevolence extends to education, with substantial donations to Cornell University, fostering interdisciplinary studies and animal behavior research. Duffield's passion for innovation and giving back is recognized with multiple accolades, including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Born

September 21, 1940

Age

85 years

Source Of Wealth

Business Software

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

Incline Village, Nevada

Education

Bachelor of Engineering, Cornell University; Master of Business Administration, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

David Arthur Duffield was born on September 21, 1940, in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. He grew up in the same town and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1958. Duffield went on to earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Cornell University.

David Duffield: Family

David Duffield is married to Cheryl Duffield. The couple has a Miniature Schnauzer named Maddie, who inspired the creation of Maddie's Fund, an animal welfare organization.

David Duffield: Career Highlights

Duffield started his career at IBM as a marketing representative and systems engineer. He then founded Information Associates, which developed university exam scheduling software. His next venture was Integral Systems, which became a top higher education human resources management system vendor. Duffield also founded Business Software Corporation, providing real-time human resources and payroll applications.

David Duffield: Companies

Duffield is known for co-founding PeopleSoft in 1987, where he served as CEO and board chairman. PeopleSoft grew to be the world's second-largest application software company before being acquired by Oracle in January 2005 for $10.7 billion. After that, Duffield co-founded Workday, Inc. in 2005 with Aneel Bhusri. Workday provides financial management, human capital management, and planning software as a service (SaaS). In 2017, Duffield founded his sixth company, Ridgeline, which provides industry cloud software for investment management.

David Duffield: Major Achievements

Duffield's major achievements include co-founding PeopleSoft and Workday, two successful software companies. He is also known for his philanthropic efforts through Maddie's Fund, the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, and Cornell University.

David Duffield: Awards & Achievements

Duffield has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to the business world. These include the 1998 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, the 2013 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recipient, and the 2018 Cornell Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

David Duffield: Personal Life & Legacy

Duffield currently resides near Lake Tahoe after living in Alamo, California from 2005 to 2016.

He is known for his passion for animal welfare, education, and community service.

David Duffield: Trivia

Duffield's Miniature Schnauzer, Maddie, was the inspiration behind the name of Maddie's Fund, an animal welfare organization that he and his wife established in 1994. The organization has since become a leading funder of animal welfare initiatives in the United States.

Wealth History

Timeline

September 21, 1940

David Arthur Duffield is born in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.

1958

Graduates from Ridgewood High School.

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Earns a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Cornell University.

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Starts his career at IBM as a marketing representative and systems engineer.

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Founds Information Associates, which develops university exam scheduling software.

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Founds Integral Systems, which becomes a top higher education human resources management system vendor.

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Founds Business Software Corporation, providing real-time human resources and payroll applications.

1987

Co-founds PeopleSoft, serving as CEO and board chairman.

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PeopleSoft grows to be the world's second-largest application software company.

January 2005

PeopleSoft is acquired by Oracle for $10.7 billion.

2005

Co-founds Workday, Inc. with Aneel Bhusri.

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Workday provides financial management, human capital management, and planning software as a service (SaaS).

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Workday is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with over 17,500 employees.

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Duffield serves as co-CEO, chief customer and employee advocate, chairman of the board, and chairman emeritus.

2017

Founds Ridgeline, his sixth company.

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Ridgeline is headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada, and provides industry cloud software for investment management.

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Ridgeline employs approximately 400 people in various locations.

1994

Establishes Maddie's Fund with his wife Cheryl, named after their Miniature Schnauzer.

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Maddie's Fund focuses on animal welfare, collaboration, and innovation.

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Endows Maddie's Fund with over $345 million, spending over $275 million through FY2022-23.

2016

Establishes the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (DCDF).

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DCDF supports animal welfare agencies, pet shelters, local schools, and community organizations.

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Makes significant grants during the COVID-19 pandemic and Lake Tahoe forest fires.

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Financing the construction of Liberty Dogs, a service dog training campus in Reno, Nevada, opening in 2026.

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Pledges over $68 million to Cornell University, Dave's alma mater.

1997

Donates $20 million for interdisciplinary engineering and scientific research.

2020

Establishes the Duffield Family Cornell Promise Scholarship.

2022

Pledges $12.1 million to launch the Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior.

1998

Receives the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

2013

Receives the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

2018

Receives the Cornell Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

N/A

Marries Cheryl Duffield.

2005-2016

Resides in Alamo, California.

2016-Present

Resides near Lake Tahoe.

David Duffield : FAQs

What is David Duffield's current net worth?

David Duffield's current net worth is $8.49 billion.

What is David Duffield's current global rank among billionaires?

David Duffield holds the 420th position globally among billionaires.

What is David Duffield's current ranking within the United States?

David Duffield holds the 162nd position in United States.

What was the change in David Duffield's net worth compared to the previous year?

David Duffield's net worth decreased by 3.69 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 12.17 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in David Duffield's net worth?

David Duffield's net worth decreased by 128.17 million dollars recently, a 1.51% decrease, with his net worth standing at 8.49 billion dollars.

What are David Duffield's main sources of wealth?

David Duffield's main source of income comes from Business Software.

In which industry does David Duffield primarily operate?

David Duffield is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is David Duffield educational background?

David Duffield holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

How old is David Duffield?

David Duffield is 85 years old.

How many children does David Duffield have?

David Duffield has 10 children.

Who is David Arthur Duffield and what are his notable contributions to technology?

David Arthur Duffield is an American entrepreneur known for co-founding PeopleSoft and Workday, Inc. He made significant contributions to the development of enterprise software and software as a service (SaaS), particularly in human resources and financial management systems.

What philanthropic efforts has David Duffield made, particularly in animal welfare?

David Duffield established Maddie's Fund, a foundation focused on animal welfare, with a contribution of over $345 million. Additionally, the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation supports animal shelters, local schools, and community organizations, and is funding the creation of Liberty Dogs, a service dog training campus.

What impact did David Duffield have at Cornell University as an alumnus?

David Duffield has made substantial donations to Cornell University, totaling over $68 million, funding interdisciplinary research and establishing scholarships and institutes, including a $12.1 million pledge to launch the Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior.

Can you tell us about David Duffield's career milestones in the tech industry?

David Duffield has an impressive career in the tech industry, founding multiple companies including PeopleSoft and Workday. He started at IBM and transitioned to entrepreneurship, creating software for higher education and achieving significant success with his enterprise software companies.