Tom Preston-Werner

$1.00 B

Ranked #3151 in World

About Tom Preston-Werner

Thomas Preston-Werner, an American billionaire, software developer, and serial entrepreneur born on May 27, 1979, in Dubuque, Iowa, stands out as a pivotal figure in the tech industry. Best recognized as the co-founder and past CEO of GitHub, alongside Chris Wanstrath, P. J. Hyett, and Scott Chacon in 2008, Preston-Werner has significantly contributed to the free and open-source software community. Despite facing controversy, including his resignation from GitHub in 2014 amid harassment allegations, his impact extends beyond with creations such as Gravatar and the TOML configuration file format. Beyond his technical contributions, he's committed to philanthropy, adhering to The Giving Pledge. Preston-Werner’s journey from a challenging childhood to reshaping the software development landscape underscores his profound influence on the tech world.

Born

October 28, 1979 in Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.

Age

46 years

Source Of Wealth

Software

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

United States

Residence

San Francisco, California

Education

Drop Out, Harvey Mudd College

Spouse

Theresa Preston-Werner

Children

Thomas Preston-Werner was born on May 27, 1979, in Dubuque, Iowa. He grew up in the same city. Tragically, his father passed away when he was still a child. His mother was an educator, and his stepfather was an engineer. Preston-Werner completed his high school education at Dubuque Senior High School before attending Harvey Mudd College for two years. However, he decided to drop out of college to pursue other endeavors.

Tom Preston-Werner: Family

Thomas Preston-Werner is married to Theresa, a former graduate student in cultural anthropology. She is actively involved in historical research and social subjects. Together, they have two sons and reside in San Francisco.

Tom Preston-Werner: Career Highlights

Preston-Werner is an American billionaire software developer and entrepreneur. He is widely recognized as the founder and former CEO of GitHub, a prominent platform for software development and version control. In 2008, he co-founded GitHub alongside Chris Wanstrath, P. J. Hyett, and Scott Chacon. His expertise in search functionality, gained during his time at Powerset, significantly improved GitHub's search capabilities.

Prior to GitHub, Preston-Werner founded Gravatar in 2004, an online service that provides globally recognized avatars for users across different platforms. In 2007, he sold Gravatar to Automattic, the company behind WordPress. Additionally, he worked at Powerset, a natural language processing company acquired by Microsoft. Notably, Preston-Werner declined a substantial bonus and stock options from Microsoft to focus on GitHub.

Tom Preston-Werner: Companies

Preston-Werner has been involved with several notable companies throughout his career. He is best known for co-founding GitHub, where he served as the CEO until 2014. Additionally, he founded Gravatar and co-founded Chatterbug, a language-learning software company, with former GitHub co-founders.

Tom Preston-Werner: Major Achievements

Preston-Werner's contributions to the tech industry are significant. He is credited with creating Gravatar, the TOML configuration file format, Jekyll, and SemVer. These innovations have had a profound impact on software development and version control practices.

Tom Preston-Werner: Awards & Achievements

Preston-Werner's accomplishments have garnered recognition and accolades.

He was named one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business" by Fast Company in 2012. Furthermore, he was recognized as one of the "50 Most Influential People in Tech" by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2013.

Tom Preston-Werner: Personal Life & Legacy

Preston-Werner is known for his commitment to philanthropy. He has pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes through The Giving Pledge. Additionally, he is an active contributor to the free and open-source software community, demonstrating his dedication to advancing technology for the greater good.

Tom Preston-Werner: Trivia

Preston-Werner is an influential figure in open-source developer and hacker culture. He has shared his philosophies and opinions on various issues through articles and guest appearances on podcasts such as Rubyology and SitePoint. Notably, he was an initial member of the San Francisco group IcanhazRuby (ICHR) and is credited with creating the TOML configuration file format.

Wealth History

Timeline

May 27, 1979

Thomas Preston-Werner is born in Dubuque, Iowa.

2004

Preston-Werner founds Gravatar.

2005

Preston-Werner moves to San Francisco to work at Powerset.

2007

Gravatar is sold to Automattic.

2008

Preston-Werner co-founds GitHub with Chris Wanstrath, P. J. Hyett, and Scott Chacon.

2014

Preston-Werner resigns from GitHub due to allegations of harassment.

2015

Preston-Werner co-founds Chatterbug with former GitHub co-founders.

Tom Preston-Werner : FAQs

What is Tom Preston-Werner's net worth?

As of 2025, Tom Preston-Werner's net worth was $1.00 billion.

What are Tom Preston-Werner's main sources of wealth?

Tom Preston-Werner's main source of income comes from Software.

In which industry does Tom Preston-Werner primarily operate?

Tom Preston-Werner is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Tom Preston-Werner educational background?

Tom Preston-Werner is a dropout from Harvey Mudd College.

How old is Tom Preston-Werner?

Tom Preston-Werner is 46 years old.

How many children does Tom Preston-Werner have?

Tom Preston-Werner has 3 children.

Who is Thomas Preston-Werner and what is he best known for?

Thomas Preston-Werner is an American billionaire software developer and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of GitHub, the world's leading software development platform.

What significant contributions has Thomas Preston-Werner made to the tech community?

Thomas Preston-Werner has made significant contributions including the creation of Gravatar, the TOML configuration file format, Jekyll for static site generation, and Semantic Versioning (SemVer), alongside his active contribution to free and open-source software.

What led to Thomas Preston-Werner's resignation from GitHub?

Thomas Preston-Werner resigned from GitHub in 2014 following allegations of harassment by a former GitHub employee, Julie Ann Horvath. An internal investigation confirmed some of the allegations related to inappropriate conduct, leading to his resignation.

What endeavors did Thomas Preston-Werner pursue after leaving GitHub?

After leaving GitHub, Thomas Preston-Werner co-founded Chatterbug, a language-learning software. He also remains active in the tech community, hosting AMA events for student hackers and continuing his philanthropic commitments.

How has Thomas Preston-Werner's early life and career shaped his professional journey?

Growing up in Dubuque, Iowa, facing personal challenges such as the loss of his father, and attending Harvey Mudd College, Thomas Preston-Werner's early life and career, including founding Gravatar and working at Powerset, have profoundly influenced his entrepreneurial path and contributions to the tech world.