Mike Cannon-Brookes
{{Short description|Australian businessman (born 1979)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox person/Wikidata
| fetchwikidata = ALL |suppressfields=awards
| name = Mike Cannon-Brookes
| image = Mike Cannon-Brookes Australian businessman.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = Cannon-Brookes in 2018
| birth_name = Michael Cannon-Brookes
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| education = Cranbrook School
| alma mater = University of New South Wales
| occupation = CEO of Atlassian
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| known for = Co-founding Atlassian
| boards = Atlassian
| spouse = {{marriage|Annie Todd|2010|2023|end=separated}}
| parents =
| children = 4
| relations =
| website = {{URL|https://Atlassian.com}}
}}
Michael Cannon-Brookes (born 17 November 1979) is an Australian businessman who is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the software company Atlassian.
Since 2018, he has been involved in the Australia-Asia Power Link, a huge electricity infrastructure project to be developed in the Northern Territory by Sun Cable in a collaboration with the businessman Twiggy Forrest.
Early life and education
Michael Cannon-Brookes was born on 17 November 1979 in Connecticut, US.{{Cite web |last=Santoreneos |first=Anastasia |date=26 November 2020 |title=He's worth $18.4 billion - but he won't qualify for this rich list anymore |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/mike-cannon-brookes-rich-list-225544190.html |website=Yahoo! Finance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120135830/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/mike-cannon-brookes-rich-list-225544190.html |archive-date=20 January 2021 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/was-best-and-brightest-young-guns-top-rich-list-ng-b881732607z |title=WA's best and brightest young guns top rich list |date=26 November 2020 |work=The West Australian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423025947/https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/was-best-and-brightest-young-guns-top-rich-list-ng-b881732607z |archive-date=23 April 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last1=Korporaal |first1=Glenda |last2=Swan |first2=David |date=28 July 2023 |title='We should have seen the signs': What's next for Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes? |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/we-should-have-seen-the-signs-whats-next-for-mike-and-annie-cannonbrookes/news-story/07caa68de58e45989e7063c6a5305fb0 |work=The Australian |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230728221025/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/we-should-have-seen-the-signs-whats-next-for-mike-and-annie-cannonbrookes/news-story/07caa68de58e45989e7063c6a5305fb0 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |url-status=live}} The son of a global banking executive, also named Mike, and his wife Helen, he is the youngest of three siblings, with two sisters.{{cite news |title=Michael Cannon-Brookes snr: How I raised a son who became Atlassian billionaire |work=Australian Financial Review |location=Australia |author=Gray, Joanne |url=http://www.afr.com/brand/boss/michael-cannonbrookes-snr-how-i-raised-my-son-to-be-successful-20160515-govjdi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609144459/http://www.afr.com/brand/boss/michael-cannonbrookes-snr-how-i-raised-my-son-to-be-successful-20160515-govjdi|date=9 June 2016 |access-date=9 June 2016 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |url-status=live}} His family relocated to Taiwan when he was six months old, and to Hong Kong when he was three; he later attended boarding school in England. He attended Cranbrook School in Sydney,[https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/cranbrook-school-elite-sydney-institution-eyes-up-major-change/news-story/5839681b318ad52a9faf45b59049e434 Cranbrook School: Elite Sydney institution eyes up major change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206134719/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/cranbrook-school-elite-sydney-institution-eyes-up-major-change/news-story/5839681b318ad52a9faf45b59049e434 |date=6 December 2021 }} News.com.au and graduated from the University of New South Wales{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Brian |date=April 16, 2024 |others=Shoko Oda, David Stringer, Stephen Stapczynski, and Yue Qiu contributed |title=A Software Billionaire Is Betting Big on a Wild Climate Fix |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-04-16/mike-cannon-brookes-s-idea-could-upend-power-grids |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=Bloomberg News}} with a bachelor's degree in information systems on a UNSW co-op scholarship.{{cite web |url=https://www.atlassian.com/company/people |title=Mike Cannon-Brookes: Co-founder & CEO |publisher=Atlassian |access-date=9 June 2016 |archive-date=31 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531232529/https://www.atlassian.com/company/people |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last1=Christian |first1=Natasha |last2=Aidone |first2=David |date=2 August 2019 |title=The Australian universities most likely to make you a multi-millionaire |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/work/revealed-the-australian-universities-most-likely-to-make-you-a-multimillionaire/news-story/0e69f8027e6073b91273754f684f967f |work=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240423031157/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/work/revealed-the-australian-universities-most-likely-to-make-you-a-multimillionaire/news-story/0e69f8027e6073b91273754f684f967f |archive-date=23 April 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}
Career
Before founding Atlassian, Cannon-Brookes co-founded an internet bookmark management tool called The Bookmark Box with his university classmate Niki Scevak. The Bookmark Box was sold to Blink.com in 2000.{{Cite web |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Caitlin |date=25 July 2014 |title=How Atlassian's Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes became software titans |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-atlassians-scott-farquhar-and-mike-cannonbrookes-became-software-titans-20140725-zwo3x.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106103211/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/how-atlassians-scott-farquhar-and-mike-cannonbrookes-became-software-titans-20140725-zwo3x.html |archive-date=6 November 2018 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
Cannon-Brookes co-founded Atlassian, a collaboration software company, of which he is CEO. He and Scott Farquhar started the company in 2002, shortly after graduating from university, funding it with credit cards.{{Cite web|title=Mike Cannon-Brookes|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mike-cannon-brookes/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723010719/https://www.forbes.com/profile/mike-cannon-brookes/|url-status=live}} They have said they founded Atlassian with the aim of earning the then-typical graduate starting salary of {{AUD}}48,000 at the big corporations without having to work for someone else.{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/leadership/accidental-billionaires-why-atlassians-mike-cannonbrookes-and-scott-farquhar-are-so-admired-in-the-startup-industry-20140411-jyrb6 |title=Accidental billionaires: why Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar are so admired in the start-up industry |author=Fitzsimmons, Caitlin |date=12 April 2014 |work=Australian Financial Review |location=Australian |access-date=9 June 2016 |archive-date=6 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606123306/http://www.afr.com/leadership/accidental-billionaires-why-atlassians-mike-cannonbrookes-and-scott-farquhar-are-so-admired-in-the-startup-industry-20140411-jyrb6 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/the-cannonbrookes-balancing-life-as-accidental-billionaires/news-story/34e8a6f144b9072b36073a3caf87a5fb |title=The Cannon-Brookes: balancing life as accidental billionaires |work=The Australian |author=Kitney, Damon |date=27 February 2016 |access-date=9 June 2016 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107015211/https://insight.adsrvr.org/track/up?adv=vrges6n&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsubscribe%2Fnews%2F1%2F%3FsourceCode%3DTAWEB_WRE170_a%26dest%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%252Fbusiness%252Fcompanies%252Fthe-cannonbrookes-balancing-life-as-accidental-billionaires%252Fnews-story%252F34e8a6f144b9072b36073a3caf87a5fb%26memtype%3Danonymous%26mode%3Dpremium%26v21%3DGROUPB-Segment-1-NOSCORE%26V21spcbehaviour%3Dappend&upid=rjdl4pv&upv=1.1.0 |url-status=live }}
Their first major Atlassian product was Jira, an issue- and project-tracking software. They decided to forgo the expense of hiring sales people, and instead spent their time and money on building a good product and selling it at a more affordable price via the Atlassian website.{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Rose |title=Startup War Story: Atlassian ignored bad advice, avoided sales staff and grew fast |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/startup-war-story-atlassian-ignored-bad-advice-avoided-sales-staff-and-grew-fast-20150810-giv9s0 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404061944/https://www.afr.com/technology/startup-war-story-atlassian-ignored-bad-advice-avoided-sales-staff-and-grew-fast-20150810-giv9s0 |url-status=live }} As of 2016, the company still did not have a traditional sales force, investing instead in research and development.{{cite news |last1=McDuling |first1=John |title=The secret to Atlassian's success |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/the-secret-to-atlassians-success-20160805-gqm0kq |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=8 August 2016 |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404064507/https://www.afr.com/technology/the-secret-to-atlassians-success-20160805-gqm0kq |url-status=live }}
In 2005, they opened an office in New York, where most of their clients were. Later in 2005 they moved the U.S. office to San Francisco,{{cite web |last1=McGahan |first1=Donna |title=Atlassian Support – The Legend Continues |url=https://www.atlassian.com/blog/it-teams/atlassian_support_the_legend_continues |website=Atlassian.com |access-date=5 April 2024 |date=10 March 2009 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405040407/https://www.atlassian.com/blog/it-teams/atlassian_support_the_legend_continues |url-status=live }} which had a much larger pool of relevant technical talent.
Their first external funding for Atlassian was a US$60 million round from Accel in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Yolanda Redrup |first1=Yolanda Redrup |title=Atlassian's Scott Farquhar tells founders not to bootstrap |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/atlassian-s-scott-farquhar-tells-founders-not-to-bootstrap-20210506-p57ph1 |access-date=5 April 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=6 May 2021 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405033125/https://www.afr.com/technology/atlassian-s-scott-farquhar-tells-founders-not-to-bootstrap-20210506-p57ph1 |url-status=live }} In 2014, they redomiciled the company to the UK, in advance of an initial public offering (IPO).{{cite web |last1=Conchie |first1=Charlie |title=Software giant Atlassian leaves UK in setback for the City's tech hopes |url=https://www.cityam.com/software-giant-atlassian-leaves-uk-in-setback-for-the-citys-tech-hopes/ |website=City A.M. |access-date=13 April 2024 |date=10 July 2022 |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228000110/https://www.cityam.com/software-giant-atlassian-leaves-uk-in-setback-for-the-citys-tech-hopes/ |url-status=live }}
Atlassian made its debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange in December 2015,{{Cite web |last=Primack |first=Dan |title=And the Price of the Last Big Tech IPO of 2015 Is... |url=http://fortune.com/2015/12/09/atlassian-ipo-price/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211200857/http://fortune.com/2015/12/09/atlassian-ipo-price/ |archive-date=11 December 2015}} with a market capitalisation of $4.37 billion.{{Cite web |title=And the Price of the Last Big Tech IPO of 2015 Is... |url=http://fortune.com/2015/12/09/atlassian-ipo-price/ |access-date=17 December 2018 |magazine=Fortune |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211200857/http://fortune.com/2015/12/09/atlassian-ipo-price/ |url-status=live }} The IPO made Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar Australia's first tech startup billionaires and household names in Australia.{{Cite news |last=Moses |first=Asher |date=15 July 2010 |title=From Uni dropouts to software magnates |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/entrepreneur/from-uni-dropouts-to-software-magnates-20100715-10bsm.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204162406/http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/entrepreneur/from-uni-dropouts-to-software-magnates-20100715-10bsm.html |archive-date=4 December 2013}}{{Cite magazine |last=Finley |first=Klint |title=Atlassian Challenges GitHub to a Fork Fight |url=https://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/12/atlassian-stash/ |url-status=live |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522040906/http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/12/atlassian-stash |archive-date=22 May 2013 |access-date=15 May 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Bowles |first=Nellie |date=13 February 2019 |title=The Strange Experience of Being Australia's First Tech Billionaires |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/technology/atlassian-cannon-brookes-farquhar.html |access-date=18 September 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018124548/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/technology/atlassian-cannon-brookes-farquhar.html |url-status=live }}
Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar redomiciled Atlassian to the United States in 2022. Since September 2024, Cannon-Brookes is the sole CEO of the company after Farquhar stepped down as co-CEO.{{Cite news |last=Biggs |first=Tim |date=26 April 2024 |title=Scott Farquhar to step down as Atlassian co-CEO |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/scott-farquhar-to-step-down-as-atlassian-co-ceo-20240426-p5fmqc.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427114036/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/scott-farquhar-to-step-down-as-atlassian-co-ceo-20240426-p5fmqc.html |archive-date=27 April 2024 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news|work=Australian Financial Review |last=Bennett |first=Tess|title=Farquhar's Atlassian era passes without a grand farewell |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/farquhar-s-atlassian-era-passes-without-a-grand-farewell-20240827-p5k5nv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901173947/https://www.afr.com/technology/farquhar-s-atlassian-era-passes-without-a-grand-farewell-20240827-p5k5nv|date=1 September 2024|archive-date=1 September 2024|url-status=live}} {{As of|2024}}, he owns approximately 20% of Atlassian, with super-voting shares.{{Cite news|work=Reuters |last=Currie|first=Antony |title=Aussie tycoon will blaze new green activist trail |url=https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/aussie-tycoon-will-blaze-new-green-activist-trail-2024-01-02/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240102100725/https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/aussie-tycoon-will-blaze-new-green-activist-trail-2024-01-02/|date=2 January 2024 |access-date=20 December 2024|archive-date=2 January 2024|url-status=live}}
Other activities
Cannon-Brookes started Grok Ventures in 2016 as a family office.{{Cite news |work=The Australian|last=Williams |first=Perry|title=The very private man behind Cannon-Brookes' private firm |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-very-private-man-behind-cannonbrookes-private-firm/news-story/a6da00e55c4381cd67cc5913ca909a75?amp&nk=c3c71645889357e353efe77837102b5a-1694647978 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913233253/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-very-private-man-behind-cannonbrookes-private-firm/news-story/a6da00e55c4381cd67cc5913ca909a75?amp&nk=c3c71645889357e353efe77837102b5a-1694647978|date=13 May 2022 |access-date=22 December 2024|archive-date=13 September 2023|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}} He is a major investor in green projects through his private investing vehicle.{{Cite magazine |last=Gunia |first=Amy |date=7 October 2021 |title=Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes on how Australia could become a renewable energy superpower |url=https://time.com/6104003/mike-cannon-brookes-australia-renewable-energy/ |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007122458/https://time.com/6104003/mike-cannon-brookes-australia-renewable-energy/ |archive-date=7 October 2021 |url-status=live}} In October 2021, he pledged to donate and invest $1.5 billion on climate projects by 2030 to reinforce the COP26 goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=Nick |date=21 October 2021 |title=Mike Cannon-Brookes pledges $1.5b to climate initiatives ahead of COP26 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/mike-cannon-brookes-pledges-1-5b-to-climate-initiatives-ahead-of-cop26-20211020-p591p5.html |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423071952/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/mike-cannon-brookes-pledges-1-5b-to-climate-initiatives-ahead-of-cop26-20211020-p591p5.html/ |archive-date=23 April 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}} He also formed a climate fund called Boundless Earth in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Di Stefano |first=Mark |date=27 June 2024 |title=Money from Mike Cannon-Brookes has so much energy |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/money-from-mike-cannon-brookes-has-so-much-energy-20240627-p5jpb5 |work=Australian Financial Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629001131/https://www.afr.com/rear-window/money-from-mike-cannon-brookes-has-so-much-energy-20240627-p5jpb5 |archive-date=29 June 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Jared |date=26 October 2023 |title='We need to spend less time focused on shutting down coal' to accelerate climate action: Mike Cannon-Brookes |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/we-need-to-spend-less-time-focused-on-shutting-down-coal-to-accelerate-climate-action-mike-cannonbrookes/news-story/9ec9d0129cb4bd262314f3003dbaf514 |work=The Australian |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231026065853/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/we-need-to-spend-less-time-focused-on-shutting-down-coal-to-accelerate-climate-action-mike-cannonbrookes/news-story/9ec9d0129cb4bd262314f3003dbaf514 |archive-date=26 October 2023 |url-status=live}}
Cannon-Brookes is an adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales' School of Computer Science and Engineering.{{Cite web |last=Gilmore |first=Heath |date=9 October 2014 |title=UNSW taps Ori Allon, Mike Cannon-Brookes to nurture start-up culture |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/unsw-taps-ori-allon-mike-cannonbrookes-to-nurture-startup-culture-20140409-zqslj.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020001713/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/unsw-taps-ori-allon-mike-cannonbrookes-to-nurture-startup-culture-20140409-zqslj.html |archive-date=20 October 2019 |url-status=live}} He is also the chairman of Blackbird Ventures, a venture capital firm.{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|last=Waters |first=Cara |date=4 August 2020 |title=Blackbird raises $500m fund, taps Cannon-Brookes to drive expansion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/blackbird-raises-500m-fund-taps-cannon-brookes-to-drive-expansion-20200804-p55ia5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806154430/https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/blackbird-raises-500m-fund-taps-cannon-brookes-to-drive-expansion-20200804-p55ia5.html |archive-date=6 August 2020 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}
In September 2020, it was revealed that Cannon-Brookes was among 35,000 Australians on a Chinese Government "Overseas Key Individuals Database" of prominent international individuals of interest for China.{{Cite news|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|last=Grigg|first=Angus |title=China's social media warfare database lists key Australians|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-s-social-media-warfare-database-lists-key-australians-20200910-p55u95|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405101224/https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-s-social-media-warfare-database-lists-key-australians-20200910-p55u95|date=14 September 2020|access-date=23 April 2024|archive-date=5 April 2024|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Grigg|first=Angus |newspaper=Australian Financial Review|title=Why Mike Cannon-Brookes is on a Chinese military database|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/why-mike-cannon-brookes-is-on-a-chinese-military-database-20200913-p55v5g|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916223817/https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/why-mike-cannon-brookes-is-on-a-chinese-military-database-20200913-p55v5g|date=13 September 2020|access-date=19 September 2020|archive-date=16 September 2020|url-status=live}}
In March 2022, Cannon-Brookes and the billionaire Andrew Forrest invested in the Sun Cable project, to build a solar and battery farm 12,000 hectares (120 km2) in size at Powell Creek, Northern Territory, and a power-cable to link it to Singapore (via Indonesia) leaving Australia at Murrumujuk beach. In January 2023, Sun Cable went into administration owing to disagreements between Cannon-Brookes and Forrest, and in May 2023, Grok Ventures outbid Forrest and others to buy the liquidated company.{{Cite news|work=ABC News AU|title=Sun Cable: Mike Cannon-Brookes wins control of mega solar project after fall-out with Andrew Forrest |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-26/sun-cable-mike-cannon-bookes-andrew-forrest-decision/102396072|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527012120/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-26/sun-cable-mike-cannon-bookes-andrew-forrest-decision/102396072 |archive-date=27 May 2023|date=27 May 2023 |access-date=27 May 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Terzon |first=Emilia |date=5 May 2023 |title=Sun Cable: Why Australia's two richest men are battling to control an unbuilt solar farm |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-04/sun-cable-solar-andrew-twiggy-forrest-cannon-brookes-elliott/102295152 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505013059/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-04/sun-cable-solar-andrew-twiggy-forrest-cannon-brookes-elliott/102295152 |archive-date=5 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=ABC News (Australia)}}
In 2022, Cannon-Brookes became the largest shareholder of the Australian publicly listed energy company AGL, Australia's largest greenhouse gas emitter, in a move to force the company to de-carbonise more quickly.{{Cite news |last=Macdonald-Smith |first=Angela |date=2 May 2022 |title=Cannon-Brookes set to foil AGL demerger |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/cannon-brookes-set-to-foil-agl-demerger-20220502-p5ahok |work=Australian Financial Review |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220502121950/https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/cannon-brookes-set-to-foil-agl-demerger-20220502-p5ahok |archive-date=2 May 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Sonali |date=14 November 2022 |title=Billionaire climate activist wins board fight at Australia's AGL Energy |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/australias-agl-shareholders-back-cannon-brookes-board-picks-2022-11-15 |publisher=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115035059/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/australias-agl-shareholders-back-cannon-brookes-board-picks-2022-11-15/ |archive-date=15 November 2022 |url-status=live}}
= Sports =
In December 2020, Cannon-Brookes bought a minority stake in NBA team Utah Jazz, along with Qualtrics co-founder Ryan Smith.{{Cite magazine|magazine=Forbes|last=Konrad|first=Alex |title=Inside Qualtrics billionaire And bew NBA owner Ryan Smith's plans For the Jazz: 'The front door to Utah' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/12/18/inside-qualtrics-billionaire-ryan-smiths-plans-for-the-utah-jazz/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240427225504/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/12/18/inside-qualtrics-billionaire-ryan-smiths-plans-for-the-utah-jazz/?sh=42f52ffc37c6|date=18 December 2020|archive-date=27 April 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}
In November 2021, he bought a one-third share of Blackcourt League Investments, which owns 75% of the Australian Rugby League team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Ursula |date=21 October 2021 |title=Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes buys stake in South Sydney Rabbitohs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-15/mike-cannon-brookes-buys-rabbitohs-share/100620432 |website=ABC News (Australia) | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115005204/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-15/mike-cannon-brookes-buys-rabbitohs-share/100620432 |archive-date=15 November 2021 |url-status=live}}
Personal life
Cannon-Brookes married Annie Todd, an American fashion designer, in 2010, and they have four children together.{{cite news |last1=Riordan |first1=Primrose |last2=Bailey |first2=Michael |title=Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes faces asset split after separation |url=https://www.afr.com/wealth/people/atlassian-s-mike-cannon-brookes-faces-asset-split-after-separation-20230723-p5dqjh |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402040927/https://www.afr.com/wealth/people/atlassian-s-mike-cannon-brookes-faces-asset-split-after-separation-20230723-p5dqjh |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.atlassian.com/blog/inside-atlassian/impostor-syndrome-as-an-asset|title=Imposter Syndrome as an Asset|website=Atlassian blog|access-date=1 September 2017|archive-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901110702/https://www.atlassian.com/blog/inside-atlassian/impostor-syndrome-as-an-asset|url-status=live}} The couple first met at a Qantas lounge while flying from Sydney to San Francisco.{{cite news |last=Riordan |first=Primrose |date=2023-07-21 |title=Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes to separate |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/mike-and-annie-cannon-brookes-to-separate-20230721-p5dqd1 |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724050827/https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/mike-and-annie-cannon-brookes-to-separate-20230721-p5dqd1 |url-status=live }} Cannon-Brookes and Todd lived in Sydney's eastern suburbs in {{NSWcity|Centennial Park}}. In 2018 they bought Fairwater, Australia's most expensive house for approximately {{AUD}}100 million, next door to Scott Farquhar's {{AUD}}71 million Point Piper harbourside mansion, Elaine. Cannon-Brookes also acquired the 1923-built heritage residence Verona, designed by architect Leslie Wilkinson and located in Double Bay, for {{AUD}}17 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/day-mike-cannon-brookes-paid-100m-fairwater-estate-snapped-17m-double-bay-house-767596/|title=Mike Cannon-Brookes paid $17m for Double Bay house day after he bought $100m Fairwater estate|last=Macken|first=Lucy|date=2018-09-27|website=Domain|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-05|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505223708/https://www.domain.com.au/news/day-mike-cannon-brookes-paid-100m-fairwater-estate-snapped-17m-double-bay-house-767596/|url-status=live}} The house previously belonged to New Zealand philanthropist Pat Goodman. Prior to that, in 2016, Cannon-Brookes had bought the {{AUD}}7.05 million SeaDragon house, built in 1936, also designed by Wilkinson and updated by architect Luigi Rosselli.{{Cite web|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/techie-mike-cannonbrookes-proves-a-sucker-for-fine-real-estate-twice-20170210-gu8x4q/|title=Techie Mike Cannon-Brookes proves a sucker for fine real estate, twice|last=Macken|first=Lucy|date=2017-02-09|website=Domain|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-05-05|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505223717/https://www.domain.com.au/news/techie-mike-cannonbrookes-proves-a-sucker-for-fine-real-estate-twice-20170210-gu8x4q/|url-status=live}} His Centennial Park home sold for {{AUD}}16.5 million.{{cite web | url=https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/australias-most-expensive-house-sells-for-100m-35476 | title=Australia's most expensive house sells for $100m | publisher=NZME Publishing Limited | work=OneRoof | date=September 28, 2018 | access-date=September 29, 2018 | archive-date=29 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929001600/https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/australias-most-expensive-house-sells-for-100m-35476 | url-status=live }} In 2019 he purchased a house near Fairwater for {{AUD}}12 million.{{Cite web|title=Mike Cannon-Brookes buys house next door to Fairwater for $12m|last=Macken|first=Lucy |website=Domain|url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/mike-cannon-brookes-buys-house-next-door-to-fairwater-for-12m-830621/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505223705/https://www.domain.com.au/news/mike-cannon-brookes-buys-house-next-door-to-fairwater-for-12m-830621/|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=May 5, 2019|archive-date=5 May 2019|url-status=live}} He owns a Bombardier Global 7500 jet.{{Cite news|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|last=Di Stefano |first=Mark|title=Cannon-Brookes now travels by private jet |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/cannon-brookes-now-travels-by-private-jet-20250313-p5ljbf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250313074802/https://www.afr.com/rear-window/cannon-brookes-now-travels-by-private-jet-20250313-p5ljbf |date=13 March 2025|access-date=14 March 2025|archive-date=13 March 2025|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|work=The Guardian|last=Readfearn |first=Graham|title=Billionaire climate campaigner Mike Cannon-Brookes defends buying private jet and sponsoring F1 team |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/14/mike-cannon-brookes-f1-williams-sponsorship-atlassian-private-jet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314045516/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/14/mike-cannon-brookes-f1-williams-sponsorship-atlassian-private-jet|date=14 March 2025|access-date=14 March 2025|archive-date=14 March 2025|url-status=live}} Cannon-Brookes separated from his wife Annie in July 2023.
=Recognition=
Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar were recognised as Ernst & Young's 2006 Australian Entrepreneur of the Year.{{cite web |title=The 2006 Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year |url=https://www.ey.com/GLOBAL/content.nsf/Australia/EOY_-_2006_Australian_Entrepreneur_Of_The_Year |website=Ernst & Young |access-date=29 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231164421/https://www.ey.com/GLOBAL/content.nsf/Australia/EOY_-_2006_Australian_Entrepreneur_Of_The_Year |archive-date=31 December 2006}} He is a member of The Forum of Young Global Leaders. In 2023, he was recognised as a "Time100 climate person".{{Cite magazine |date=2023-11-16 |title=TIME100 Climate 2023: Michael Cannon-Brookes |url=https://time.com/collection/time100-climate/6333143/michael-cannon-brookes/ |access-date= |magazine=Time |language=en}}
Net worth
In 2016, Forbes listed him among Australia's 50 richest people with an estimated net worth of {{USD}}1.69 billion; BRW Rich 200 at {{AUD}}2.00 billion; and the Sunday Times Rich List at {{GBP}}906 million.{{cite news|title=Rich List 2016|work=The Sunday Times|issue=44|date=24 April 2016}} In May 2023, the Australian Financial Review estimated his net worth at {{AUD}}19.01 billion. Meanwhile, in 2021, his net worth was assessed at {{USD}}13.7 billion by Forbes and at {{USD}}11.2 billion by Bloomberg.
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See also
{{Portal|Australia}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|mcannonbrookes}}
{{South Sydney Rabbitohs}}
{{Utah Jazz}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon-Brookes, Mike}}
Category:Australian billionaires
Category:Businesspeople from Sydney
Category:People educated at Cranbrook School, Sydney
Category:Rugby league chairmen and investors
Category:Rugby league people in Australia
Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs
Category:University of New South Wales alumni
Category:Australian company founders
Category:Energy company founders