Early Life
Charles William Ergen was born on March 1, 1953, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned an MBA from Wake Forest University. Before his career in the satellite industry, Ergen worked as a financial analyst for Frito-Lay from 1976 to 1978.
Rise to Success
In 1980, Ergen co-founded EchoSphere Corporation with his future wife, Cantey McAdam, and Jim DeFranco, selling satellite dishes. The company later became EchoStar Communications Corporation. In 1995, EchoStar went public and launched its first satellite, giving birth to Dish Network. Ergen served as CEO of Dish Network until May 2011, resumed the role in March 2015, and stepped down again in December 2017. He is currently the Chairman of EchoStar.
Key Business Strategies
Ergen is known for his strategic acquisitions and his focus on the wireless spectrum. He was instrumental in acquiring a DBS license in 1992, which allowed EchoStar to have its own geostationary orbital slot. Under his leadership, Dish Network introduced two-way high-speed internet access and DVR technology.
Philanthropy
Ergen founded The Telluray Foundation in 2003.
