Early Life
Jon Yarbrough was born in either 1956 or 1957. He has a bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University. His first entrepreneurial experience was selling with Southwestern Advantage. Yarbrough started his career in the gaming industry by purchasing a foosball table and striking a deal with a bar in Cookeville, Tennessee, to split proceeds from games played by the bar's clients.
Rise to Success
In 1991, Yarbrough founded Video Gaming Technologies (VGT). The business grew due to the proliferation of tribal casinos, and Yarbrough says he's worked with around 35 tribes in 100-plus locations over the years. In October 2014, he sold VGT to Aristocrat Leisure for $1.28 billion. This deal marked a significant milestone, solidifying his success as a prominent entrepreneur in the gaming industry. After selling his company, he has since expanded into private investments, technology ventures, and philanthropy.
Key Business Strategies
Yarbrough's success can be attributed to several key strategies. He focused on the underserved Native American casino operators. He combined tailored game design with revenue-sharing partnerships that allowed tribal gaming to scale rapidly across the United States. Yarbrough's focus on technology stocks since 1987 has also played a crucial role in his wealth accumulation.
Philanthropy
Jon Yarbrough is involved in charitable work through his family foundation. The Yarbrough Family Foundation supports arts, education, and human services across numerous U.S. cities and states. The foundation is based in Franklin, TN.
