Early Life and Education
Michael J. Saylor was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on February 4, 1965. He spent his childhood on various Air Force bases around the world due to his father's military career. He graduated from high school at the top of his class. Saylor attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a full Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship, earning dual degrees in aeronautics & astronautics and science, technology, and society in 1987.
Rise to Success
After graduating from MIT, Saylor worked briefly in consulting before founding MicroStrategy in 1989 with Sanju Bansal. The company initially focused on data mining and business intelligence software. MicroStrategy went public in 1998. In August 2022, Saylor transitioned from the role of CEO to Executive Chairman, to focus on Bitcoin acquisition strategy.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy under Saylor’s leadership has been MicroStrategy's investment in Bitcoin. Since August 2020, the company has made significant Bitcoin purchases, positioning itself as one of the largest corporate holders of the cryptocurrency. Saylor has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, viewing it as a store of value. In 2024, the company rebranded from MicroStrategy to Strategy.
Philanthropy
In 1999, Saylor established The Saylor Foundation (now known as Saylor Academy), which provides free online education to students worldwide. The foundation offers courses covering a wide range of topics.
