View source for Jared Isaacman

{{short description|American entrepreneur, pilot, and commercial astronaut (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name                = Jared Isaacman
| image               = Jared Isaacman Senate Confirmation Hearing (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Isaacman at his Senate confirmation hearing in April&nbsp;2025
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1983|2|11}}
| birth_place         = [[Summit, New Jersey]], U.S.
| education           = [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]], Worldwide ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| spouse              = Monica Isaacman<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Allentown to orbit: Billionaire buys SpaceX flight, and there is a way to join him |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/2021/02/allentown-to-orbit-billionaire-buys-spacex-flight-and-there-is-a-way-to-join-him.html |access-date=February 22, 2021 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
| children            = 2
| module              = {{Infobox astronaut
| embed       = yes
| type        = [[Commercial astronaut]]<br />[[File:US - FAA Astronaut Wings version 2.png|150px]]
| space_time  = 7 days, 21{{nbsp}}hours, 17{{nbsp}}minutes
|eva1          = 1
|eva2          = 7 minutes, 56{{nbsp}}seconds<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1834191976746352680 |user=planet4589 |title=The hatch open/close time was about 26&nbsp;m 40s. Isaacman was outside hatch for 7 min 56&nbsp;m; Gillis for about 7m15s. |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=September 12, 2024}}</ref>
| missions    = {{ubl |[[Inspiration4]] |[[Polaris Dawn]]}}}}
}}
'''Jared Taylor Isaacman''' (born February 11, 1983) is an American billionaire entrepreneur, pilot, and commercial astronaut. He is the founder and chairman of [[Shift4]] Payments, a [[payment processor]], and the founder of [[Draken International]], which provides adversary training to the [[US Air Force|U.S.]], [[Royal Air Force|British]], and other NATO air forces.<ref name="Tognini 2020">{{Cite news |last=Tognini |first=Giacomo |date=October 7, 2020 |title=Meet The New Billionaire Who Dropped Out of High School and Flies Fighter Jets for Fun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2020/10/07/meet-the-new-billionaire-who-dropped-out-of-high-school-and-flies-fighter-jets-for-fun |access-date=February 1, 2021 |work=Forbes |language=en-US}}</ref> Through his leadership in [[private spaceflight]], Isaacman has been credited with advancing competition in the space industry and reducing reliance on government programs.<ref name="Wall 2024">{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Trump picks billionaire private SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/trump-picks-billionaire-private-spacex-astronaut-jared-isaacman-to-lead-nasa |access-date=December 6, 2024 |website=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Trump taps billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as next NASA administrator |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-jared-isaacman-nasa-administrator/ |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Pallab |date=February 2, 2025 |title=NASA needs saving from itself – but is this billionaire right for that job? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93797z2dpo |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref> As of May 2025, his estimated net worth is US$1.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes profile: Jared Isaacman |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jared-isaacman/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yousif |first=Nadine |last2=Drenon |first2=Brandon |date=December 5, 2024 |orig-date=September 12, 2024 |title=Who is Jared Isaacman, Trump's choice to lead NASA? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ejevknlvvo |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Isaacman commanded [[Inspiration4]] – the first all-civilian spaceflight – using [[SpaceX]]'s [[Crew Dragon Resilience|Crew Dragon ''Resilience'']] which launched from [[Kennedy Space Center]] on September 16, 2021. He later led [[Polaris Dawn]], during which he became the first private citizen to perform a [[Extravehicular activity|spacewalk]].<ref name="Chang 2024">{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=September 12, 2024 |title=First Private Spacewalk in SpaceX Capsule Achieves New Milestone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/science/spacex-polaris-dawn-astronauts-spacewalk.html |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In December 2024, President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as the 15th [[administrator of NASA]].<ref name="White House 2025">{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2025 |title=President Trump Announces Sub-Cabinet Appointments |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/sub-cabinet-appointments/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref> During his April 2025 confirmation hearing, Isaacman emphasized his outsider status and entrepreneurial background, stating his intent to usher in a "new Golden Age of Science and Discovery" at the agency.<ref name="Isaacman 2025">{{Cite web |last=Isaacman |first=Jared |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Opening Remarks at Nominations Hearing for Jared Isaacman to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration |url=https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/AF1E2124-BB39-4160-A28C-1F6CC2F020FD |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]]}}</ref> He faced questions over his close ties to [[Elon Musk]], the founder of SpaceX, one of NASA's largest contractors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Jared Isaacman, Trump's Pick to Lead NASA, Calls Mars a Priority in Confirmation Hearing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/science/nasa-jared-isaacman-confirmation.html |access-date=April 10, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On May 31, Trump, among several actions preceding his [[Elon Musk–Donald Trump feud|feud with Elon Musk]], withdrew Isaacman's nomination to serve as NASA administrator.<ref name="Everett 2025" />

== Early life ==
Isaacman was born on February 11, 1983, at [[Overlook Medical Center|Overlook Hospital]] in [[Summit, New Jersey]], to Donald and Sandra Marie Isaacman.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2011 |title=Jared Isaacman |url=https://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/jared-isaacman |access-date=August 12, 2024 |work=Business Jet Traveler |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Private Astronauts Biography:Jared Isaacman |url=http://spacefacts.de/bios/tourists/english/isaacman_jared.htm |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=spacefacts.de}}</ref> He is the youngest of four children. His family lived in [[Union Township, Union County, New Jersey|Union Township]] before moving to [[Westfield, New Jersey]], around 1987, and later to the [[Liberty Corner, New Jersey|Liberty Corner]] section of [[Bernards Township, New Jersey|Bernards Township]] when he was 12.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union County Clerk's Office Public Land Records |url=https://clerk.ucnj.org/UCPA/DocIndex |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=clerk.ucnj.org}}</ref>

He attended Wilson Elementary School in Westfield and William Annin Middle School in Bernards Township.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Remy |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Billionaire Space Explorer, Westfield Alum Visits Wilson School |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/westfield/billionaire-space-explorer-westfield-alum-visits-wilson-school |access-date=September 18, 2024 |website=Westfield, NJ [[Patch Media|Patch]] |quote=Jared Isaacman, the Westfield native who orbited Earth on the 'Resilience' mission last fall, visited Wilson Elementary on Wednesday. [...] Besides attending Westfield Public Schools from kindergarten through sixth grade many years ago, Isaacman was the commander of an all-civilian crew of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, dubbed Resilience, that orbited Earth last September.}}</ref> While a student at [[Ridge High School]], he launched a computer services business with a friend. At age 16, he left school to work full-time, later earning a [[General Educational Development|GED]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Jake |date=February 10, 2021 |title=Billionaire journeys from Ridge High School to space |url=https://www.newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/billionaire-journeys-from-ridge-high-school-to-space/article_7f0147ca-8267-5efc-be8d-6a51591f9c32.html |access-date=September 18, 2024 |website=Bernardsville News |quote=When Jared Isaacman dropped out of Ridge High School more than 20 years ago to pursue a successful career in business, it seemed like the sky was the limit.... In the same interview, he also mentioned his former hometown of Bernards Township.}}</ref> He received a bachelor's degree with a major in professional aeronautics from the fully online [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]], Worldwide Campus, in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Mark |date=March 31, 2021 |title=2 ERAU grads will crew SpaceX Inspiration 4 rocket launch later this year |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/03/31/2-erau-grads-ride-into-space-aboard-spacex-dragon-rocket/4806451001/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |work=[[The Daytona Beach News-Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 13, 2024 |title=Who is Jared Isaacman, NJ-born billionaire who just did first-ever private spacewalk? |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/spacex-jared-isaacman-polaris-dawn-spacewalk/5789074/?os=i&ref=app |access-date=September 19, 2024 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>

== Business career ==
In 1999, Isaacman founded United Bank Card, later renamed Harbortouch and then [[Shift4]] Payments, a point-of-sale payments company. He has served as CEO since its inception. By 2015, the company was generating $300 million in revenue and processing $11 billion annually.<ref name="Segran 2015">{{Cite news |last=Segran |first=Elizabeth |date=April 13, 2015 |title=Meet The Fighter-Jet-Flying 32-Year-Old On Top Of The Payments Industry |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3044942/meet-the-fighter-jet-flying-32-year-old-on-top-of-the-payments-industry |access-date=August 23, 2020 |work=Fast Company}}</ref> By 2020, it had scaled to $200 billion in payments per year.<ref name="Tognini 2020" /> In the same year, Isaacman took Shift4 public and began processing payments for SpaceX's satellite-internet business, [[Starlink]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maidenberg |first=Micah |date=February 22, 2025 |title=The Thrill-Seeking Billionaire and SpaceX Astronaut Poised to Run NASA |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/nasa-spacex-trump-musk-isaacman-14c6aebc?mod=space-astronomy_news_article_pos3 |access-date=March 9, 2025 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2012, Isaacman co-founded [[Draken International]], a Florida-based defense aerospace company that operated one of the world’s largest fleets of privately owned [[fighter jet]]s.<ref name="Segran 2015" /><ref name="Whitford 2017">{{Cite news |last=Whitford |first=David |date=October 25, 2017 |title=This Founder Owns the World's Largest Private Fleet of Fighter Jets – and That's Just One of His Companies |url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201709/david-whitford/2017-inc5000-draken-international.html |access-date=August 23, 2020 |work=[[Inc.com]]}}</ref> The company provided adversary training to U.S. military pilots and managed hundreds of millions in defense contracts, which Isaacman said saved taxpayers billions of dollars.<ref name="Isaacman 2025" />

== Aeronautics and astronautics ==

===Pilot===
[[File:Mikoyan-Gurevich 9-51 MiG-29UB (N29UB, cn 50903014896) (7-28-2023).jpg|thumb|Isaacman's [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29UB]] performing at [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]] in 2023]]
Isaacman is flight-qualified in multiple [[Military aircraft|military jet aircraft]] and has logged over 7,000 flight hours. He co-founded the '''Black Diamond Jet Team''',<!-- Black Diamond Jet Team links here --> in 2010, which performs at [[airshow]]s.<ref name="Whitford 2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burghardt |first=Thomas |date=February 1, 2021 |title=SpaceX announces Inspiration4, all-civilian space mission in support of St Jude's Hospital |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02/spacex-announces-inspiration4/ |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=NasaSpaceFlight.com}}</ref> He made two attempts to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet, achieving the record in 2009 with a time of 61 hours, 51 minutes, and 15 seconds—about 20 hours faster than the previous record.<ref name="Segran 2015" /><ref name="Schillaci 2009" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2009 |title=Warren County pilot back at Morristown Airport after breaking world flight record |url=https://www.nj.com/news/local/2009/04/pilot_back_at_morristown_airpo.html |access-date=August 23, 2020 |work=New Jersey Local News}}</ref> He received the call sign "Rook" during fighter jet training.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Amy |date=September 15, 2021 |title=Inspiration4's call signs: The crew of SpaceX's all-civilian mission have special nicknames |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-inspiration4-call-signs |access-date=September 15, 2021 |website=Space.com}}</ref>

===Private spaceflight===
====Inspiration4====
[[File:Inspiration4 crew visits NASA's JSC.jpg|thumb|Isaacman (second from left) with his [[Inspiration4]] crewmates at the [[Johnson Space Center]].]]

In February 2021, Isaacman announced he would command [[Inspiration4]], the first orbital mission with no professional astronauts aboard. Operated by SpaceX using the Crew Dragon spacecraft, it launched on September 15, 2021, and orbited Earth for three days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=February 1, 2021 |title=To Get on This SpaceX Flight, You Don't Have to Be Rich, Just Lucky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/science/spacex-jared-isaacman.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202002329/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/science/spacex-jared-isaacman.html |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=February 1, 2021 |title=SpaceX announces first 'free flyer' human spaceflight |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/spacex-announces-first-free-flyer-human-spaceflight/ |access-date=February 2, 2021 |work=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Amy |date=September 16, 2021 |title=SpaceX launches four civilians into orbit on historic Inspiration4 flight |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-inspiration4-civilian-orbital-mission |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911222303/https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-inspiration4-civilian-orbital-mission |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024 |work=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=September 18, 2021 |title=SpaceX's private Inspiration4 mission splashes down safely in Atlantic Ocean |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/18/watch-spacex-livestream-inspiration4-splashdown-crew-dragon-returns.html |access-date=October 6, 2024 |work=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> During the mission, Isaacman placed the first known sports bets from space.<ref name="Musto 2021">{{Cite news |last=Musto |first=Julia |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Inspiration4 leader places first-ever sports bet from space |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/inspiration4-leader-places-first-ever-sports-bet-from-space.amp |access-date=September 17, 2021 |work=[[Fox Business]]}}</ref> The flight raised over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause Isaacman championed throughout the mission.<ref name="Isaacman 2025" />

====Polaris Dawn====
In 2024, Isaacman led [[Polaris Dawn]], the first mission in the privately funded [[Polaris program|Polaris Program]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kluger |first=Jeffrey |date=August 23, 2021 |title=Inside Inspiration 4 |url=https://time.com/magazine/us/6089812/august-23rd-2021-vol-198-no-7-u-s/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102033351/https://time.com/magazine/us/6089812/august-23rd-2021-vol-198-no-7-u-s/ |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |magazine=Time}}</ref> The four-person crew reached a peak altitude of {{cvt|1400|km}}, farther away from Earth than any human has gone since the last time Americans walked on the Moon, before lowering to {{cvt|700|km}}. On September 12, Isaacman and crewmate [[Sarah Gillis]] performed the first private [[extravehicular activity]] (EVA), becoming the first civilians to conduct a spacewalk, technically a Stand-up EVA (SEVA) as at no point did either crew-member fully exit the spacecraft.<ref name="Chang 2024" /> Over the five-day flight, the crew conducted 40 science experiments and demonstrated Starlink laser-based communications in orbit.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rabie |first=Passant |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Who is Jared Issacman? 29 facts about the billionaire going to orbit with SpaceX |url=https://www.inverse.com/science/jared-isaacman-spacex-codex |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Inverse |publisher=Bustle Digital Group}}</ref><ref name="Musto 2021" />

== Administrator-nominee of NASA ==
[[File:Jared Isaacman Senate Confirmation Hearing (NHQ202504090003).jpg|thumb|Isaacman speaks at his confirmation hearing.]]
On December 4, 2024, Isaacman was nominated by President-elect [[Donald Trump]] to serve as the 15th [[Administrator of NASA|administrator]] of [[NASA]], marking the first time a president-elect had named a nominee for the position before taking office.<ref name="Wall 2024" /> His nomination was formally submitted on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.<ref name="White House 2025" /> This made Trump both NASA's earliest and most-recent nominating president, following the September 2017 selection of [[Jim Bridenstine]] during his first presidency.

Isaacman's nomination received broad support from both political and aerospace circles. Senator [[Ted Cruz]], chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]], received endorsements from 24 former astronauts, [[Alabama]] governor [[Kay Ivey]], and a coalition of southern governors urging swift confirmation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=March 25, 2025 |title=Momentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/momentum-seems-to-be-building-for-jared-isaacman-to-become-nasa-administrator/ |access-date=March 27, 2025 |work=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}</ref> However, critics raised concerns about his ties to SpaceX and Elon Musk, fearing NASA might prioritize a [[SpaceX Mars colonization program|Mars landing driven by SpaceX's ambitions]] at the expense of the [[Artemis program|Artemis]] mission to the [[Moon]] and other programs.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Glazer |first1=Emily |last2=Maidenberg |first2=Micah |date=March 29, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's Mission to Take Over NASA—and Mars |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-nasa-mars-space-travel-d3978a7b?st=5fvXpv |access-date=April 3, 2025 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> These concerns intensified following Musk's calls to decommission the [[International Space Station]] and for abandonment of lunar exploration in favor of accelerated [[Mars]] missions, statements that provoked sharp criticism from Cruz.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=February 20, 2025 |title=Elon Musk recommends that the International Space Station be deorbited ASAP |url=https://arstechnica.com/features/2025/02/elon-musk-recommends-that-the-international-space-station-be-deorbited-asap/ |access-date=March 27, 2025 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}</ref>

In a March 12 letter to the Senate, Isaacman pledged to resign from his role at Shift4 and cancel the remaining Polaris Program missions if confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isaacman |first=Jared |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Letter to Iris Lan, Designated Agency Ethics Official of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration |url=https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/bbdae8a26e62760d/3edd888b-full.pdf |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> He reiterated this commitment during his April 9 confirmation hearing, and assured lawmakers that the Artemis and [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] programs would remain top priorities under his leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roulette |first=Joey |date=April 7, 2025 |title=Trump's NASA nominee backs US moon program in talks with lawmakers, sources say |url=https://www.reuters.com/science/trumps-nasa-nominee-backs-us-moon-program-talks-with-lawmakers-sources-say-2025-04-07/ |access-date=April 7, 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="Berger 2025">{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=April 9, 2025 |title=NASA nominee asks why lunar return has taken so long, and why it costs so much |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/04/isaacman-sls-and-orion-are-not-a-long-term-solution-for-nasa/ |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref>

Over nearly three hours of testimony, Isaacman presented a vision of revitalizing NASA with a "mission-first" culture focused on efficiency, innovation, and strategic leadership in space. While expressing support for [[Artemis II]] and [[Artemis III|III]] using the [[Space Launch System]] rocket and the [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion spacecraft]], he questioned the long timelines and high costs of these systems, asking, "Why is it taking us so long, and why is it costing us so much to go to the Moon?" Isaacman advocated for data-driven reviews of their future roles, signaling that they may not be viable long-term solutions for deep space exploration. He also pledged to extend the life of the ISS through 2030 and expand scientific output through public-private partnerships. Pressed by senators on restructuring, conflicts of interest, and the rationale for Mars exploration, Isaacman emphasized transparency, independence, and a dual-track approach to Moon and Mars.<ref name="Berger 2025" /> Isaacman also opposed a proposal by the White House to cut 50% of NASA's science budget and 20% of their overall budget in 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 25, 2025 |title=Isaacman calls potential NASA science cuts not "optimal" |url=https://spacenews.com/isaacman-calls-potential-nasa-science-cuts-not-optimal/ |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=SpaceNews}}</ref>

When asked by [[Ed Markey]] about his ties to Musk, Isaacman denied that they were close, adding that he had not disclosed his plans for NASA to Musk, and that he had only been interviewed by Trump when offered the job.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=April 10, 2025 |title=Senator grills Jared Isaacman, Trump's pick for NASA chief, about Elon Musk's involvement in his job interview (video) |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/watch-senator-grill-jared-isaacman-trumps-pick-for-nasa-chief-about-elon-musks-involvement-in-his-job-interview-video |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=Space}}</ref> However, when asked by Markey whether or not Musk was present at his interview with Trump, Isaacman refused to directly answer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=April 25, 2025 |title=Senators press Jared Isaacman, Trump's pick for NASA chief, on his ties to Elon Musk |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/senators-press-jared-isaacman-trumps-pick-for-nasa-chief-on-his-ties-to-elon-musk |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=Space}}</ref>

The committee also brought up an incident where Isaacman had been arrested at the Canadian border in 2010 for [[Cheque fraud|fraudulent checks]], with Isaacman responding that he had resolved the issue and the charges were dropped. Court records also revealed that Isaacman had been sued four times for check fraud. Isaacman responded saying that the cases were resolved and that the behavior was in his past.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2025 |orig-date=2025-04-25 |title=Trump's nominee for NASA administrator was once arrested, accused of passing bad checks to casinos |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-nominee-nasa-administrator-was-accused-passing-bad-checks-casinos-2025-04-25/ |access-date=April 26, 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

Isaacman passed the Senate Committee vote 19–9 on April 30.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 2025 |title=Billionaire Isaacman takes big step toward leading NASA |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg30dlp1vo |access-date=April 30, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

On May 31, ''[[Semafor (website)|Semafor]]'' reported that the [[White House]] had withdrawn Isaacman's nomination.<ref name="Everett 2025">{{Cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Talcott |first2=Shelby |date=May 31, 2025 |title=White House to pull NASA nominee Isaacman |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/05/31/2025/white-house-expected-to-pull-nasa-nominee-isaacman |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=[[Semafor (website)|Semafor]]}}</ref> Trump later stated that the withdrawal was due to Isaacman's "prior associations", referring to his past political donations to Democratic candidates.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |author-link1=Jonathan Swan |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |last3=Chang |first3=Kenneth |date=May 31, 2025 |title=Trump to Withdraw Musk's Ally as Nominee for Top NASA Job |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/us/politics/trump-nasa-nominee-musk.html |access-date=May 31, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Trump had been aware of those donations during his [[Second presidential transition of Donald Trump|presidential transition]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Mac |first2=Ryan |date=June 1, 2025 |title=Trump Is Said to Have Known About NASA Nominee's Donations Before Picking Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/us/politics/trump-musk-isaacman-nasa.html |access-date=June 1, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> A White House spokesperson defended the decision, stating that it was "essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda". However ''[[Ars Technica]]'' reported that the withdrawal was a way to punish Elon Musk, as the decision came just days after he announced he would be pulling back from his role in the Trump Administration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=May 31, 2025 |title=Trump pulls Isaacman nomination for space. Source: "NASA is f***ed." |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/05/trump-pulls-isaacman-nomination-for-space-source-nasa-is-fed/ |access-date=June 2, 2025 |work=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Axios (website)|Axios]]'' corroborated this claim, adding that Trump advisor and Musk critic [[Sergio Gor]] was a major driving figure behind Isaacman's rescinded nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Caputo |first1=Marc |last2=Isenstadt |first2=Alex |last3=Kight |first3=Stef W. |date=June 6, 2025 |title=The White House adviser who fueled the Trump-Musk NASA feud |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/06/06/trump-musk-feud-nasa-white-house-aide |access-date=July 2, 2025 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>

On October 9, ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' reported that Isaacman had met with Trump several times to discuss the possibility of reconsidering his nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grush |first=Loren |last2=Ludlow |first2=Edward |last3=Dlouhy |first3=Jennifer A. |date=October 9, 2025 |title=Billionaire Isaacman Met With Trump Over Top NASA Job |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-09/billionaire-isaacman-said-to-talk-with-trump-over-top-nasa-job |access-date=October 15, 2025 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Reuters]]'' corroborated the report several days later, stating that Isaacman had been interviewed by acting NASA administrator [[Sean Duffy]] as a potential successor in the role.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2025 |title=Former NASA nominee Jared Isaacman in talks to become agency's chief |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-nasa-nominee-jared-isaacman-171642537.html |access-date=October 15, 2025 |website=Yahoo News |agency=Reuters}}</ref> However, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' added that a power struggle between Isaacman and Duffy began brewing for the permanent position, with particular attention being garnered in light to the report of Duffy's alleged desire to fold NASA into the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glazer |first=Emily |last2=Andrews |first2=Natalie |last3=Maidenberg |first3=Micah |date=October 20, 2025 |title=The Power Struggle Over Who Will Run NASA Is Turning Ugly |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-nasa-administrator-conflict-b7df4877 |access-date=October 21, 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Kristen |date=2025-10-27 |title=Sean Duffy irks White House as drama over top job at NASA seeps into public view |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/27/politics/sean-duffy-nasa-transportation |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=CNN}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
In 2021, Isaacman financed the first all-civilian mission to orbit to benefit [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]].<ref name="Gose 2022" /> Isaacman commanded the three-day spaceflight and raised over $250 million for St. Jude, pledging over $100 million of his own money.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neale |first1=Rick |date=May 22, 2024 |title=Private astronaut Jared Isaacman gives 'unbelievable' donation to Brevard Space Force museums |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2024/05/22/inspiration4s-jared-isaacman-gives-big-donation-to-space-force-museums-in-brevard-county-florida/73712370007/ |access-date=September 2, 2025 |work=Florida Today}}</ref>

That same year, Isaacman and his family signed [[The Giving Pledge]], an agreement to donate at least half their fortune to [[Philanthropy|philanthropic]] causes.<ref name="Gose 2022" />

He also donated $10 million to the [[U.S. Space & Rocket Center]], the Huntsville, Alabama museum and education center that offers [[Space Camp (United States)|Space Camp]], which Isaacaman attended as a child.<ref name="Gose 2022">{{cite news |last1=Gose |first1=Ben |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Billionaire's space trip brought $125M to St. Jude hospital |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/feb/11/billionaires-space-trip-brought-125m-to-st-jude-ho/ |access-date=September 2, 2025 |work=Chronicle of Philanthropy |publisher=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> He donated $10 million in 2021 to the [[National Naval Aviation Museum]] Foundation in honor of Navy pilot [[Dale Snodgrass]].<ref name="Gose 2022" /> Isaacman made another donation to the center in 2025, giving $15 million to fund programs for students and a new dormitory for Space Camp.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Giving Pledge Adds 14 Billionaires to Philanthropist List |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/giving-pledge-adds-14-billionaires-to-philanthropist-list |accessdate=September 26, 2025 |work=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |publisher=Philanthropy.com |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Isaacman is Jewish, though he has stated he is not religious.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=September 15, 2021 |title=How to practice religion could be a big question for some space tourists |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/tech/spacex-inspiration-4-religion-in-space-scn/index.html |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=CNN}}</ref> He is married to Monica Isaacman and has two daughters.<ref name="Isaacman 2025" /> Isaacman has been a resident of [[Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey|Washington Township, New Jersey]].<ref name="Schillaci 2009">{{Cite news |last=Schillaci |first=Sarah |date=April 10, 2009 |title=Warren County man attempts flight around globe in record time |url=https://www.nj.com/news/local/2009/04/warren_county_man_tries_a_thir.html |access-date=February 4, 2021 |work=New Jersey Local News |agency=Star Ledger}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* [[National Business Aviation Association]]'s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award 2023<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=O'Connor |first=Kate |date=October 18, 2023 |title=NBAA Presents Jared Isaacman with 2023 Meritorious Service to Aviation Award |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/nbaa-presents-jared-isaacman-with-2023-meritorious-service-to-aviation-award/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=Flying |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2025 |title=NBAA Supports Jared Isaacman's Nomination as NASA Administrator |url=https://nbaa.org/2025-press-releases/nbaa-supports-jared-isaacmans-nomination-as-nasa-administrator/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=National Business Aviation Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Foreign Policy Research Institute]]'s Benjamin Franklin Award 2024<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 13, 2024 |title=18th Annual Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Service |url=https://www.fpri.org/event/2024/save-the-date-the-dawn-of-a-new-space-age/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=Foreign Policy Research Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[National Space Society]]'s Space Pioneer Award 2023<ref name="National Space Society 2025">{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2025 |title=Polaris Dawn Astronaut Jared Isaacman to Keynote and Receive Award at the NSS Annual Conference |url=https://nss.org/polaris-dawn-astronaut-jared-isaacman-to-keynote-and-receive-award-at-the-nss-annual-conference/ |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=National Space Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
* National Space Society's Wernher von Braun Memorial Award 2025<ref name="National Space Society 2025" />
* [[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association|Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association's]] R.A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Hoover Trophy, other honors bestowed |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2025/april/pilot/events-celebrating-aviators |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |language=en}}</ref>
* Space Omics and Medical Atlas Torchlight Award 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Overbey |first1=Eliah |last2=Zarin |first2=Eitan |date=April 8, 2025 |title=Torchlight Award: Jared Isaacman |url=https://uatxastronautics.substack.com/p/torchlight-award-jared-isaacman |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=UATX Astronautics}}</ref>
* [[Living Legends of Aviation]] Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2022 |title=Jared Isaacman to receive "Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award" at annual Living Legends of Aviation event |url=https://living-legends-of-aviation.myshopify.com/blogs/press-releases/jared-isaacman-to-receive-eren-ozmen-entrepreneur-of-the-year-award-at-annual-living-legends-of-aviation-event |access-date=August 13, 2025 |website=Living Legends of Aviation |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space]]'' (2021 Netflix documentary series)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category multi|Jared Isaacman|Black Diamond Jet Team}}
* 2008/2009 World Record attempts [http://speedaroundtheworld.com/ website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219074136/http://speedaroundtheworld.com/ |date=December 19, 2008 }}
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/tourists/english/isaacman_jared.htm Tourist Biography: Jared Isaacman (Spacefacts)]
* [https://www.netflix.com/title/81441273 ''Countdown: Inspiration4: Mission to Space''] at Netflix
* {{IMDb name}}

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[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:American astronauts]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:Commercial astronauts]]
[[Category:Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University alumni]]
[[Category:Inspiration4]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bernards Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Washington Township, Warren County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Westfield, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Ridge High School alumni]]
[[Category:Second Trump administration personnel]]
[[Category:American secular Jews]]
[[Category:SpaceX astronauts]]
[[Category:Spacewalkers]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]