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Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano

T. Golisano
-0.8% | - $-38.57M
$4.8 B ₹ 43,666 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #871 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Tom Golisano

Gender

Male

Age

84Y

Country

United States

Born On

November, 1941

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Payroll Services)

Primary Organization

Paychex

Titles

Founder (Former)

Sources of Wealth

Paychex

Industry

Finance, Software, Human Resources, Sports, Philanthropy

About Tom Golisano


B . Thomas "Tom" Golisano is a self-made American billionaire who founded Paychex, a leading provider of payroll and human resources services for small and medium-sized businesses. He founded the company in 1971 with a small amount of capital, after identifying a major market opportunity. He realized that large payroll providers like ADP were focused on big corporations, leaving the vast market of small businesses underserved. He built Paychex to specifically cater to this market, offering an affordable and easy-to-use payroll processing service.

His strategy was a massive success, and he built Paychex into a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded company. After retiring from his executive role at Paychex, he has focused on philanthropy and his passion for sports and politics. He is the former owner of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also been a prominent political figure in New York, running for governor of the state three times as an independent candidate. He is a major philanthropist, with his name adorning numerous hospitals and educational institutions, particularly in his home state of New York.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder of the payroll and HR services giant Paychex.
  • A self-made billionaire, he started the company in 1971.
  • Built his business by catering to the underserved small business market.
  • Former owner of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.
  • Has run for governor of New York three times as an independent.

Early Life and Background


Bartholomew 'Tom' Golisano is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former Executive Chairman of Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX), a global leader in payroll and human resources (HR) services. His career is rooted in accounting, finance, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Golisano holds an associate degree in Business Administration from Alfred State College. His philosophical approach centers on scale, technological efficiency, and long-term commitment to streamlining business services (pioneering the outsourced payroll model for small businesses). He founded Paychex in 1971 with only $3,000 in seed capital.

  • Paychex, Inc. (Founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in payroll, HR, and benefits outsourcing for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
  • Service Pioneer: His success is built on scale service delivery and dominating the domestic market for affordable, automated business services.
  • Academic Background: He holds an associate degree in Business Administration.
  • Philanthropy: He is a major donor to healthcare, education, and political causes (funding the Golisano Children's Hospitals).

Career Journey of Tom Golisano


Tom Golisano's strategic genius was his commitment to solving small business pain points. He founded Paychex in 1971, successfully building it into a global force by pioneering the concept of outsourced, cost-effective payroll services for small businesses. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the scale payroll and HR services model that transformed how SMEs manage compliance and employee administration. The company successfully executed its IPO on the NASDAQ.

He retired from the executive board (remaining a major shareholder) to focus on philanthropy and political advocacy. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global business services and technology sector.

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Tom Golisano's Timeline


1971:

Founds Paychex, Inc. with $3,000 in seed capital (Founding).

1983 (approx.):

Paychex executes its successful IPO on the NASDAQ (Financial Milestone).

2000s:

Tom Golisano expands his philanthropic commitment (Philanthropic Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and major shareholder, guiding the global service giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Tom Golisano's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and retained stake in the publicly traded service giant, Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX), and his private investments.

  • Paychex, Inc. (Founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in payroll, HR, and benefits outsourcing for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
  • Service Pioneer: His success is built on scale service delivery and dominating the domestic market for affordable, automated business services.
  • Academic Background: He holds an associate degree in Business Administration.
  • Philanthropy: He is a major donor to healthcare, education, and political causes (funding the Golisano Children's Hospitals).

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Tom Golisano's social impact stems from Paychex's role in providing essential HR and payroll services that enable millions of small businesses to operate efficiently. His personal philanthropy is immense, funding major pediatric healthcare facilities, including the Golisano Children's Hospitals and significant support for the Special Olympics.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Tom Golisano maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global service sector.

Residing in Rochester, New York, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, strategic investment, and philanthropy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and Former Chairman of Paychex, a global leader in payroll and HR services.
  • He started the company with only $3,000 in seed capital.
  • He is a major philanthropist, funding the Golisano Children's Hospitals.
  • He formerly owned the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and Buffalo Bandits (Lacrosse).
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization and scale of the payroll outsourcing model.
  • His philosophy emphasizes efficiency and client focus.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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