Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey
Born	Jack Patrick Dorsey 19 11, 1976
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Technology executive, entrepreneur
Title	Chairman of the Board, Block, Inc.
Known for	Co-founding Twitter and Block, Inc. (formerly Square), founding Bluesky
Awards	Innovator of the Year – The Wall Street Journal (2012)
Website	[https://squareup.com/ Official site]

Jack Patrick Dorsey (born November 19, 1976) is an American technology executive and entrepreneur who co-founded the social media platform Twitter and the financial services company Block, Inc., formerly known as Square, Inc. Dorsey served as CEO of Twitter during two separate tenures—first from 2007 to 2008, and again from 2015 to 2021—while simultaneously leading Square as its principal executive officer. He also founded Bluesky, a decentralized social media protocol and application. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Dorsey developed an early interest in computers and dispatch logistics, which informed his later creation of Twitter's real-time communication model and Square's mobile payment technology. His career has been defined by a persistent focus on simplifying communication and commerce through technology. As chairman of Block, Inc., Dorsey has in recent years directed the company's strategy toward Bitcoin integration and artificial intelligence adoption, decisions that have generated both investor interest and internal controversy.

Early Life

Jack Patrick Dorsey was born on November 19, 1976, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in the St. Louis metropolitan area, where he developed an early fascination with cities, maps, and the logistics of urban transit systems. As a teenager, Dorsey became interested in dispatch routing—the process by which taxis, ambulances, and delivery vehicles are coordinated across a city—and began writing software related to this field while still in high school.

Dorsey's childhood interest in dispatch software proved formative. By the time he was a teenager, he had written open-source software for dispatch routing that attracted the attention of companies in the field. His programs dealt with the real-time coordination of moving vehicles—a conceptual precursor to Twitter's model of real-time status updates and short-form communication. Dorsey has credited this early work with shaping his understanding of how brief, time-sensitive messages could be used to convey location and status information.

The young Dorsey was also drawn to the visual arts and fashion design, interests that would later influence his approach to product design and user experience at both Twitter and Square. He has spoken publicly about his admiration for the clean, functional aesthetics of urban infrastructure, and this sensibility carried through to the design language of the products he would eventually create.

Education

Dorsey attended the University of Missouri–Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) before transferring to New York University. While at NYU, Dorsey conceived of an idea that combined the instant messaging features emerging on the internet with the short-form dispatch messaging he had worked on as a teenager. He did not complete his degree, departing NYU to pursue work in technology.

During his time in New York, Dorsey was exposed to the city's complex transportation and communication systems, which further fueled his interest in real-time information sharing. He later expressed interest in New York City governance and public life, telling CNN in 2013 about his desire to potentially serve as mayor of New York City.

Career

Early Career and the Founding of Twitter

After leaving NYU, Dorsey moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked in the technology sector on dispatch and logistics software. By 2005, he had developed the core concept for what would become Twitter: a platform that would allow users to send short status updates—originally limited to 140 characters, matching the constraints of SMS messages—to a network of followers in real time.

In 2006, Dorsey co-founded Twitter, Inc., along with Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass. The platform launched publicly in July 2006 and quickly gained traction as a microblogging service. Its simplicity—allowing users to broadcast brief messages to an open audience—appealed to journalists, celebrities, activists, and ordinary users alike, and Twitter grew rapidly in its first years.

Dorsey served as CEO of Twitter from 2007 to 2008. During this initial tenure, Twitter experienced significant growth but also faced technical challenges related to scalability and reliability, with frequent service outages that became a hallmark of the platform's early period. In 2008, Dorsey transitioned from the CEO role to chairman of the board, with Evan Williams assuming the position of chief executive.

The circumstances of Dorsey's departure from the CEO role in 2008 were the subject of considerable media scrutiny. Reports indicated that the board and co-founders had concerns about Dorsey's management style and the company's operational challenges during a period of rapid expansion.

Founding of Square

Following his transition to chairman at Twitter, Dorsey turned his attention to a new venture in the financial technology sector. In 2009, he co-founded Square, Inc. (later renamed Block, Inc.) with Jim McKelvey. The company's initial product was a small, square-shaped card reader that could be plugged into a smartphone's headphone jack, enabling small businesses and individuals to accept credit card payments through their mobile devices.

The concept for Square reportedly arose when McKelvey, a glassblowing artist, lost a sale because he was unable to accept a credit card payment. Dorsey and McKelvey set out to create a system that would democratize access to electronic payments, making it possible for anyone with a smartphone to process card transactions. Square launched its first product in 2010, and the company grew rapidly as it expanded its suite of financial services tools for small businesses.

Square established its headquarters in San Francisco, initially operating out of space in the city's historic Chronicle Building before opening new headquarters in 2013. By 2012, Business Insider ranked Square among the top digital companies, valuing it at approximately $3.2 billion.

Dorsey's leadership at Square drew comparisons to Steve Jobs, with observers noting his attention to product design and his insistence on simplicity in user experience. Women's Wear Daily reported on Dorsey's ambitions to simplify commerce through Square's technology. The San Francisco Business Times named Dorsey its Executive of the Year in 2011, citing his work at both Twitter and Square.

Square's IPO and Growth

In October 2015, Square filed for an initial public offering, a notable development given that Dorsey was simultaneously serving as CEO of Twitter, to which he had returned earlier that year. The IPO filing disclosed Dorsey's ownership stake in the company and raised questions about the sustainability of his dual-CEO arrangement.

Square went public on the New York Stock Exchange and continued to expand its product offerings beyond the original card reader. The company developed Cash App, a peer-to-peer payment service that grew to become one of Block's most significant revenue generators. Square also moved into business lending, payroll services, and restaurant and retail management tools, building a comprehensive ecosystem for small and medium-sized businesses.

Return to Twitter (2015–2021)

In 2015, Dorsey returned to Twitter as CEO, replacing Dick Costolo. His second tenure was marked by efforts to address the platform's slowing user growth, persistent issues with harassment and misinformation, and the challenge of developing a sustainable advertising business model. Dorsey led Twitter through a period of significant cultural influence—the platform played a central role in global political discourse, social movements, and breaking news—while the company continued to face questions about its financial performance and content moderation policies.

Dorsey's management of both Twitter and Square simultaneously drew criticism from some investors and analysts who questioned whether one individual could effectively lead two publicly traded companies. He stepped down as CEO of Twitter in November 2021, handing the role to Parag Agrawal. Twitter was subsequently acquired by Elon Musk in October 2022.

Bluesky

While still at Twitter, Dorsey initiated and funded the development of Bluesky, an independent project aimed at creating a decentralized protocol for social media. The initiative, announced in 2019, sought to develop an open standard that would allow multiple social media platforms to interoperate, rather than having each platform operate as a closed system. Bluesky was incorporated as an independent public benefit corporation and launched its own social media application, which gained significant user interest following changes at Twitter under its new ownership.

Dorsey's relationship with Bluesky evolved over time, and he eventually distanced himself from the project, expressing disagreements with the direction taken by its leadership team. Nevertheless, the initiative represented a significant contribution to the broader discourse around decentralized social media and the future of online communication platforms.

Block, Inc. and Bitcoin Strategy

In December 2021, Square, Inc. was renamed Block, Inc., reflecting the company's broadened focus beyond payment processing to include blockchain technology and Bitcoin-related services. Under Dorsey's leadership as principal executive officer and chairman, the company made substantial investments in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency infrastructure. Dorsey has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, describing it as the future of internet-native currency and committing significant corporate resources to Bitcoin development.

At Block's Investor Day in November 2025, a question was posed to Dorsey about whether he might be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, reflecting the level of public association between Dorsey and the cryptocurrency.

Block's Bitcoin-related initiatives have included enabling Bitcoin purchases through Cash App, investing in Bitcoin mining hardware development, and offering Bitcoin payment processing for merchants. In 2026, reports indicated that Block had implemented zero-fee Bitcoin payment acceptance for small businesses, a move aimed at expanding cryptocurrency adoption in everyday commerce.

Layoffs and AI Mandates at Block (2026)

In early 2026, Block, Inc. undertook significant workforce reductions and organizational changes under Dorsey's direction. In February 2026, Reuters reported that Block was considering cutting up to 10 percent of its staff during annual performance reviews. Hundreds of employees were laid off in the weeks that followed, with WIRED reporting on the rolling nature of the layoffs and their effect on remaining staff morale.

Simultaneously, Dorsey mandated aggressive adoption of artificial intelligence tools across the company, directing employees to integrate AI into their workflows. This mandate generated internal backlash, with some employees expressing frustration at the pace and scope of the changes. Futurism reported that the combination of mass layoffs and forced AI adoption had created significant organizational turmoil within the company.

Block was scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings in late February 2026, with analysts monitoring the financial impact of these organizational changes.

Board Service

Beyond his roles at Twitter and Block, Dorsey served on the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company from 2013 to 2018. His appointment to Disney's board was reported by TechCrunch in December 2013. Dorsey and Sheryl Sandberg both departed the Disney board in January 2018.

Dorsey has also served on the board of the Berggruen Institute's governance center, reflecting his interest in governance and civic systems.

Personal Life

Dorsey has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to many technology executives of his profile. He has spoken publicly about his interest in meditation, fasting, and wellness practices. His lifestyle choices, including extended silent meditation retreats and ice bath routines, have attracted media attention.

Dorsey has expressed strong personal and philosophical commitments to Bitcoin and decentralization, themes that have increasingly defined his public identity beyond his roles at specific companies. He has described Bitcoin not merely as a financial instrument but as a tool for individual economic empowerment.

In 2019, Dorsey participated in the #TeamTrees initiative, a collaborative fundraising effort organized by YouTuber MrBeast and the Arbor Day Foundation aimed at planting 20 million trees.

Dorsey has also expressed interest in public service. In a 2013 CNN interview, he discussed his desire to potentially run for mayor of New York City, reflecting a long-standing interest in urban planning and civic governance that dates to his childhood fascination with dispatch systems and city infrastructure.

Recognition

Dorsey has received recognition from multiple business and technology publications for his work at Twitter and Square. The San Francisco Business Times named him Executive of the Year in 2011, citing his leadership across both companies.

In 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Dorsey to a role supporting the city's technology initiatives, reflecting the recognition of his expertise in technology and urban systems.

Dorsey's profile as a technology leader has been shaped by the simultaneous growth of Twitter into one of the world's most influential communication platforms and Square (now Block) into one of the largest financial technology companies. Fortune profiled Dorsey in 2011 under the headline "The Man With Two Brains," documenting the unusual challenge of leading two major technology companies at the same time.

His influence on the technology industry extends beyond his own companies. The microblogging format that Twitter popularized under Dorsey's co-founding vision became a dominant mode of online communication, influencing journalism, politics, marketing, and social discourse. Similarly, Square's mobile payment innovations helped establish the mobile point-of-sale category and contributed to the broader shift toward cashless commerce.

Legacy

Jack Dorsey's career has been defined by the creation of two technology platforms that reshaped their respective industries. Twitter, which he co-founded in 2006, transformed real-time communication and became a central venue for public discourse, breaking news, political debate, and social movements worldwide. The platform's 140-character format (later expanded to 280 characters) influenced how people consume and share information, and its impact on journalism, politics, and culture has been extensively documented.

Square, later renamed Block, democratized access to electronic payment processing by making it possible for small businesses and individual sellers to accept credit card payments through a simple mobile device attachment. The company's subsequent expansion into peer-to-peer payments through Cash App, business lending, and cryptocurrency services broadened its impact on the financial services industry.

Dorsey's founding of the Bluesky project represented an attempt to address criticisms of centralized social media platforms by developing a decentralized protocol for online communication. While Dorsey eventually distanced himself from Bluesky's organizational leadership, the project contributed to a growing movement toward decentralized alternatives to established social media networks.

His advocacy for Bitcoin and decentralized financial systems has positioned him as one of the most prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space. By directing Block's corporate strategy toward Bitcoin integration and investing in mining hardware and payment infrastructure, Dorsey has sought to accelerate the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency in everyday commerce.

Dorsey's leadership style and management decisions have also generated criticism, particularly regarding the layoffs and AI mandates at Block in early 2026, and the circumstances surrounding his original departure from Twitter's CEO role in 2008. His career reflects the complexities of building and leading technology companies at scale, including the tensions between innovation and organizational stability.