Jay Adair
Jay Adair | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969/1970 Orangevale, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Executive Chairman of Copart |
| Known for | Pioneering Copart's transition to an online auction business model; Executive Chairman of Copart; Owner of Adair Family Wines |
Jay Adair (born 1969/1970) is an American billionaire entrepreneur, formerly serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and currently holding the position of Executive Chairman at Copart, a publicly listed company that specializes in vehicle salvage and online auction services. He is credited with pioneering Copart's transition to an online auction business model.
Personal life
Adair was raised in Orangevale, California. He is married to Tammi Adair, the daughter of Copart’s founder, Willis Johnson. Together, they have two children. In 1993, the family relocated to the Suisun Valley region in Fairfield, California, where they established a vineyard and commenced wine production. Their inaugural wine release came in 2004 under the label Tammi's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Copart
Adair began his tenure at Copart in 1989 as a manager at the age of 19. Within a year, he advanced to Manager of Operations and Vice President of Sales and Operations. By 1992, he had secured a seat on the company’s Board of Directors.
In 1998, he spearheaded the creation of Copart’s online auction platform, evolving the company from a traditional salvage vehicle auctioneer into a global technology-driven marketplace linking buyers and sellers. The introduction of the patented Virtual Bidding Second Generation (VB2) system in 2003 positioned Copart among the first auto auction firms to fully embrace online operations. This VB2 system was superseded in 2013 by VB3, which currently supports over 750,000 members across more than 170 nations.
Adair took over as CEO from Willis Johnson in February 2010. During his leadership, Copart expanded its footprint internationally to include Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2012, he orchestrated the relocation of Copart’s headquarters from Vallejo, California to Dallas, Texas. Additionally, the company bolstered its presence in Texas by acquiring facilities in Wilmer and Temple, raising its total number of local auction sites to fourteen. By 2020, Copart’s net income had soared to $726 million—marking a fourfold increase since Adair assumed the CEO role—and its stock price had appreciated roughly 1,100% over ten years. As of 2021, Copart managed operations at 243 sites spanning eleven countries.
By 2019, Adair’s shareholdings were valued at over $800 million. In 2020, he was recognized by The Dallas Morning News as the highest-paid executive among public companies in North Texas. From February 2022 until March 2024, he shared CEO responsibilities with Jeff Liaw before Liaw became sole CEO. In April 2024, Adair transitioned to Executive Chairman.
Adair Family Wines
Jay Adair and his wife own Adair Winery located in Suisun Valley, which is renowned for its Tammi's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon label. The couple expanded their holdings in 2021 by purchasing an adjacent property, thereby transforming Adair Winery into a publicly accessible estate winery.
In October 2024, through a new entity named Adair Family Wines, Adair acquired five wineries from Vintage Wine Estates for $85 million amid bankruptcy proceedings. This acquisition encompassed Clos Pegase, Girard Wineries, B.R. Cohn, Kunde, and Viansa along with approximately 120 acres of vineyards and five tasting rooms.
Clos Pegase is distinguished by its unique architectural design and an adjacent art collection. B.R. Cohn Winery—founded by Bruce Cohn—is noted for hosting outdoor rock concerts. Girard Winery shares water rights with Clos Pegase—a significant factor influencing the joint acquisition—and is situated nearby. Kunde Winery was founded in 1990 by Arthur and Fred Kunde and produces estate-grown wines on century-old family vineyard land. Viansa is known for offering open-air tastings within cabanas overlooking picturesque California wine country landscapes.
Following the acquisition, Adair retained all existing employees while also recruiting additional personnel and launching comprehensive restoration projects across the properties.
Political donations
Adair and his spouse donated $200,000 to support Donald Trump's 2020 presidential bid.