Tom Golisano
Blase Thomas Golisano | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 14, 1941 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Paychex; former owner of Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits; philanthropist |
| Notable work | Built, Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire's No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs |
Blase Thomas Golisano (born November 14, 1941) is a prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist with billionaire status.
He is the founder of Paychex, a company specializing in payroll and human resources solutions for businesses. Between 2019 and 2022, Golisano held ownership of Greenlight Networks, a fiber-optic internet service provider based in Rochester. Additionally, from 2003 until 2011, he owned the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League as well as the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. Golisano made three unsuccessful bids for the office of Governor of New York as a third-party candidate in 1994, 1998, and 2002. By 2020, his estimated net worth reached approximately US$5.2 billion.
Business
In 1971, Golisano launched Paychex with an initial investment of $3,000 and the use of a credit card. He held the roles of president and CEO until October 2004 and has maintained the position of Chairman since that time, having also served as a Director since 1979.
Golisano purchased Greenlight Networks in April 2018, positioning it as a local fiber internet rival to Frontier Communications and Charter Spectrum. He committed $100 million toward broadening its coverage areas. In 2022, he divested his controlling interest in Greenlight to Oak Hill, an investment firm.
Forbes ranked Golisano as the 238th richest individual in the United States in 2020 with a fortune valued at $3.4 billion. By 2022, he was placed 490th worldwide with $5.4 billion and was listed as the 552nd wealthiest billionaire globally in 2023 with an estimated $4.9 billion.
Professional sports
Golisano formerly co-owned both the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team alongside real estate developer Larry Quinn. He took control of the Sabres from the NHL following fraud charges against the previous owner, John Rigas. In February 2011, Golisano sold the Sabres along with related assets to billionaire Terrence Pegula. He also submitted a bid for the bankrupt Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team in 2012 but was outbid by a consortium led by Magic Johnson. To preserve professional sports franchises in western New York, Golisano placed a bid on the Buffalo Bills in 2014; nonetheless, Pegula ultimately acquired that team as well.
Political involvement
As a co-founder of the Independence Party of New York, Golisano ran for governor in 1994, 1998, and 2002, investing $93 million across these campaigns. His electoral support secured the party’s automatic ballot access. After Republican Governor George Pataki announced he would not seek re-election in 2006, Golisano switched his affiliation to the Republican Party but decided against running.
In 2008, Golisano contributed $1 million to the Democratic National Convention and established the PAC Responsible New York with $5 million to back state legislative candidates favoring property tax reductions and election reforms. That same year, he opposed extending term limits for New York City mayors.
Rumors about another gubernatorial campaign ceased when Golisano moved to Florida in 2009 to escape high taxes in New York. During that year’s political turmoil known as the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis, he played a role by supporting defections that temporarily shifted control to Republicans; however, this attempt ultimately did not succeed.
In 2011, Golisano became spokesperson for National Popular Vote Inc., advocating for adopting a popular vote system for presidential elections. In January 2018, he initiated the Tax My Property Fairly campaign to promote equitable property taxation for homeowners in Upstate New York.
Philanthropy
By January 2021, Golisano had committed or contributed in excess of $300 million to a variety of charitable initiatives.
In 1985, he established the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation with a starting donation of $90,000, primarily aimed at providing grants to organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Among his significant gifts are a $10 million donation in 2008 to Niagara University for the creation of the B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, and a $4 million gift in 2009 to Ave Maria University for constructing a new field house. In 2012, he allocated $12 million to Special Olympics to initiate the Healthy Communities program, which focuses on enhancing healthcare accessibility for people with intellectual disabilities. This was followed by a $25 million pledge in 2015 to expand this initiative worldwide—marking his largest single donation so far. That same year, he contributed $20 million toward the establishment of the Golisano Children's Hospital at Lee Health in Florida, which officially opened its doors in 2017.
A $10 million gift in 2014 supported the opening of the Golisano Neurology and Rehabilitation Center at Unity Hospital in Rochester. The Golisano Center for Community Health was launched in 2016 with a $3.5 million endowment, delivering integrated services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Additionally, in 2016, he provided $7.5 million to Nazareth University for an inclusive athletic training facility and granted $2 million to WXXI Public Broadcasting Council aimed at upgrading their technical equipment.
In 2017, Golisano funded the Golisano Center for the Performing Arts located in Rochester’s Midtown Plaza and supported the Special Olympics Global Health Care Leadership Awards. He also pledged $3 million toward a center serving families of autistic children in Rochester; this led to the opening of the Golisano Autism Center in 2019, which serves as a comprehensive facility integrating recreational, medical, and educational services.
Previous notable donations include $14 million to the University of Rochester, resulting in the renaming of its pediatric hospital as the Golisano Children's Hospital in 2002, along with an additional $20 million commitment made in 2012 for a new hospital that commenced operations in 2015.
In 2024, Golisano extended his philanthropic reach by donating $360 million distributed among 82 nonprofit organizations throughout Upstate New York, underscoring his sustained dedication to regional charitable efforts.
Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship
Golisano is the founder of the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship located in Brighton, NY, which began operations in fall 2023. The institute provides focused two-year certificate programs exclusively centered on business studies and limits enrollment to 500 students. His objective is to "shorten both the duration and expense associated with business education." The school occupies a former Paychex facility acquired by Golisano for $10 million in October 2022. It functions as a nonprofit entity funded by Golisano himself, who does not engage in day-to-day administration. Annual tuition is set at $8,900, with operational expenses supported by the Thomas Golisano Foundation.
Ian Mortimer, previously associate provost at Rochester Institute of Technology, was named as the institute’s first president.
Built Not Born
In February 2020, Golisano published Built, Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire's No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs, co-written with Mike Wicks and released by HarperCollins. The book, which distills insights from five decades of business experience, provides actionable guidance for entrepreneurs and achieved the top position on Barnes & Noble's business bestseller list.
Personal life
Golisano is married to former professional tennis player Monica Seles and has experienced three divorces.
Electoral history
- 2002 Governor's race
- George Pataki (R) (incumbent), 49%
- Carl McCall (D), 34%
- Tom Golisano (Independent), 14%
- 1998 Governor's race
- George Pataki (R) (incumbent), 54%
- Peter Vallone (D), 33%
- Tom Golisano (Independent), 8%
- 1994 Governor's race
- George Pataki (R), 49%
- Mario Cuomo (D) (incumbent), 45%
- Tom Golisano (Independent), 4%