#Austin russell luminar software#
Russell’s company Luminar is developing software and hardware for autonomous driving.
Talking about why he dropped out, Russell told Forbes: “When you have this fundamental drive to be able to build, to be able to create, it’s very challenging to do that in an academic environment.” Russell himself was born into a well-to-do family in Newport Beach, with his father Michael Russell working in commercial estates and his mother, Shannon Cleye, a former model and actress on The Young and The Restless, real estate portal Dirt reports. He didn’t stay long though, dropping out in 2012 after receiving a US$100,000 fellowship from billionaire tech investor and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Photo: He’s a university dropout (!)Īt the age of 17, Russell was studying physics at Stanford University when he developed the idea of an automotive sensor technology which later became Luminar Technologies’ key breakthrough.
Here are a few things to know about the tech wizard.Īustin Russell, at 26, the youngest self-made billionaire. The world’s youngest self-made billionaire, recently featured on Forbes’ prestigious “40 Under 40” list for 2021, is reaping the benefits and living large. Meet Austin Russell, the 26-year-old Californian native who recently became a billionaire – current net worth, US$1.7 billion to be exact – after his company Luminar Technologies went public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal in December 2020. Learn more at over, outspoken multi-billionaire Elon Musk, there’s a new tech mogul in town. Knowing that true change demands more than dollars and cents, we foster collaboration, fuel ideas, and spearhead the innovation that will transform our region for good. We partner with people who are determined to make a difference in their community. Community Foundations, a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations.Ĭentral Florida Foundation stewards philanthropic dollars on behalf of individuals, families, and nonprofits. In its commitment to excellence and accountability, the Central Florida Foundation is accredited by the National Standards for U.S. With a special focus on systems-level solutions and community-wide collaboration, the Foundation has a proven track record of addressing the region's challenges and creating measurable, sustainable change. The Foundation continually challenges the status-quo when it comes to addressing complex social issues like attainable housing, early childhood education, poverty and beyond. Since 1994, Central Florida Foundation has invested in philanthropic efforts thanks to generous fund holders committed to improving the region. "This contribution will have an incredible positive impact on our community, and we're honored to work with a passionate and visionary individual like Austin to build a transformative and inspiring partnership."
"The Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy that connects innovation to capital and capital to innovation with having already made more than $80 million in high-impact charitable investments focused on making sustainable change," said Mark Brewer, President/CEO of Central Florida Foundation. The efforts of this partnership will collaboratively focus on high-impact efforts for local and system-level improvements here in Florida, as well as bolder bets on a broader scale that Russell sees as underinvested opportunities. His early passion for physics has developed into laser LiDAR technology and software that is changing the future of transportation safety across the globe. Russell has previously experienced firsthand how an initial philanthropic grant for innovative thinking can result in long-term systemic change as a recipient of the Thiel Fellowship. "I'm glad to be playing a role in realizing that vision – with Luminar for the local economy, and now with Central Florida Foundation in helping the local community and beyond." "I established Luminar's HQ in Orlando after seeing its incredible yet underrated potential, specialized talent, community, and opportunity to become a premier global technology center," said Austin Russell. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Luminar Technologies CEO and Founder Austin Russell has personally partnered with the Central Florida Foundation, the Orlando-region's community foundation.
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