A single email sent to classmates in 2001 served as the catalyst for Scott Farquhar to co-found Atlassian. Seeking to avoid the standard graduate starting salary of $48,500, he partnered with Mike Cannon-Brookes to establish a software company that grew into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, eventually securing their status as Australia's inaugural technology billionaires.
Founding Atlassian
Farquhar attended Castle Hill Primary School and James Ruse Agricultural High School before graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science. In 2002, he and Cannon-Brookes launched Atlassian using $10,000 in credit card debt. Their primary focus remained on product development rather than traditional sales, creating tools such as Jira for project tracking. To access a wider pool of technical talent, the company expanded operations to San Francisco in 2005.
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The company secured its first external capital in 2010 through a $60 million investment from Accel. By 2015, Atlassian reached a market capitalization of $4.37 billion following its initial public offering on the Nasdaq. Farquhar served as joint CEO until August 2024, at which point he transitioned to the roles of board member and special adviser. He currently retains a 20 percent ownership stake in the firm.
Investment and Philanthropic Activity
Beyond his primary business, Farquhar operates a private investment fund called Skip Capital. This fund holds interests in companies including Canva, Airwallex, Figma, and 1Password. He also co-founded Pledge 1%, a framework promoting corporate charitable giving. His other interests include a partial ownership of the bicycle manufacturer Factor Bikes. He has further contributed to the sector by mentoring through the Australian Businesswomen's Network.
Personal Assets and Public Engagement
Farquhar married Kim Jackson in 2009 and they have three sons. His property dealings include the 2017 acquisition of the Sydney estate Elaine for $75 million, which was sold in 2024 for A$130 million. He has engaged in public policy discussions, notably criticizing the Australian government regarding changes to 457 visa programs. His net worth reached an estimated US$15.5 billion as of December 2024, according to Forbes.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Parramatta, Sydney
- Education: University of New South Wales
- Company founded: Atlassian (2002)
- Joint CEO tenure end: August 2024
- Investment vehicle: Skip Capital
- Philanthropic movement co-founded: Pledge 1%
- 2024 Net Worth estimate: US$15.5 billion
- 2025 Financial Review Rich List ranking: 4th
Questions readers ask
What is Scott Farquhar's primary contribution to business?
He co-founded the software company Atlassian in 2002, which became a significant entity in project-tracking software.
Is Scott Farquhar still the CEO of Atlassian?
No, he resigned as joint CEO in August 2024 but remains a board member and special adviser.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Atlassian
- Educated at University of New South Wales and James Ruse Agricultural High School
