Doug Burgum is a prominent figure in both business and politics. He is currently the Governor of North Dakota, a position he has held since 2016. Prior to his political career, he was the CEO and co-founder of Great Plains Software.
Doug Burgum was born on August 1, 1956, in Arthur, North Dakota. He grew up on a farm and went to North Dakota State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
After his graduation, he worked for IBM for a few years before starting Great Plains Software in 1983.
Great Plains Software was a company that specialized in accounting and financial management software for small to medium-sized businesses.
Burgum served as its CEO from 1983 until 2001, when it was acquired by Microsoft for $1.1 billion. This acquisition helped Microsoft expand its offerings in the business software market.
After the acquisition, Burgum stayed on with Microsoft for a few years but eventually left to pursue other interests.
In 2007, he co-founded Arthur Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies.
He has also been involved in the oil and gas industry and has served on the board of directors for several companies in the sector.
In 2016, Burgum began his political career by running for Governor of North Dakota. He won the election and was re-elected in 2020, winning over 65% of the vote.
Doug Burgum’s Net Worth
Doug Burgum’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 billion. The majority of his wealth comes from the sale of Great Plains Software to Microsoft.
However, his involvement in the oil and gas industry and his other business ventures have also contributed to his wealth.