Mike Cannon-Brookes

Mike Cannon-Brookes is an Australian technology entrepreneur, investor and climate activist who co-founded Atlassian, one of the most successful software companies to emerge from outside Silicon Valley. Born in 1979, Cannon-Brookes started the company with his university classmate Scott Farquhar, reportedly funding it on a credit card, and built it into a global maker of developer and collaboration tools used by millions. His fortune made him one of Australia's richest people, and he has used his wealth and profile to become a leading champion of clean energy and climate action.

This profile covers who Mike Cannon-Brookes is, his early life and education, the founding and rise of Atlassian, his climate and investment activities, his net worth and his current role.

Early Life and Education

Michael Cannon-Brookes was born in 1979. He spent part of his childhood abroad before growing up in Australia, and he showed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship. He attended the University of New South Wales in Sydney, where he studied and, crucially, met Scott Farquhar, the classmate with whom he would later build a multibillion dollar company.

His time at university, and the friendship and partnership he formed there, set the stage for his career. Like many successful technology founders, he combined technical understanding with entrepreneurial drive, and he was eager to build a business rather than take a conventional corporate job after graduating.

Founding Atlassian

In 2002, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar co-founded Atlassian in Sydney, reportedly starting the company with credit card debt and a goal of earning a salary comparable to a graduate job while being their own bosses. Their first major product was issue tracking and project management software, which became known as Jira, aimed at software development teams.

Atlassian grew in an unusual way for a software company. Rather than relying on large, expensive sales teams, it sold its products largely online, driven by word of mouth among developers and an efficient, low cost distribution model. This approach allowed the company to grow rapidly and profitably while keeping costs down, and it became a celebrated case study in building a software business. The product line expanded to include collaboration and documentation tools such as Confluence and many others.

Building a Global Software Company

Over the following years, Atlassian grew into a global software powerhouse, its tools becoming standard for software development, IT and collaboration teams in companies around the world. The company moved its headquarters arrangements and eventually listed publicly in the United States, achieving a market value in the tens of billions of dollars and joining the ranks of the most successful technology companies.

Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar maintained their partnership as co-chief executives for much of this journey, an unusual and durable co-leadership arrangement. The success of Atlassian, built from Australia rather than Silicon Valley, became a point of national pride and an inspiration for the Australian technology startup ecosystem, with the founders and early employees seeding a new generation of companies.

Climate Activism and Investments

Beyond Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes became one of the most prominent voices for climate action and clean energy, particularly in Australia. Through his private investment vehicle, Grok Ventures, he backed renewable energy projects and clean technology, and he became involved in high profile efforts to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

His climate activism included major and sometimes confrontational involvement in the Australian energy sector, such as taking a significant stake in a large energy company to push it toward faster decarbonization, and backing ambitious renewable energy projects. This made him a leading and at times controversial figure in debates about energy and climate, using his wealth and influence to advocate for a faster shift to clean power.

Mike Cannon-Brookes Net Worth

Mike Cannon-Brookes net worth was estimated at about $11 billion in 2025, making him one of the richest people in Australia. The overwhelming majority of his wealth comes from his stake in Atlassian, of which he owns a significant portion, along with his other investments through Grok Ventures. His fortune has fluctuated with Atlassian's stock price, having peaked even higher during technology booms.

Because so much of his wealth is tied to Atlassian shares, its value moves with the company and the broader market. His financial position reflects the enormous value created by building one of the most successful software companies outside the United States, and it underpins his ability to invest heavily in climate and clean energy ventures.

Personal Life

Mike Cannon-Brookes is known for a casual, approachable public persona, often appearing in t-shirts and with an unpolished style that contrasts with traditional corporate executives. He has a family, and his personal life, including a high profile separation, has at times drawn public attention given his prominence. He is active and outspoken on social media and in public debates, particularly around climate, energy and technology, and he is involved in various philanthropic and advocacy efforts.

Achievements and Influence

Mike Cannon-Brookes's achievements include co-founding and building Atlassian into a global software giant, pioneering an efficient, sales light model for selling software, and becoming a leading champion of clean energy and climate action. His influence spans the global technology industry, the Australian startup ecosystem he helped inspire, and the energy and climate debate, where his investments and advocacy have made him a significant force. He is one of the most prominent entrepreneurs to emerge from Australia.

Mike Cannon-Brookes in 2026

As of 2026, Mike Cannon-Brookes continues to co-lead Atlassian and to pursue his climate and clean energy investments and advocacy. The themes around him include Atlassian's growth and its integration of artificial intelligence into its products, the progress of his renewable energy ambitions, and his ongoing role as a leading voice for the energy transition.

He is profiled alongside other founders in the Tech sector on Founder Canon, the entrepreneurs building the software and ideas that shape the modern world.