James Goodnight

CEO SAS Institute

What is James Goodnight known for?

James Howard Goodnight, born January 6, 1943 in Salisbury, NC, U.S., is a notable alumnus of New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Known for his significant accomplishments in the field of software development and business, Goodnight is a recognized American businessman and billionaire who has left a considerable imprint in the tech industry.

Goodnight's journey to success started with a computer course at North Carolina State University, which later translated into a summer job writing software programs for the agricultural economics department. This laid the foundation of his interest in computer sciences. He went on to receive a master's degree in statistics in 1968 and eventually earned his PhD in the same field, marking the beginning of his illustrious career. Notably, he also worked on building electronic equipment for the Apollo space program's ground stations, which influenced his views on corporate culture.

In 1976, Goodnight made a monumental decision; he co-founded the SAS Institute. Initially a project for analyzing agricultural data created with fellow faculty from North Carolina State, SAS eventually transformed into a multi-billion-dollar business under Goodnight's stewardship. As of 2023, Goodnight's estimated net worth was US$7.4 billion, making him the wealthiest person in North Carolina.

Goodnight's leadership style is admired and revolves around three main pillars - keeping employees intellectually challenged by removing distractions, making managers responsible for sparking creativity, and engaging customers as creative partners. A testament to his relentless focus on maintaining a robust corporate culture is his decision against going public with SAS, hence protecting the company’s work environment.

Aside from his corporate feats, Goodnight was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 1981, further accentuating his distinguished career.

Learn more about his life and contributions on his Britannica page or the SAS Institute's Leadership page.