James H. Clark

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James H. Clark: Entrepreneur, Technologist, Philanthropist

James H. “Jim” Clark is an American computer scientist and serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Netscape. Over several decades he has launched and financed multiple influential technology companies, helped develop breakthrough 3-D graphics technology, and become a major philanthropist, particularly in higher education.

Early life and education

  • Born March 23, 1944, in Plainview, Texas.
  • Left high school, served in the U.S. Navy, then returned to education via Tulane University’s University College.
  • Earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics from the University of New Orleans and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah.
  • Served as an associate professor of electrical engineering at Stanford and later became a major benefactor of Stanford’s James H. Clark Center for bioscience research.

Major ventures and achievements

  • Silicon Graphics (SGI, founded 1982): Clark founded SGI to produce high-performance workstations and graphics systems for engineering and film visual effects. SGI technology became a staple in Hollywood visual effects and scientific visualization.
  • Geometry Engine: While at Stanford, Clark and students developed the Geometry Engine, a specialized chip to accelerate 3-D image processing—an important advance in computer graphics.
  • Netscape (co-founded 1994 with Marc Andreessen): Netscape Navigator popularized the graphical web browser and dominated browser usage in the early internet era. Competition from Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows eroded Navigator’s market share and became central to Microsoft’s antitrust trial. In 1998 AOL agreed to acquire Netscape; Clark’s payout from the sale was reported at about $1.2 billion.
  • Healtheon / WebMD: Clark founded Healtheon to streamline healthcare transactions; it later merged with WebMD.
  • Shutterfly: Early investor and chair of the photo-sharing and storage company founded in 1999.
  • CommandScape: A later venture focused on mobile-first building and device control (alarms, cameras, lighting, thermostats).
  • Investments: Clark made early, profitable tech investments in companies such as Apple, Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Palantir.

Wealth and philanthropy

  • Net worth: Estimates have placed Clark’s net worth at more than $3 billion.
  • Philanthropy: Major donations to Stanford and Tulane, including funding for Stanford’s Clark Center. His giving has focused primarily on higher education and research.
  • Personal interests: Known for an interest in sailing; owns notable yachts including the 300-foot sailing yacht Athena and the 100-foot racing yacht Comanche.

Personal life

  • Clark has been married multiple times. His divorce from his third wife reportedly involved a settlement of significant cash and assets.
  • Married model Kristy Hinze in 2009; they have two daughters.

Quick facts (FAQs)

Legacy

Jim Clark helped shape early internet browsing, advanced 3-D computer graphics, and funded ongoing scientific research. His combination of technical innovation, successful company building, and philanthropy has left a lasting mark on Silicon Valley and higher education.