U.S. President Donald J. Trump has nominated billionaire businessman and private astronaut Jared Isaacman to serve as the next administrator of NASA. The announcement came on December 4, 2024, with Isaacman set to replace Bill Nelson, who oversaw landmark missions including the James Webb Space Telescope, Artemis 1, and the DART asteroid impact test.
In a post on X, Trump described Isaacman as a business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, praising his ability to guide NASA’s mission of discovery and innovation. He said Isaacman would help drive progress in space exploration and technology while continuing America’s role as a leader in science and exploration.
Isaacman, 41, accepted the nomination publicly, thanking Trump and expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity. “Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history,” he wrote.
Isaacman, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, is the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company originally launched in 1999 under the name Union Bank Card. He left school at age 16 to pursue the venture, which later became a major financial technology firm.
In addition to his business career, Isaacman has built a high-profile presence in the space industry. He commanded SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in 2021, the first all-civilian orbital flight, which also raised $100 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More recently, in September 2024, he became the first private astronaut to conduct a spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission.
If confirmed, Isaacman will lead NASA at a pivotal moment, as the agency prepares for future Artemis missions to the Moon, long-term Mars exploration goals, and expanded partnerships with commercial space companies.
