Tom Golisano

About Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano founded payroll giant Paychex in 1971 with just $3,000 and a credit card.

He served as CEO until 2004 and remains a director of the publicly-traded company.

Born in Rochester, New York, to a macaroni salesman and a seamstress, Golisano ran for governor three times under the Independence Party of New York.

In 2011, he sold the Buffalo Sabres to billionaire Terry Pegula for $189 million, after rejecting a higher bid that would have taken them out of town.

The father of a son with special needs, Golisano has pledged or donated more than $300 million to support children with autism and other disabilities.