President-elect Donald Trump has appointed David Sacks as the head of his administration’s artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency policy. Sacks will play a key role in shaping the future of these technologies, which Trump views as vital to U.S. competitiveness. In addition to overseeing AI and crypto, Sacks is tasked with defending free speech online and addressing concerns over Big Tech’s perceived bias and censorship, as noted on Trump’s Truth Social platform.

A Career Built on Innovation and Investment

David Sacks began his career after earning a law degree from the University of Chicago. He joined McKinsey & Company as a consultant before moving to the tech sector, where he played a crucial role in the development of PayPal. As PayPal’s head of product, Sacks helped shape its core teams before the company was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion. His involvement with the “PayPal Mafia,” a group of influential early PayPal employees, is well-known in Silicon Valley.

Sacks later transitioned to Hollywood, producing the acclaimed film Thank You for Smoking, which garnered Golden Globe nominations. In 2008, he founded Yammer, a business social networking platform that Microsoft acquired for $1.2 billion. Sacks also co-founded Craft Ventures, a venture capital firm that has invested in successful startups like Airbnb, Lyft, and SpaceX. Through his diverse career, Sacks has built a reputation as a key figure in technology and entrepreneurship.