The South African billionaire who gave his domestic workers a R1 million bonus

South African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth, famous for being the first African to travel to space, is a tech entrepreneur who once sold his company and gave every employee, including the cleaners and gardener, a R1 million bonus. 

Mark Richard Shuttleworth was born on 18 September 1973 in the small town of Welkom, South Africa, before moving and being raised in Cape Town.

He attended Western Province Preparatory School and later Bishops College, where he was head boy in 1991. 

After school, he attended the University of Cape Town and completed a Bachelor of Business Science in Finance and Information Systems. In 1995, while still a student, Shuttleworth founded his technology company Thawte Consulting.

Soon after its founding, Thawte’s focus quickly shifted to Internet security for electronic commerce. It became the first company to produce a full-security e-commerce web server that was commercially available outside the United States. 

This brought Thawte to the world of public key infrastructure, the basis for all encrypted and authenticated Internet transactions.

In December 1999, he sold Thawte to VeriSign for a staggering $575 million (R10.3 billion today), making him one of the world’s youngest billionaires. 

By the time VeriSign acquired it, Thawte had become the fastest-growing Internet Certificate Authority and was the leading Certificate Authority outside of the US.

In 2000, Shuttleworth then established HBD Venture Capital (Here Be Dragons) to support innovative startups. 

Shortly after, His passion for open-source software led him to found Canonical in 2004, the company behind the Ubuntu operating system. 

Ubuntu aimed to make computing accessible and free, particularly in developing countries, reflecting Shuttleworth’s commitment to social impact through technology.

In 2002, Shuttleworth made headlines by becoming the first African in space. He self-funded a trip aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 mission to the International Space Station.

The journey cost Shutteworth around $20 million and required nearly a year of rigorous training.

R1 Million bonuses

Beyond his technological and exploratory pursuits, Shuttleworth demonstrated remarkable generosity. Upon selling Thawte, he awarded each of his 57 employees a R1 million Christmas bonus. 

This unprecedented act of kindness extended to all staff members, including two office cleaners and a gardener, highlighting his appreciation for every individual’s contribution to the company’s success.

By ensuring that every employee, regardless of their role, benefited equally from the company’s windfall, he set a new standard for corporate gratitude and employee appreciation.

The bonuses had a profound impact on the recipients’ lives. For many, it meant financial security, the ability to invest in homes, education, and a better future. 

Shuttleworth’s action served as a powerful reminder of the importance of valuing every team member and the positive ripple effects such recognition can have.

What he’s up to now

As of 2025, Mark Shuttleworth continues to lead Canonical as its CEO, steering the company through the evolving landscape of open-source software. 

Under his guidance, Ubuntu has maintained its position as a leading Linux distribution, focusing on cloud computing, IoT, and enterprise solutions. 

Shuttleworth currently lives in London. He also maintains a presence on the Isle of Man and holds dual citizenship in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

His commitment to social innovation was evident through initiatives like the Shuttleworth Foundation, which, before its closure in 2024, provided fellowships to individuals working on transformative ideas in education and technology. 

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Shuttleworth remains an advocate for open-source principles and equitable access to technology. 

In recent years, Shuttleworth has turned his attention to environmental conservation and sustainable tourism. 

He invested in the island of Príncipe, part of São Tomé and Príncipe, aiming to transform it into a model for ecotourism. 

Described as “the Galapagos of Africa,” Príncipe’s rich biodiversity and pristine landscapes have benefited from Shuttleworth’s efforts to promote responsible tourism and protect natural habitats.