# David Duffield

_American engineer and entrepreneur_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/david-duffield
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> David Arthur Duffield (born 21 September 1940) is an American billionaire businessman in the software industry. He is the co-founder and former chairman of PeopleSoft, and co-founder and CEO emeritus of Workday, Inc.. In addition, he is founder and Chairman of Ridgeline, Inc.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1941 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095#P569))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095#P27))
- **Occupation:** business executive; engineer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095#P106))
- **Education:** Cornell University College of Engineering; Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095#P69))
- **Positions held:** chief executive officer (2005–2009) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095#P39))

## About

Duffield has donated more than $500 million to his alma mater Cornell University, including a series of donations in the 2020s totaling over $400 million. As a result, the university renamed its College of Engineering after him. He has also given $303 million to companion animal welfare causes and organizations, over $100 million to expand other educational institutions close to him and his family, $13 million to local first responders and community organizations, and $2.1 million to veterans affairs. His philanthropic interests are managed by the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation. One of their main projects is the planned Liberty Dogs, a 27-acre service dog training campus in Reno, Nevada, that will match and train disabled military veterans and canine companions. As of 2026, Duffield's net worth is $10.1B.

## Questions

**When was David Duffield born?**  
David Duffield was born on 1941.

**What positions has David Duffield held?**  
Positions held by David Duffield include: chief executive officer (2005–2009).

**Where did David Duffield study?**  
David Duffield was educated at Cornell University College of Engineering, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): David Duffield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Duffield) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q5233095](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5233095) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Dave Duffield addressing Peoplesoft, 2005.jpg by Him121 at English Wikipedia (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dave_Duffield_addressing_Peoplesoft,_2005.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article David Duffield, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Dave Duffield addressing Peoplesoft, 2005.jpg — Him121 at English Wikipedia, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"David Duffield". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/david-duffield. Retrieved 14 November 2026.