You’ve probably seen the name David Sacks popping up a lot lately, usually sandwiched between headlines about Elon Musk’s latest X drama and high-stakes White House policy. He isn't just another tech billionaire with a microphone and a fleece vest. Honestly, he’s become one of the most polarizing and powerful figures sitting at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. in 2026.
People usually know him for one of three things: being a founding member of the "PayPal Mafia," co-hosting the massive All-In Podcast, or his recent appointment as the "AI and Crypto Czar" under the Trump administration. But there’s a lot more to the guy than just snappy podcast takes and a massive bank account.
The PayPal Origins and the "Bottom-Up" Revolution
David Sacks didn't just stumble into wealth. He was right there at the start of the modern internet. In 1999, he ditched a comfy management consulting gig at McKinsey to join a scrappy startup called Confinity. That company eventually became PayPal.
As the COO, Sacks was the guy who basically figured out how to make "beaming money" actually work for normal people. He’s the one credited with pivoting the product from Palm Pilots (remember those?) to the web. When eBay bought PayPal for $1.5 billion in 2002, Sacks was barely 30.
But he didn't stop there.
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After a brief detour producing movies—including the satire Thank You for Smoking—he founded Yammer. This was basically "Facebook for companies." He pioneered what he calls "Bottom-Up SaaS." It’s a simple idea: get employees to love the software first, and then the bosses will be forced to buy it. Microsoft eventually backed up a truck of cash and bought Yammer for $1.2 billion in 2012.
Moving Into the White House: The AI and Crypto Czar
Fast forward to today. In late 2024, Donald Trump tapped Sacks for a brand new role: White House AI and Crypto Czar. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but the job is very real. He’s tasked with making sure the U.S. doesn't lose the "AI arms race" to China and creating a legal framework so crypto companies don't keep fleeing to the Bahamas.
Lately, he’s been in the news for a massive "financial sacrifice." To avoid conflicts of interest in his government role, Sacks reportedly divested his stakes in Elon Musk’s xAI and the chip startup Groq.
"I wouldn't say a word about it if it weren't for mainstream media reporters lying and saying this job is making me money," Sacks said on a recent podcast.
His "bestie" and co-host Chamath Palihapitiya estimated that by walking away from those deals early, Sacks might have missed out on over a billion dollars in gains as xAI's valuation skyrocketed. That’s a heavy price for a government title, even for a billionaire.
The All-In Podcast: Tech's New Bully Pulpit
If you want to know what David Sacks is actually thinking, you don't read a press release. You listen to the All-In Podcast. Alongside Chamath, Jason Calacanis, and David Friedberg, Sacks uses the show to rail against "woke" corporate culture, government overreach, and what he calls "Big Tech bias."
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The show has become a mandatory listen for anyone in tech or politics. It’s where Sacks often previews his policy ideas. For example, he’s been vocal about:
- The Federal Bitcoin Reserve: Pushing for the U.S. to treat Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
- Anti-Woke AI: Fighting against AI models that he claims are programmed with social agendas or "bias."
- California’s Exit: Sacks recently made waves by predicting a "rush for the exits" in California due to proposed wealth taxes. He’s even joked about moving his dog, Moose, to Texas.
What Most People Get Wrong About Him
A lot of critics paint Sacks as just another "crypto bro" or a political opportunist. That’s a bit of a lazy take.
If you look at his track record at Craft Ventures—the VC firm he co-founded in 2017—he’s actually incredibly disciplined. He isn't a "hype" investor. While other VCs were lighting money on fire with NFT projects, Sacks was doubling down on "pipes and infrastructure." He bets on the stuff that makes the internet run, like SpaceX, Palantir, and early-stage B2B software.
Naval Ravikant once called him "the world's best product strategist." He doesn't just look at a spreadsheet; he looks at the product demo. He’s obsessed with "viral loops" and how software actually spreads.
Why David Sacks Still Matters in 2026
We are currently in a weird period where tech and government are fusing together. Sacks is the bridge. He’s navigating the tension between wanting total "Free Speech" online and needing the government to regulate how AI chips are exported to rivals.
He’s currently leading the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. That means the guy who helped you send your first $20 via email in 2000 is now the guy helping decide how the U.S. regulates the most powerful technology in human history.
Actionable Insights for Founders and Investors
If you’re trying to navigate the "Sacks Era" of tech, here are three things to watch:
- The Rise of "Regulation Clarity": Sacks is pushing for a federal framework for stablecoins. If you're in fintech, the days of "move fast and break things" with crypto are ending, replaced by a push for institutional adoption.
- Product-Led Growth (PLG) is Still King: Sacks’ "Yammer Playbook" is still the gold standard. If your software requires a 6-month sales cycle before anyone uses it, you’re doing it wrong. Focus on the end-user first.
- The AI Pivot: Watch for the "AI Action Plan" coming out of the White House. Sacks is pushing to loosen environmental and regulatory restrictions to turn the U.S. into an "AI export powerhouse." This could open up massive opportunities for energy and data center startups.
Whether you love his politics or think he’s part of a Silicon Valley "cabal," there is no denying that David Sacks is currently one of the most influential people on the planet. He’s moved from building the tools of the internet to writing the laws that will govern its future.