Palmer Luckey

Palmer Luckey is the founder of Oculus VR and the designer of the Oculus Rift. His introduction of the Oculus Rift at various gaming conventions, such as PAX, Gamescom, and QuakeCon, underscored the potential of virtual reality in the gaming sphere. Oculus VR, under Luckey's leadership, was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for US$2 billion, further highlighting the significance of his contribution to the virtual reality sector. In addition to this, his appearance on the cover of Time magazine in 2015 and his representation through the character Keenan Feldspar in the HBO TV show "Silicon Valley" confirm his influence in the tech industry.

After his tenure at Oculus VR, Luckey founded Anduril Industries in 2017, a defense technology company focusing on autonomous drones and sensors for military applications. The company's success is evident in its numerous contracts, such as the Advanced Battle Management Systems (ABMS) contract from the U.S. Air Force worth $967 million and a $1 billion contract for counter-unmanned systems work for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Anduril's collaborations with international military bodies, like the Royal Australian Navy, further demonstrate the company's global reach. As of December 2022, the company had raised around $1.5 billion, valuing the company at $8.5 billion.

He received the 2014 American Ingenuity Award and the Royal Photographic Society Progress medal and Honorary Fellowship in 2016, which attest to his innovative thinking and progress in the tech industry. His venture, ModRetro, released the "ModRetro Chromatic," a retrogaming device, in June 2024, showcasing his continued commitment to enhancing the user experience in the gaming sector.