Aussies blast climate-loving Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes for his ‘hypocritical’ act on new private plane after $80million splurge sparks outrage
Mike Cannon-Brookes has sparked outrage after jetting to Melbourne with his family on his new $80million private jet despite being an avid climate change campaigner.
Mike Cannon-Brookes has sparked outrage after jetting to Melbourne with his family on his new $80million private jet despite being an avid climate change campaigner.
The Atlassian billionaire purchased a Bombardier 7500 jet, which is valued between $75million and $80million, following a messy split from his ex-wife Annie.
Mr Cannon-Brookes admitted he had a deep internal conflict about purchasing the plane, but decided on it anyway for several reasons.
Personal security is the primary reason (an unfortunate reality of my world), but also so I can run a global business from Australia, and still be a constantly present dad, he wrote on LinkedIn.
So, this is a hard, continual trade-off I’ve decided to make.
Aussies were outraged after it emerged one of the trips was to the Formula One in Melbourne - after he partnered with the floundering British team Williams.
Mr Cannon-Brookes was seen with his three children and father Mike Cannon-Brookes Snr boarding the plane from Sydney Airport on Saturday.
The poor familys carbon emission is the problem but common F1 and private jets are okay for the environment? one social media user wrote on Facebook.
Mike Cannon-Brookes has sparked outrage after jetting to Melbourne with his family on his new $80million private jet despite being an avid climate change campaigner
The Atlassian billionaire purchased a Bombardier 7500 jet, which is valued between $75million and $80million, following a messy split from his ex-wife Annie
Make it make sense.
Mike Cannon-Brookes is "sincerely" concerned about CO2 emissions and the environment. Presumable, these cars are all electric? another said.
Presumably, Mikes new private jet is electric too... Hypocrite!
Another said the billionaire had failed to justify the purchase.
Its always interesting when climate activists balance advocacy with luxury lifestyles, he said.
He honestly thinks that people will feel sorry for him in his decision to purchase a private jet ... what an environmental hypocrite, a fourth wrote.
If he truly believed, hed give up all his wealth and toys and lead a simple life, which ordinary folk will all be doing if climate activists like hypocrites like him have their way, another said.
Mr Cannon-Brookes purchase became public on Thursday.
The website Air Charter Service says the aircraft is one of the world’s largest and longest-range business jets, equipped with four living areas, a full kitchen and a dedicated crew zone
Mr Cannon-Brookes addressed both issues of owning a private jet and supporting the F1
The website Air Charter Service says the aircraft is one of the world’s largest and longest-range business jets, equipped with four living areas, a full kitchen and a dedicated crew zone.
Mr Cannon-Brookes addressed both issues of owning a private jet and supporting the F1 in his LinkedIn post.
I can appreciate the double-take on Atlassian’s F1 sponsorship because...cars = fuel, he said.
I’ve had conversations with the FIA, and am impressed with their plans to get to net zero.
F1 can set a global example for sustainability in sports - and I believe it will.
He acknowledge that private air travel is also carbon-intensive and one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise.
But Mr Cannon-Brookes said that, while his extremely rigorous carbon regime may not be practical on commercial flights, it is viable on private ones.
This means my flights actually have a net negative carbon footprint.
Mr Cannon-Brookes left his followers with the promise he is as committed to the climate as ever.
I’m still pretty damn focused on making an impact at a large scale, removing huge volumes of emissions through active investments and philanthropy…and have the proud, scars to prove it.
Not only is Mr Cannon-Brookes juggling his Australian software company Atlassian, but he is still in the midst of a fraught divorce.
The tech mogul, who has amassed a staggering fortune of about $24.38billion according to the latest Financial Review Rich List, split from Annie, his wife of 13 years, in 2023.
The news of the separation raised questions about how the pair would carve up their fortune, in addition to a $300million property empire.
This included the 1.1 hectare Fairwater estate, the home of the late Lady Mary Fairfax, which they acquired in 2018 for $100million.
Just before the pair split, in June 2023, they also forked out $14.25million to buy a home in Newport, on Sydneys northern beaches, neighbouring the $24.5million estate they purchased in 2020.