Peter Norton | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 14, 1943 |
| Alma mater | Reed College, Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Programmer Software publisher Technical book author Philanthropist |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Spouses | Eileen Harris (m. 1983–2000)Gwen Adams (m. 2007) |
| Children | Diana and Michael[1] |
Peter Norton (born November 14, 1943) is an American programmer, software publisher, author, and philanthropist. He is best known for the computer programs and books that bear his name and portrait. Norton sold his software business to Symantec Corporation (now Gen Digital) in 1990.
Norton was born in Aberdeen, Washington, and raised in Seattle. He attended Reed College and later worked on mainframes and minicomputers for companies like Boeing and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Norton founded Peter Norton Computing in 1982, pioneering IBM PC compatible utilities software. His first computer book, "Inside the IBM PC: Access to Advanced Features & Programming," was published in 1983. By 1988, Norton Computing had grown to $15 million in revenue with 38 employees. In 1990, Norton Computing released the Norton Backup program, and in 1990, Norton sold the company to Symantec for $70 million.
Norton later chaired Acorn Technologies and eChinaCash. He has a significant personal art collection and has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including the Peter Norton Family Foundation. He has also donated art to numerous museums and universities.