Rick Jackson
Jackson in 2026
Personal details
Born Richard Lee Jackson
(1954-03-16) March 16, 1954 (age 72)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Party Republican
Spouse Melody Moore
Children 3
Education Lipscomb University (attended)
Website Campaign website

Richard Lee Jackson (born March 16, 1954)[1] is an American businessman who founded and leads Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare staffing and services company based in Alpharetta, Georgia.[2] He is the Republican nominee in the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election, after defeating President Trump-endorsed lieutenant governor Burt Jones in a primary runoff.[3][1]

Early life and education

Jackson has described a childhood in Midtown Atlanta marked by poverty and later time in the foster care system.[4][5][6][7] He graduated from Greater Atlanta Christian School and attended Lipscomb University in Nashville to study business before dropping out due to financial difficulties.[8][9]

Business career

Jackson founded his first medical recruitment business in 1978.[4]

In 2012, Jackson, with Atlanta-area businessmen Michael Kendrick and Larry Powell, purchased Family Christian Stores (FRS) from Madison Dearborn Partners.[10] The company was converted to a nonprofit and made a subsidiary of Family Christian Resource Centers (FCRC), controlled by Jackson. A 2015 plan by Jackson to restructure FRS was opposed by the U.S. Trustee Office and initially rejected by a bankruptcy judge.[11][12][13]

Jackson co-established Jackson Acquisitions, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), with Jeb Bush in 2021; Bush was chairman and Jackson was CEO.[14] They dissolved the SPAC in 2023.[15] The Internal Revenue Service sued Jackson Investment Group LLC in 2024 for underreporting $72 million in taxable income for 2019, seeking $38 million. The IRS made the determination after disallowing expenses related to several philanthropic ventures.[16]

Jackson Healthcare

In 2000, he founded Jackson Healthcare, which provides healthcare staffing and workforce services.[2][17][18] The company opened a new $100 million campus in March 2019, designed by architectural firm Rule Joy Trammell Rubio (RJTR) and styled after an Italian piazza.[19][4][20] Jackson Healthcare earned nearly $1 billion from 2020 through 2026 — most during the COVID-19 pandemic — from various Georgia agencies through state contracts.[21]

In 2021, Jackson Healthcare purchased USAntibiotics, an antibiotics manufacturer in Bristol, Tennessee.[3][4] Jackson Healthcare acquired Omaha-based LRS Healthcare in May 2023.[22] Jackson Healthcare is privately-held and reports more than $3 billion in annual revenue.[3] John Bardis, Jeb Bush, and Tom Price are on the advisory board.[23][24]

Political career

In the 2010s, Jackson funded an unsuccessful overhaul of Georgia medical malpractice claims, and wanted to privatize the state's foster care system. He successfully increased support for foster children. He has financially supported many Republican politicians, contributing millions to the Republican National Committee, state parties, and candidates. In December 2025, he gave $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC that acts as Donald Trump's political organization.[24]

In early 2026, he wrote an op-ed supporting increased prescription drug manufacturing in the United States, suggesting that reliance on China and India for drugs could put the U.S. at risk.[25]

2026 Georgia gubernatorial election

Main article: 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election

In February 2026, Jackson announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of Georgia and said he would self-fund a major portion of his campaign.[3][26][27][28] He wants to freeze Georgia's property tax and cut the state's income tax in half. Describing his stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in an interview with WSB-TV, Jackson said, "I believe in diversity and inclusion. I don't believe in equity. I don't believe in equal outcomes, period," calling the latter "communism".[29]

He has been endorsed by former Speaker Newt Gingrich,[30] U.S. Senator Ted Cruz,[31] U.S. Senator Rick Scott[32], the Job Creators Network,[33] and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.[34]

On May 19, 2026, Jackson received 32.5% of the vote in the Republican primary. Jackson defeated Burt Jones in a Republican runoff election on June 16, 2026. Jones had been endorsed by President Trump and Governor Brian Kemp. He will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election.[35]

Personal life

Jackson lives in Cumming, Georgia, in a 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m2) mansion known as "Le Rêve".[36][37] He and his wife Melody (née Moore[38]) have three children.[4] Their son, Shane, is president of Jackson Healthcare, and another son, Chad, runs the Jackson Family Foundation.[19][27]

Jackson co-produced the film 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015).[4] He is a Christian.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b Countryman, Vanessa (February 5, 2026). "Georgia billionaire enters crowded governor race. Who is Rick Jackson?". Savannah Morning News.
  2. ^ a b "Richard L. Jackson". Jackson Healthcare. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Amy, Jeff (February 3, 2026). "Business owner Rick Jackson enters Georgia GOP governor's race". Associated Press. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Ritterbusch, Katja (Fall 2024). "Fostering Success" (PDF). GaBiz.
  5. ^ "Atlanta's Rick Jackson, from foster child to philanthropist". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 22, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  6. ^ "Saved by a Stranger: Rick Jackson's Story". CBN News. November 10, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  7. ^ Jackson, Rick (November 14, 2013). "Never a Better Time to Transform Georgia Child Welfare". Georgia Public Policy Foundation. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  8. ^ "SR 844 [LC 39 2614S]". Georgia Senate Committee on Transportation. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  9. ^ Jackson, Richard L. (April 14, 2021). "Foster kids will see huge benefit with tuition waiver". Albany Herald.
  10. ^ Garrett, Lynn (November 16, 2012). "Family Christian Stores in Management, Investors Buyout". Publisher Weekly. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  11. ^ Bomey, Nathan (April 8, 2015). "Family Christian books bankruptcy: Chain faces scrutiny". The Detroit Free Press.
  12. ^ Langdon, Lynde (June 22, 2015). "Judge rejects another Family Christian Stores bankruptcy plan". World News Group.
  13. ^ Herger, Jim (August 11, 2015). "Family Christian Stores given new life after bankruptcy judge approves sale". mlive.com.
  14. ^ "Jeb Bush's SPAC Jackson Acquisition prices $200 million IPO". December 9, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  15. ^ "Jeb Bush's Jackson Acquisition Says it will Redeem & Dissolve". SPAC News. May 10, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  16. ^ Navera, Tristan (June 21, 2024). "Atlanta Business' Film, Real Estate Deductions Draw IRS Lawsuit". Bloomberg Tax.
  17. ^ "About". Jackson Healthcare. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  18. ^ Ermak, Lisa (August 22, 2012). "Doctor dilemma: 'There will be a shortage for sure'". Holland Sentinel. 'Physicians are retiring in large numbers just as baby boomers are starting to turn 65,' Richard L. Jackson, chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare said.
  19. ^ a b Grochowski, Julia (March 11, 2019). "Jackson Healthcare unveils $100 million expansion". Appen Media.
  20. ^ "Jackson Healthcare". RJTR. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Grapevine, Rebecca (March 2, 2026). "A health care executive is running for Ga. governor. His company has had about $1B in state contracts". WABE.
  22. ^ "Jackson Healthcare to Acquire LRS Healthcare". Business Wire. May 9, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  23. ^ "Governor Jeb Bush". Jackson Healthcare. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  24. ^ a b c Amy, Jeff (March 14, 2026). "Burt Jones was the inevitable Republican nominee for Georgia governor. Then Rick Jackson showed up". Associated Press.
  25. ^ Jackson, Richard L. (January 6, 2026). "America invents these drugs. Why doesn't it make them?". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  26. ^ "Rick Jackson (Georgia)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  27. ^ a b Rocha, Alander (February 7, 2026). "A little known candidate shakes up GOP primary for Georgia governor". Georgia Recorder.
  28. ^ "Georgia businessman Rick Jackson announces run for governor". CBS News. February 3, 2026.
  29. ^ Estevez, Jorge (March 11, 2026). "Billionaire Rick Jackson Details Plan For Georgia If He's Elected Governor". WSB-TV. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  30. ^ "Newt Gingrich". Facebook. February 3, 2026.
  31. ^ "Rick Jackson (@RickJacksonGA) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  32. ^ "Rick Jackson (@RickJacksonGA) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  33. ^ "Job Creators Network". Job Creators Network Facebook. February 4, 2026.
  34. ^ "Carr backs businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia's GOP runoff for governor". WABE. May 27, 2026.
  35. ^ Rojas, Rick (June 17, 2026). "Rick Jackson, a Billionaire, Wins G.O.P. Runoff for Georgia Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  36. ^ Quinn, Christopher (November 2, 2011). "Million-dollar homes sell — at a slower pace". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  37. ^ Hicks, Nelson (October 5, 2011). "$50 million foreclosed estate sells for $11.5 million". WSB-TV.
  38. ^ "Melody M. Moore". Georgia Tech. Retrieved March 13, 2026.