How A Fighter Jet-Flying Billionaire Is Tying The First All-Civilian Mission To Space With His Charitable Giving

Everyone loves to discuss Super Bowl ads. Billionaire Jared Isaacman is hoping his 30 second spot planned for the first quarter of Sunday’s game will help raise money for his favorite charity. The ad also touches on one of Isaacman’s passions: aerospace.

On Monday, Isaacman announced he would lead the first all-civilian mission to space in partnership with fellow billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The initiative, named Inspiration4, aims to raise more than $200 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which focuses on curing childhood cancer and other children’s diseases. Isaacman personally pledged $100 million to St. Jude, his largest philanthropic gift to date and the largest single donation in St. Jude’s history. Isaacman expects to pay the gift out “relatively quickly,” within the next year or so, rather than through a five- or ten-year pledge. Musk also committed to donating to St. Jude at a press…