Darwin Deason

Darwin Albert Deason (May 18, 1940 – December 2, 2025) was an American billionaire businessman and political donor. He founded Affiliated Computer Services in 1988, and sold it to Xerox for $6.4 billion in 2010, eventually becoming Xerox's largest individual shareholder (c.12%, as of 2023).

At the time of his death, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$1.3 billion.

Early life and career Deason grew up on a farm near Rogers, Arkansas. While trying to take MTech private, it was purchased by EDS.

After selling MTech to EDS, Deason founded Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) in 1988. The company went public in 1994. Deason used the opportunity to reconstitute the company's board. In 2009, Deason negotiated a deal to sell ACS to Xerox. Due to a negotiated additional premium/the value placed on his voting stock, shareholders sued Deason. The suit was settled, and the sale closed in early 2010. By the end of October 2016, the suit was settled and Deason's preferred shares were split between the companies (180,000 shares of Xerox's preferred stock and 120,000 preferred shares of Conduent).

In the 2016 presidential election, Deason again supported Perry, donating $5 million to his campaign. After Perry withdrew from the race in September 2015, Deason asked for his contribution to be returned. Deason then endorsed Ted Cruz's campaign.

Between 2017 and June 30, 2019, Deason donated $1 million to the America First Policies-tied America First Action super PAC. Deason later contributed $405,000 to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.

Personal life and death Deason was married six times, and his fifth wife, Katerina Panos, was 27 years his junior.

In 2020, Darwin married Kimberly Cohn, and they filed for divorce in 2023.

Deason died on December 2, 2025, at the age of 85.