Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar started Atlassian as two university friends with $10,000 in credit card debt. They went on to build a global software giant worth more than $100 billion — and become two of Australia’s richest people.

But behind the extraordinary success, their friendship was beginning to fracture.

Tech Bros authors and senior business journalists John Stensholt and Perry Williams join Sylvia Jeffreys to reveal what they uncovered about the relationship behind one of Australia’s greatest business success stories — from tensions inside Atlassian and a reported year in which the founders barely spoke, to a multimillion-dollar renovation dispute between their neighbouring Point Piper mansions.

In this episode:
How Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar built Atlassian from almost nothing
The Point Piper property dispute that exposed cracks in their friendship
What happened when tensions spilled into the workplace and why Farquhar ultimately stepped down as co-CEO
How Atlassian’s culture changed as the company grew
The impact of AI and 1,600 job cuts on Atlassian’s future
What their story teaches us about friendship, ambition and knowing when to walk away

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar started Atlassian as two university friends with $10,000 in credit card debt. They went on to build a global software giant worth more than $100 billion &mdash; and become two of Australia&rsquo;s richest people.
But behind the extraordinary success, their friendship was beginning to fracture.
Tech Bros authors and senior business journalists John Stensholt and Perry Williams join Sylvia Jeffreys to reveal what they uncovered about the relationship behind one of Australia&rsquo;s greatest business success stories &mdash; from tensions inside Atlassian and a reported year in which the founders barely spoke, to a multimillion-dollar renovation dispute between their neighbouring Point Piper mansions.
In this episode:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>How Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar built Atlassian from almost nothing</li>
<li>The Point Piper property dispute that exposed cracks in their friendship</li>
<li>What happened when tensions spilled into the workplace and why&nbsp;Farquhar ultimately stepped down as co-CEO</li>
<li>How Atlassian&rsquo;s culture changed as the company grew</li>
<li>The impact of AI and 1,600 job cuts on Atlassian&rsquo;s future</li>
<li>What their story teaches us about friendship, ambition and knowing when to walk away</li>
</ul>

Money is a constant contradiction. You’ve got to spend money to enjoy life but save every cent for the future. 

It’s why Australians are caught between impossible expectations and an economic system that feels stacked against them. So, how do you keep up the juggling act when the stakes just keep getting higher?

In The Pay Off Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.

You can listen to The Pay Off wherever you get your podcasts, or you can watch every episode on 9Now, search 'The Pay Off 9Now Podcast'

Money is a constant contradiction. You&rsquo;ve got to spend money to enjoy life but save every cent for the future.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s why Australians are caught between impossible expectations and an economic system that feels stacked against them.&nbsp;So, how do you keep up the juggling act when the stakes just keep getting higher?
In The Pay Off Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.
You can listen to The Pay Off wherever you get your podcasts, or you can watch every episode on 9Now, search 'The Pay Off 9Now Podcast'

Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with leading experts and entrepreneurs to uncover tips and tricks from some of the sharpest business minds in the game.