# Matt Heaton

> Matt Heaton founded Bluehost with Danny Ashworth in Provo, Utah, in 2003 and served as CEO until June 2011. His career spans early computer sales, free web hosting, subscription hosting and Linux infrastructure software. His enthusiasm for table tennis also became part of Bluehost’s office culture and recruiting story.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur and web hosting founder
- **Organizations:** Bluehost, HostMonster, BetterLinux, ACE Data Centers
- **Education:** Brigham Young University
- **Known for:** Cofounded Bluehost in 2003 and led it until 2011., Built a hosting business that became a WordPress.org recommended provider in 2005., Led BetterLinux after Bluehost, extending his work into Linux server software.

## Career timeline

- **Age 17** — Began selling computers through bulletin board systems and shipping them from his home basement.
- **Before 2003** — Operated free hosting services before adopting a subscription model; Bluehost’s history names 50megs.com and 0catch.com.
- **2003** — Founded Bluehost in Provo, Utah, with Danny Ashworth.
- **2005** — WordPress.org began recommending Bluehost.
- **2006** — Published a personal blog; a November customer letter described his involvement in server performance repairs.
- **2010** — Bluehost joined Endurance International Group, according to Bluehost’s current official timeline.
- **2011-06** — Stepped down as Bluehost CEO; Dan Handy succeeded him. Heaton said he would focus on platform design and technical structure.
- **2012** — Publicly identified as BetterLinux CEO at the cPanel conference.
- **2015-06** — BetterLinux announced it would close on July 1.

## Achievements

- Cofounded Bluehost in 2003 and led it until 2011.
- Built a hosting business that became a WordPress.org recommended provider in 2005.
- Led BetterLinux after Bluehost, extending his work into Linux server software.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — In a WP Builds interview, Thomas Raef retold a historical Bluehost referral story involving Heaton and technician Alex Lundquist; this was a retrospective anecdote, not a new role announcement.

## Links

- Website: http://www.mattheaton.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-heaton-64049a15

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matt-heaton
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15