John Powell Mackey is an American businessman and author, widely recognized as the co-founder of Whole Foods Market. Born on August 15, 1953, in Houston, Texas, Mackey studied philosophy and religion at the University of Texas at Austin and Trinity University in the 1970s, though he did not complete a degree. He credits his generalist approach to learning for his business success. Mackey became a vegetarian in 1976 and an ethical vegan in 2003.