Morgan Murphy

In 2007, Murphy left Southern Living and founded Motorpool.com, which was claimed to be the world's first social network for classic car enthusiasts. The launch was backed by more than $1 million in venture capital. In late 2010, Murphy had recently toured the country in a vintage Cadillac to promote the site's launch (and had nine Cadillacs in his possession). However, as of March 2015, the Motorpool.com domain name was no longer operating as a distinct website and was simply a redirect to Murphy's personal site.

Murphy is a classic car enthusiast with a special focus on vintage Cadillacs. In 2005, Murphy discovered "The Duchess" – a 1941 Cadillac limousine created for the abdicated king Edward VIII and his consort Wallis Simpson – in a barn in Fort Worth, Texas. The car was a one-of-a-kind creation by General Motors' chief designer Harley Earl, under the direction of the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Alfred P. Sloan. When Murphy purchased the car, it was in disrepair and its provenance was unproven. Murphy conducted a three-year restoration effort, and in November 2013, he offered the car for sale through an RM Auctions and Sotheby's "Art of the Automobile" sale. The auction houses called it "one of the most famous and iconic cars of both American and English society", and suggested the car should sell for between $500,000 and $800,000.

Murphy joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1999, and has since served on four continents. In 2010, Murphy was called to Afghanistan, where he served in Operation Enduring Freedom as the Director of Media Outreach for the International Security Assistance Force and briefed General David R. Petraeus, 40 general officers, and two ambassadors on a daily basis. As of December 2010, he held the rank of Lieutenant Commander and had also served in Morocco and South Korea. He has been awarded the NATO Freedom Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. In November 2012, he was assigned to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He received a Bachelor's degree in 1994 from Birmingham-Southern College (which honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013). He then received an MBA from the University of Oxford, where he was a member of Exeter College and was elected by the university as its "MBA of the Year".