Who is Jubal Harshaw from Stranger in a Strange Land and what is their importance?

Jubal Harshaw is bad tempered old man. He is rich, and he surrounds himself with beautiful women, who are employed as his secretaries. Over the course of the novel, Jubal is persuaded to take Michael in and becomes a father figure to him. Jubal allows Michael to live his own life, even if he doesn't approve of his actions...... which is quite often.