Michael Rubens Bloomberg (b.1942) is an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist. This founder and majority owner of Bloomberg, one of the world’s largest financial information, news, and media companies, also served for 12 years as New York City’s 108th mayor 2002–13.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Bloomberg graduated from John Hopkins University in 1964 and from Harvard Business School two years later. He worked in equity trading at Salomon Brothers but got fired in 1981. Bloomberg sold millions of dollars’ worth of his Salomon Brothers stock and used the proceeds to establish Innovative Market Systems (IMS,) a computerized information system that provided real-time securities market data via a desktop terminal. The company changed its name to Bloomberg L.P. in 1986 and developed into a financial media empire.
Bloomberg turned to a political career in 2001 when he successfully ran for mayor of New York City after investing $73 million of his fortune to fund his campaign. During his 12-year term as mayor, he spearheaded efforts to reduce crime and improve public health.
After a brief stint as a full-time philanthropist focusing on environmental issues, public health, and the arts, Bloomberg re-assumed the position of CEO at his eponymous company in 2014.
Bloomberg published the autobiography, Bloomberg by Bloomberg, in 1997.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Michael Bloomberg
After hard work, the biggest determinant is being in the right place at the right time.
—Michael Bloomberg
I think if you look at people, whether in business or government, who haven’t had any moral compass, who’ve just changed to say whatever they thought the popular thing was, in the end they’re losers.
—Michael Bloomberg
What you’ve got to do is be honest. Say what you believe. Give it to them straight. Just don’t wuss out.
—Michael Bloomberg
Taxes are not good things, but if you want services, somebody’s got to pay for them so they’re a necessary evil.
—Michael Bloomberg
Topics: Taxes
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