Carl Lindner Jr. facts for kids

Carl Henry Lindner Jr. (born April 22, 1919 – died October 17, 2011) was a very successful American businessman. He was from Norwood, Ohio, and was known as one of the richest people in the world. In 2010, Forbes magazine estimated his wealth at about $1.7 billion. Carl Lindner Jr. was a member of the well-known Lindner family.

Carl Lindner Jr.'s Early Life and Business

Carl Lindner Jr. was born on April 22, 1919, in Dayton, Ohio. He grew up in Norwood, which is a town near Cincinnati, Ohio. When he was 14 years old, he left school during the Great Depression. He then helped his family grow their dairy business. This business later became United Dairy Farmers, a big chain of convenience stores.

Building a Business Empire

With his three sons, Carl Lindner III, Craig Lindner, and Keith Lindner, he owned a large part of American Financial Group. This company is based in Cincinnati. Its main work is in insurance and investments.

Carl Lindner Jr. also had a special connection to baseball. He was a part-owner and the main leader (CEO) of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. He sold most of his share in 2005. Even after selling, he stayed an active partner with the team. In 1997, Carl Lindner Jr. was honored by being added to Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame. This award recognizes great business leaders.

Giving Back to the Community

Carl Lindner Jr. was very generous. He gave money to many charities and political campaigns. The Lindner family has helped several private schools in Cincinnati. One of these is Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, which the Lindners helped start.

Supporting Education

Lindner supported a special program at the University of Cincinnati. This program is for business students and is now called the Carl H. Lindner Business Honors program. In June 2011, the University of Cincinnati honored him. They renamed their College of Business the Carl H. Lindner College of Business. This was to thank him and his family for their help to the college and the community.

His company, Great American Insurance Company, also sponsored a big tennis tournament. It was called the Cincinnati Masters. A church called Phillips Chapel Church also honored him. They added the Carl Lindner Jr Fellowship Hall.

Helping Different Faiths

Carl Lindner Jr. was a very religious Baptist. But he was also known for being one of the biggest non-Jewish donors to Jewish charities in the United States. In 1978, he was named "Man of the Year" by the United Jewish Appeal. He also received the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund. He was recognized as the largest non-Jewish buyer of Israel Bonds. Lindner said an early loan from a Jewish person inspired him to always be grateful to the Jewish people. He gave large amounts of money to these causes many times.

In 1978, Carl Lindner Jr. received the Golden Plate Award. This award is from the American Academy of Achievement.

Supporting Political Causes

Carl Lindner Jr. was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. During the 2004 election, his family gave a lot of money to Republicans. This included the Republican National Committee and many politicians. In 2004, the Republican National Committee called Lindner a "Super Ranger." This was the highest award for people who raised $300,000 or more for the party.

Lindner was a friend of President George W. Bush. He helped Bush use the Great American Ball Park for his re-election campaign in 2004. In 2005, Lindner also gave $250,000 to President George W. Bush's second inauguration ceremony.

Business Connections

Carl Lindner and his brother Robert built their family's dairy business into United Dairy Farmers. This is a chain of convenience stores in Cincinnati, Ohio. From there, they moved into financial and communication businesses.

Key Companies

Through their main company, American Financial Group (AFG), they controlled Great American Insurance. This company oversees many property and life insurance businesses. AFG also owned Provident Bank, a large bank in Cincinnati. They also owned Hunter Savings, which later joined Provident Bank. The Lindners also controlled many shopping centers around Cincinnati. At one time, they owned Bantam Books, a book publisher. They also owned The Cincinnati Enquirer, a major newspaper in Cincinnati.

Carl Lindner also had big investments in other well-known companies. These included United Brands (known for Chiquita Bananas), Kroger (a large supermarket chain), and General Cable.

Death

Carl Lindner Jr. passed away on October 17, 2011, when he was 92 years old. He was survived by his wife, Edyth Bailey. He also left behind his sons, Carl III, Craig, and Keith. He had 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.