John Kluge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Kluge
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John Werner Kluge
September 21, 1914 Chemnitz, German Empire (today Chemnitz, Germany)
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| Died | September 7, 2010 (aged 95) Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
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| Alma mater | Wayne State University Columbia University (BA) |
| Occupation | Chairman, Metromedia |
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| Children | 6, including John Kluge Jr. |
John Werner Kluge (/ˈkluːɡi/; September 21, 1914 – September 7, 2010) was an important German-American businessman. He became a major leader in the television industry in the United States. At one point, he was known as the richest person in the U.S.
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Early Life and Education
John Kluge was born in Chemnitz, Germany. His family moved to the United States in 1922 when he was young. He studied at Wayne State University for two years. Later, he earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia University in 1937. During World War II, Kluge served in a secret facility near Washington, D.C.
Building Metromedia
Kluge made his biggest move into the media world in the mid-1950s. He bought shares in a company called Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation. This company owned two TV stations, WABD in New York City and WTTG in Washington, D.C. These stations used to be part of the DuMont Television Network.
In 1958, Kluge became the chairman of the company's board. He also became its biggest shareholder. He bought most of his shares from the founder, Allen B. DuMont, for about $6 million.
Expanding the Company
After taking control in 1959, Kluge started to make the company much bigger. He added more television and radio stations. In the early 1960s, Kluge also bought a company that did outdoor advertising. In 1961, the company's name was changed to Metromedia. This new name showed that the company was involved in many different types of media.
Selling Metromedia's TV Stations
In 1986, Kluge sold the Metromedia television stations to 20th Century Fox. This deal was worth about $4 billion. These stations later became the main part of what is now the Fox television network. The Fox network officially started on October 9 of that year. The next year, Forbes magazine named Kluge the richest man in America.
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Later Business Ventures
After selling the TV stations, Kluge continued his business activities. He worked through a private company called Metromedia Company. This company invested in telecommunications, cable, and radio in places like Eastern Europe and China. Metromedia also owned restaurant chains like Bennigan's and Steak and Ale. In 2008, many of these restaurants closed down. Kluge was also one of the first owners of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars soccer team.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
John Kluge was known for his incredible generosity. He gave away hundreds of millions of dollars to support education and learning.
The John W. Kluge Center
To celebrate the 200th birthday of the Library of Congress, Kluge gave $60 million. This huge gift helped create the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. This center is a place where smart scholars can use the Library's amazing collections. They can also talk with members of the United States Congress.
His gift also created the Kluge Prize. This prize is worth $1 million. It is given to people who have achieved a lot in human sciences. It is similar to the Nobel Prize for literature and economics.
Supporting Columbia University
Kluge gave over $510 million to Columbia University. He remembered that scholarships helped him attend college. So, between 1987 and 1993, he gave more than $110 million to Columbia. This money mainly helped students from less fortunate backgrounds pay for college. His donations also helped many of these students go on to get their Ph.D.s.
In 2007, Columbia University announced another pledge from Kluge. He promised $400 million, which the university would receive after his death. This was one of the largest gifts ever given to a university in America. All of this money was for student financial aid. It was the biggest pledge ever given only for student aid to one university in the U.S.
Gifts to the University of Virginia
In 1997, John Kluge gave a large collection of contemporary Indigenous Australian art to the University of Virginia. This gift led the university to open the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum. It is the only museum in the United States focused on Aboriginal Australian art and culture.
In 2001, Kluge donated his 7,378-acre estate in Albemarle County, Virginia to the University of Virginia. This estate was worth over $45 million. It was the largest gift in the university's history. The university now uses the farm for classes and seminars. In 2009, he also gave $3 million to the university to help with end-of-life care.
Political Donations
During the 1980s, Kluge gave money to both Republican and Democratic candidates. He supported presidential candidates and those running for the Senate. In Virginia, he mostly gave money to Democrats. For example, in 1989, he donated $100,000 to a candidate for governor, L. Douglas Wilder.
Personal Life
John Kluge was a collector of modern Indigenous Australian art. He owned works by famous artists like Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. In 1983, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
Kluge was married four times. His wives were Theodora Thomson Townsend, Yolanda Galardo Zucco, Patricia Maureen Rose, and Maria Tussi Kuttner. After his divorce from Patricia Kluge in the 1990s, she kept their estate in Albemarle. She turned it into a successful vineyard and winery.
Kluge had three children: Joseph (adopted), Samantha, and John Jr. (adopted). He also had three stepchildren who remained close to him. At the time of his death in 2010, he had homes in New Rochelle, New York, Virginia, and Palm Beach, Florida.
See also
- The World's Billionaires
- List of richest Americans in history
