Michael Moritz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Michael Moritz
|
|
|---|---|
Moritz in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Michael Jonathan Moritz
12 September 1954 Cardiff, Wales
|
| Citizenship | United Kingdom, United States |
| Education |
|
| Occupation | Former Partner at Sequoia Capital |
| Known for | Venture capitalist |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet Heyman |
| Children | 2 |
Sir Michael Jonathan Moritz (born 12 September 1954) is a very successful Welsh businessman. He is known as a venture capitalist, which means he invests money in new and growing companies. He is also a philanthropist, meaning he gives a lot of money to good causes. Before becoming a venture capitalist, he was a journalist and wrote books.
Michael Moritz worked for Sequoia Capital, a famous investment firm, for almost 40 years. He also wrote the first history of Apple Inc., called The Little Kingdom. He was once a writer for Time magazine and served on the board of directors for Google. He studied at the University of Oxford and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2006 and 2007, Forbes magazine named him the top venture capitalist on its Midas List.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Jonathan Moritz was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 12 September 1954. His parents, Ludwig Alfred Moritz and Doris Rath, were Jewish and had moved from Nazi Germany. His father was a professor at Cardiff University.
Michael went to Howardian High School in Cardiff. He later earned a bachelor's degree in history from Christ Church, Oxford. In 1978, he received an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Career Highlights
Journalism Days
Michael Moritz started his career as a journalist. In the early 1980s, he worked for Time magazine. Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple, asked him to write a book about the creation of the Mac computer. Jobs wanted Moritz to be Apple's historian.
Moritz was the San Francisco Bureau Chief for Time in late 1982. He was working on a special issue that was supposed to feature Steve Jobs as "Man of the Year." However, the issue changed to "Machine of the Year" and focused on "The Computer" instead. It also included some negative comments about Jobs. After the issue was published, Steve Jobs was very upset and stopped talking to Moritz.
Despite this, Moritz finished his book, The Little Kingdom: the Private Story of Apple Computer. Many people still consider it one of the best books about Apple. In 2009, he released an updated version called Return to the Little Kingdom: How Apple and Steve Jobs Changed the World.
Moritz also worked with famous football manager Alex Ferguson on his 2015 book, Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United. This book shares lessons on success in business and life.
Becoming a Venture Capitalist
In 1986, Michael Moritz joined Sequoia Capital. A venture capitalist is someone who invests money in new companies that have a lot of potential to grow. Moritz helped many internet companies become successful.
Some of the well-known companies he invested in include Google, Yahoo!, Skyscanner, PayPal, YouTube, and Zappos. His investment in Google, which went public in 2004, made him one of the richest people in Wales. He was ranked number one on Forbes magazine's "Midas List" in 2006 and 2007. This list recognizes the top investors in the technology world.
Michael Moritz stepped down from his main role at Sequoia Capital in July 2023 after nearly 40 years. He now focuses on Sequoia Heritage, a wealth-management fund he helped create.
The San Francisco Standard
Michael Moritz also funded The San Francisco Standard. This is a news website that focuses on news and events in San Francisco. It uses social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to share its stories.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Moritz has received several honors for his work and contributions.
- In July 2010, he received an honorary fellowship from Cardiff University in Wales.
- In July 2014, he was honored as a fellow of Aberystwyth University.
- In November 2014, he received an honorary doctorate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2013. This honor was for his work in promoting British economic interests and his charitable giving.
Personal Life
Michael Moritz lives in San Francisco with his wife, Harriet Heyman, who is a novelist. They have two children.
In May 2012, Moritz shared that he had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition. Because of this, he stepped back from his daily duties at Sequoia Capital and became the chairman instead.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Michael Moritz is a major philanthropist. He is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, which means he has promised to give away at least 50% of his wealth to charity.
He and his wife have made many large donations:
- In June 2008, they gave US$50 million to Christ Church, his college at Oxford University. This was the largest single donation the college had ever received.
- In July 2012, they donated £75 million to Oxford University. This money helps students from lower-income families get scholarships. It was the largest financial donation to an undergraduate university in European history.
- In February 2013, they gave $5 million to the Juilliard School for its Music Advancement Program.
- In September 2013, they gave $30 million to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This created a program to support PhD students.
- In February 2016, they gave $50 million to the University of Chicago (UC). This donation helps students with great potential from lower-income backgrounds.
- In May 2018, Moritz donated $20 million to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This was the largest donation the organization had ever received.
Moritz has also supported various political and social causes in San Francisco. For example, he has funded groups that advocate for changes in city policies.
Crankstart Charity
In 2019, it was announced that Michael Moritz and his wife's charity, Crankstart, would sponsor the Booker Prize for novelists. This sponsorship was planned for five years.
