Mortimer Zuckerman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mort Zuckerman
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Zuckerman in 2013
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| Born |
Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman
June 4, 1937 Montreal, Canada
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| Education | McGill University (BA, BCL) University of Pennsylvania (MBA) Harvard University (LLM) |
| Occupation | Executive chairman, Boston Properties Editor-in-chief, U.S. News & World Report |
| Spouse(s) |
Marla Prather
(m. 1996; div. 2001) |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman (born June 4, 1937) is a very successful Canadian-American businessman. He is known for owning media companies and investing in real estate. He helped start Boston Properties, which is one of the biggest real estate companies in the US. He also owns and is the main editor of U.S. News & World Report, a well-known magazine. He used to own other famous magazines and newspapers like the New York Daily News. As of 2024, he is a billionaire.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mortimer Zuckerman was born in Montreal, Canada, on June 4, 1937. His parents, Esther and Abraham Zuckerman, owned a tobacco and candy store. His family is Jewish, and his grandfather was an Orthodox rabbi.
Mortimer started McGill University in Montreal when he was just 16. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. He also got a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1961. After that, he went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he earned an MBA degree with high honors. In 1962, he received another degree, an LLM, from Harvard Law School.
Business Career and Media Ownership
After finishing his studies, Zuckerman taught at Harvard Business School for nine years. He also taught at Yale University. He then worked at a real estate company called Cabot, Cabot & Forbes. He became a senior leader and financial officer there.
In 1980, he bought The Atlantic, a literary magazine. He was its chairman until 1999. He sold it for $12 million. He also sold Fast Company magazine for $365 million in 2000. He joked that he "averaged out" on these sales.
While he still owned The Atlantic, Zuckerman bought U.S. News & World Report in 1984. He is still its editor-in-chief today. In 1993, he bought the New York Daily News. He owned it until 2017 when he sold it.
Involvement in Politics
Besides his business, Zuckerman often shares his thoughts on world events. He writes articles and appears on television shows. He used to be a regular guest on MSNBC and The McLaughlin Group. He also writes columns for U.S. News & World Report.
Zuckerman has supported different political parties over the years. In 2010, he said he helped write a speech for President Barack Obama. However, Obama's speechwriters said they had never met him. Zuckerman later clarified that his help was through private talks, offering advice to officials.
He supported Obama in 2008 but later became critical of some of his policies. For example, he wanted the government to focus on lowering healthcare costs.
Personal Life and Interests
In 1996, Mortimer Zuckerman married Marla Prather. She was a curator at the National Gallery of Art. They divorced in 2001.
Zuckerman became a US citizen in 1977. He owns homes in New York City, East Hampton, and Aspen, Colorado. He also has a large yacht called the Lazy Z. He used to own a private jet and recently bought a new one.
Since 2008, Zuckerman has been a vegan. This means he does not eat any animal products. He talked about this on The McLaughlin Group in 2014.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Mortimer Zuckerman is also known for his generous donations. This is called philanthropy.
In 2004, he gave $10 million to Harvard University. This money helps students who want to study different subjects like law, business, or medicine. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, and living costs for one year.
In 2006, he pledged $100 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This was for a new cancer research facility. It was the largest donation ever from one person to that center.
In 2012, he pledged $200 million to Columbia University. This donation helped create the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. This institute studies how the brain works.
Jewish Organizations and Israel
From 2001 to 2003, Zuckerman was the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. This group represents many Jewish organizations in the US.
In 2008, President George W. Bush asked Zuckerman to join a special group. They traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary.
Other Roles and Connections
Zuckerman serves on the boards of many important groups. These include New York University, the Aspen Institute, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He has been a mentor to Daniel Snyder, who used to own the NFL football team Washington Commanders. Zuckerman also supported Snyder's business projects.
Awards and Honors
Mortimer Zuckerman has received several awards and honorary degrees. He was given the Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 1994. He also received a lifetime achievement award from Guild Hall. The American Institute of Architecture in New York gave him a gold medal.
2010 Senate Election
In 2010, some people thought Zuckerman might run for the US Senate. He was considered to run as a Republican or an independent. This would have avoided a costly primary election.
However, on March 2, 2010, he decided not to run. He said he needed to focus on his family and work.
See also
In Spanish: Mortimer Zuckerman para niños
- List of investors in Bernard L. Madoff Securities
- List of vegans
