Mortimer Zuckerman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mort Zuckerman
|
|
|---|---|
Zuckerman in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman
June 4, 1937 |
| 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 United States. Mr. Zuckerman also owns and leads U.S. News & World Report, a well-known magazine. He used to own other famous publications like the New York Daily News and The Atlantic. As of August 2024, he is a billionaire.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
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, a Jewish religious leader.
Mort Zuckerman started attending McGill University in Montreal when he was just 16 years old. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. In 1961, he also received a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill. That same year, he went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with high honors. In 1962, he received another degree, a Master of Laws (LLM), from Harvard Law School.
Mort Zuckerman's Business Career
After finishing his studies, Mort Zuckerman taught at Harvard Business School for nine years. He also taught at Yale University. Later, he worked for seven years at a real estate company called Cabot, Cabot & Forbes. He became a senior vice president and chief financial officer there. This means he was in charge of the company's money.
In 1980, he bought The Atlantic, a literary magazine. He was its chairman until 1999. He sold The Atlantic in 1999 for $12 million. He also sold Fast Company magazine for $365 million in 2000. This was during a time when technology companies were very popular. He joked that he "averaged out" his sales.
While he still owned The Atlantic, Mr. Zuckerman bought U.S. News & World Report in 1984. He is still its main editor today. In 1993, he bought the New York Daily News, a newspaper. He owned it until 2017 when he sold it to another company.
His Views on Politics
Besides his work in publishing and real estate, Mort 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.
Mr. Zuckerman has supported different political parties over the years. In 2010, he mentioned that he had helped with one of President Barack Obama's speeches. He later clarified that he offered advice in private talks with officials.
He supported the Democratic party and voted for Barack Obama in 2008. However, he also criticized President Obama on some issues. For example, he commented on the government's spending plan. He felt that much of the money went to local governments and unions. He also thought the healthcare reform bill focused more on extending coverage than lowering costs.
Mort Zuckerman's Personal Life
Mort Zuckerman became a citizen of the United States in 1977.
In 1996, he married Marla Prather, who worked at the National Gallery of Art. They had a daughter named Abigail. They divorced in 2001. Mort Zuckerman's second daughter, Renee Esther, was born in December 2008.
In 2014, he shared that he had become a vegan in 2008. This means he does not eat any animal products. He continued to appear on The McLaughlin Group until July 2015.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Mort Zuckerman has given a lot of money to help others. This is called philanthropy.
- In May 2004, he promised $10 million to Harvard University. This money helps students who want to study different subjects at Harvard. It covers their tuition, fees, and health insurance.
- In May 2006, he pledged $100 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering. This was for a new cancer research center. It was the largest gift ever from one person to that center.
- In December 2012, he promised $200 million to Columbia University. This money helped create the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. This institute studies how the brain works.
Involvement with Jewish Groups and Israel
From 2001 to 2003, Mort Zuckerman was the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. This group represents many Jewish organizations in the United States.
He was also appointed by President George W. Bush to a special group. This group went to Jerusalem in May 2008 to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary.
Other Roles and Connections
Mort Zuckerman is part of many important groups and organizations. He serves on the boards of trustees for places like New York University and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. This group discusses important international issues.
He is known to be a mentor to Daniel Snyder, who used to own the NFL football team Washington Commanders. Mr. Zuckerman also supported some of Mr. Snyder's business ideas.
Awards and Honors
Mort Zuckerman has received several special awards and honors. He has three honorary degrees from universities, including one from Colby College. In 1994, the government of France gave him an award called Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He also received a lifetime achievement award from Guild Hall. The American Institute of Architecture in New York gave him a gold medal.
See also
In Spanish: Mortimer Zuckerman para niños
- List of vegans
