Who Is Jack Welch? Age, Biography and Wiki
Jack Welch was born on November 19, 1935, and he passed away on March 1, 2020. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 90th birthday had he been alive. Welch was a prominent American businessman known for his tenure as CEO of General Electric (GE) from 1981 to 2001. Under his leadership, GE became one of the most valuable and innovative companies in the world, implementing groundbreaking management strategies and fostering a culture of performance and efficiency. His accomplishments have left a lasting impact on the business world.
| Occupation | Business Executive |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 19, 1935 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 1 March, 2020 |
| Died Place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Popularity
Jack Welch's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Jack Welch's height and weight are not widely publicized, estimates suggest he was around 5 feet 10 inches tall. His impressive presence in the corporate world showed both his confidence and charisma, which were critical to his leadership style.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Jack Welch was married three times during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Carolyn B. Welch, with whom he had four children. After their divorce, he married Jane Beasley, but that marriage also ended in divorce. His third marriage was to Suzy Wetlaufer, a former editor at Harvard Business Review, in 2004. Together, Jack and Suzy shared a deep bond, with Suzy often supporting Jack in his various endeavors throughout his career.
Welch's income and assets came under particular scrutiny during his divorce from his second wife, Jane Welch, in 2001, for adultery with the woman who became his third wife. Court filings during the divorce described Welch's GE compensation, which led to a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation of the then-retired Welch's employment contracts with GE.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2020, Jack Welch's net worth was estimated to be around $750 million. His salary during his tenure at GE was substantial, with reports indicating that he earned over $1 billion in total compensation during his time as CEO, making him one of the highest-paid CEOs of his era. His strategic investments and managerial decisions contributed tremendously to his wealth.
When Welch retired from GE, he received a severance payment of $417 million, the largest such payment in business history up to that point. In 2006, Welch's net worth was estimated at $720 million.
Career, Business and Investments
Jack Welch began his career at GE in 1960 as a chemical engineer. His impressive climb through the corporate ladder led him to become the youngest CEO in GE's history at the age of 45. Welch was fiery in his management style, famously advocating for what he called "rank and yank" — a system that encouraged high performance by rewarding the best employees while letting go of the bottom 10%.
Welch's visionary approach helped GE expand into high-tech sectors and global markets, influencing many business methodologies used today. After retiring, he focused on consulting, writing, and speaking engagements, further solidifying his place as a respected figure in the business community.
John Francis Welch Jr. (November 19, 1935 – March 1, 2020) was an American business executive, chemical engineer, and writer. He was Chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) between 1981 and 2001.
Social Network
Though Jack Welch passed away in 2020, his influence continues to resonate in business discussions today. His insights are regularly cited in publications and online platforms related to managerial effectiveness and corporate strategy. Additionally, Welch's legacy is maintained through his bestselling books and numerous interviews available on platforms like YouTube and business blogs.
In 2009, Welch founded the Jack Welch Management Institute (JWMI), which is a program at Chancellor University that offered an online executive Master of Business Administration. The institute was acquired by Strayer University in 2011.
Welch had been very actively involved with the curriculum, faculty and students since the beginning of the institution. JWMI's MBA program was recently named the number one most influential education brand on Linkedin and one of the top business schools to watch in 2016.
The program has also been named one of the Top 25 Online MBA Programs four years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) by The Princeton Review. Its goal is not to make money, but to build over time focusing on the quality of the program and increasing the number of students enrolled year after year.
Education
Welch completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1957. He later obtained a Master of Science degree and a Doctorate in Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His academic background provided a strong foundation for his analytical approach to business and management, which he carried throughout his career.
Throughout his early life in middle school and high school, Welch found work in the summers as a golf caddie, newspaper delivery boy, shoe salesman, and drill press operator. Welch attended Salem High School, where he participated in baseball, football, and captained the hockey team and became second lieutenant right after graduating
