Who Is Peter G. Peterson? Age, Biography and Wiki
Peter G. Peterson was born on June 5, 1926, in Kearney, Nebraska. He passed away on March 20, 2018, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the fields of finance and philanthropy. With a strong educational background from Yale University, Peterson went on to co-found the Blackstone Group in 1985, which became one of the world's largest private equity firms. His career spanned over several decades, during which he held various significant roles, including serving as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Richard Nixon.
| Occupation | Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 5, 1926 |
| Age | 91 Years |
| Birth Place | Kearney, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 20 March, 2018 |
| Died Place | New York City, U.S. |
Popularity
Peter G. Peterson's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Throughout his life, Peter stood at an impressive height of approximately 6 feet (183 cm). While specific details regarding his weight and body measurements are not widely documented, his fitness and health remained a priority throughout his years in the finance industry.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Peter G. Peterson was married to Joan Ganz Cooney from 1996 until his passing in 2018. Prior to this marriage, he was married to his first wife, a relationship that ended in divorce. Peterson had two children: a son and a daughter from his first marriage. He was known for valuing family and often spoke about the importance of familial relationships and legacy.
He was the eldest of three children born to Venetia "Venet" Paul (née Pavlou) and George Peterson (née Petropoulos). His parents were immigrants from southern Greece. He had one younger sister, Elaine, who died of croup when she was one year old, and a brother, John, who was the youngest.
His father arrived in the United States at age 17 and worked as a dishwasher for Union Pacific Railroad and roomed on a caboose. In 1923, George opened and then ran a Greek diner, Central Café, in Kearney, after changing his name from Georgios Petropoulos. Peter began working at the cash register at age 8.
Expelled from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for plagiarizing a term paper in his freshman year, Peterson enrolled at Northwestern University and The Kellogg School, graduating in 1947 with highest academic honors, summa cum laude.
Peterson was first married from 1948 to 1950 to Kris Krengel, a journalism student at Northwestern University. He joined Market Facts upon graduation, a Chicago-based market research firm, in 1948.
In 1951, he received an MBA degree from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business before returning to Market Facts as an executive vice president.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Peter G. Peterson had an estimated net worth of around $2.5 billion. His wealth primarily stemmed from his pivotal roles in investment banking and private equity, particularly with the Blackstone Group. His financial expertise and successful investment strategies contributed to significant earnings during his career.
Peter George Peterson (June 5, 1926 – March 20, 2018) was an American investment banker who served as United States Secretary of Commerce from 1972 to 1973 during the administration of President Richard Nixon. Peterson was also chairman and CEO of Bell & Howell from 1963 to 1971. From 1973 to 1984, he was chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers.
In 1985, he co-founded the private equity firm the Blackstone Group, and served as chairman. In the same year, Peterson became chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, a position he held until his retirement in 2007, after which he was named chairman emeritus.
In 2008, Peterson was ranked 149th on the "Forbes 400 Richest Americans" with a net worth of $2.8 billion. He was also known as founder and principal funder of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting fiscal austerity.
Career, Business and Investments
Peter G. Peterson's career was marked by several key milestones. After starting his career at the investment banking firm Lehman Brothers, he shifted to a higher profile role at the Bell & Howell Company. His notable tenure as the Chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group further solidified his status as a leading figure in the finance industry. Aside from his business endeavors, Peterson was a passionate advocate for fiscal responsibility and public policy reform, which led him to establish the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in 2008, aimed at addressing America’s long-term economic challenges.
Peterson joined advertising agency McCann Erickson in 1953, again in Chicago, where he served as a director. He joined movie-equipment maker Bell and Howell Corporation in 1958 as executive vice president. He later succeeded Charles H. Percy as chairman and CEO, positions he held from 1963 to 1971.
Social Network
While he was a prominent figure in the financial sector, Peter G. Peterson mostly kept a low profile regarding his personal life on social networks. However, he often shared insights and thoughts on economic policies and fiscal strategies through various platforms. His foundation remains active on social media, continuing to promote conversations surrounding fiscal responsibility and economic reform.
Peterson funded The Fiscal Times, a news website that reports on current economic issues, including the federal budget, the deficit, entitlements, health care, personal savings, taxation, and the global economy. Fiscal Times contributors and editors include several veteran economics reporters for The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Education
Peter G. Peterson attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree, which laid the groundwork for his later career in banking and finance. His education, combined with his extensive real-world experience, allowed him to navigate complex financial landscapes and contribute meaningfully to public discourse on economic issues.
Peterson was married three times and divorced twice.
In 1953, he married former Brown University psychology professor Sally Hornbogen Peterson, a trustee of the Dalton School and a graduate of Northwestern University, with whom he had five children: John Scott Peterson, James Jim Peterson, David Peterson, Michael Alexander Peterson, and the writer Holly Peterson. They divorced in 1979.
The next year, Peterson married Joan Ganz Cooney, the co-creator of the popular American educational children's television series Sesame Street.
