Historical Figure
Michael Bloomberg
b. 1942
American businessman and politician (born 1942)
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"Democratic National Convention Address on Donald Trump" — 2016
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Biography
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an American businessman and politician. He is the majority owner and co-founder of Bloomberg L.P., and was its CEO from 1981 to 2001, and again from 2014 to 2023. He served as the 109th mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013. He was a lifelong Democrat until 2001, when he switched to the Republican Party to run for mayor, and later became an Independent in 2007. Bloomberg is the most recent Mayor of New York City to serve as a Republican or Independent. In 2018, he rejoined the Democratic Party, after which he ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president of the United States. Bloomberg is a centibillionaire, worth $109.4 billion as of December 2025, making him the 17th richest person in the world.
Timeline
The story of Michael Bloomberg, told in moments.
Fired from Salomon Brothers after the firm merges. He gets a $10 million severance. Uses it to start Innovative Market Systems, later renamed Bloomberg LP. The product: a computer terminal that gives Wall Street traders real-time financial data. Merrill Lynch buys 20 of them. Then everyone else does.
Elected Mayor of New York City, two months after September 11. Switches party affiliation from Democrat to Republican to avoid a primary. Spends $74 million of his own money on the campaign. Serves three terms over twelve years.
Drops out of the presidential race after spending over $900 million on his campaign and winning only American Samoa. The most expensive failed primary campaign in American history. He endorses Joe Biden the same day.
In Their Own Words (20)
"The press really is not doing its job of holding [the candidates'] feet to the fire. … The tough questions are not what are you in favor of, but how are you going to get it through Congress?"
2008
Today, you're a piranha if you are seen having coffee with somebody from the other party in many cases.
Press conference, 20 June 2007; presumably meaning "pariah", not "piranha", 2007
Working collectively and collaboratively is the difference between mediocrity by yourself...or success as a team. You have to share the pain... and the responsibility... and if you do then you will also share in the rewards.
2007
In response to criticism from Democratic mayoral candidates for appearing at a 2004 event for the Independence Party: "To all the critics who are rushing out to criticize me tonight, criticize me for being here tonight, let me point out that this night is about the one million New Yorkers who are denied the most basic rights by the two major political parties."
2004
"In 1975, Congress passed a law requiring fuel efficiency standards to double over 10 years, with incremental targets that auto manufacturers were required to meet. That was the responsible approach, and it worked. But since 1985, we’ve done nothing — even as technology has moved at light speed."
1975
Artifacts (15)
there is racism in England, but we were not exposed to it
Tutus felt liberated experiencing a life free from South Africa's apartheid and pass laws; he later noted that "there is racism in England, but we were not exposed to it". He was also impressed by the...
black theology is an engaged not an academic, detached theology. It is a gut lev...
on the subject at New York City's Union Theological Seminary. There, he presented a paper in which he stated that "black theology is an engaged not an academic, detached theology. It is a gut level...
has exceptional knowledge and intelligence and is very industrious. At the same ...
y degree, and winning the archbishop's annual essay prize. The college's principal, Godfrey Pawson, wrote that Tutu "has exceptional knowledge and intelligence and is very industrious. At the same...
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