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{{Short description|American hedge fund manager, philanthropist and art collector (1926–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| image_size = 300px
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Wilson in June 2012
| caption = Wilson in June 2012
| birth_name= Robert Warne Wilson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|11|3}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|11|3}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, US
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, US
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|12|23|1926|11|3}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|12|23|1926|11|3}}
| death_place = New York City City
| death_place = New York City
| occupation = Businessman
| occupation = Businessman
| known_for=
| known_for=
| spouse = Marillyn Wilson (divorced)
| alma_mater={{Plainlist|
| alma_mater={{Plainlist|
*[[Amherst College]]
*[[Amherst College]]
*[[University of Michigan]]
*[[University of Michigan]]
*[[University of Michigan Law School]] (dropped out)}}}}
*[[University of Michigan Law School]] (dropped out)}}}}
'''Robert Warne Wilson''' (November 3, 1926 – December 23, 2013) was an American [[hedge fund]] manager, philanthropist and art collector.
'''Robert Warne Wilson''' (November 3, 1926 – December 23, 2013) was an American [[hedge fund]] manager, philanthropist, and art collector.


==Early life and education==
==Background==
Born in Detroit, Wilson gained his [[undergraduate degree]] at [[Amherst College]] and his [[Master's degree|masters]] from the [[University of Michigan]]. He attended the University of Michigan law school, but later left to work as a securities analyst. He founded his own hedge fund Wilson & Associates in 1969 and retired in 1986. By 2000 he was worth an estimated $800&nbsp;million.<ref name=NYTObit />
Born in Detroit, Wilson gained his [[undergraduate degree]] at [[Amherst College]] and his [[Master's degree|master's]] from the [[University of Michigan]]. He attended the University of Michigan law school, but later left to work as a [[securities analyst]].
==Career and philanthropy==
Wilson began his career in 1949, as a trainee at [[First Boston]], then returned in 1953, following his service in the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-17 |title=Robert W. Wilson leaps to his death at 87; hedge-fund founder and philanthropist |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/robert-w-wilson-leaps-to-his-death-at-87-hedge-fund-founder-and-philanthropist/2013/12/25/79120cb4-6d7f-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>


He founded his own [[hedge fund]] in 1969, and retired in 1986. By 2000 he was worth an estimated $800 million.<ref name="NYTObit" />
⚫
According to ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' he gave away over four hundred million dollars, and according to others more than $600&nbsp;million,<ref name=NYTObit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/nyregion/robert-w-wilson-hedge-fund-founder-and-philanthropist-dies-at-87.html "Robert W. Wilson, Frugal Philanthropist, Dies at 87"] by Paul Vitello, ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 27, 2013</ref> to environmental and preservation organizations including the [[Nature Conservancy]] and the [[World Monuments Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1120_phil_newgivers/source/4.htm |title=Meet the New Top Givers|work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> "The idea of 'But for my money, it would be gone forever' appeals," he once remarked.<ref name=DM>{{cite web|author=Meghan Keneally|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2528944/Multi-millionaire-86-jumps-death-16th-floor-balcony-giving-money-away-charity.html|title=Multi-millionaire Robert W. Wilson killed, 86[sic], jumps to his death after giving all his money to charity|work=[[Daily Mail]]|date=December 24, 2013|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> After his death, an email correspondence with [[Bill Gates]] revealed that Wilson opposed [[The Giving Pledge]], calling it "practically worthless".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kosman |first=Josh |url=https://nypost.com/2014/01/01/bill-gates-told-that-his-charity-pledge-is-worthless/ |title=Bill Gates told that his charity pledge is ‘worthless’ |work=New York Post |date=January 1, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014}}</ref>


⚫
According to ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' he gave away over four hundred million dollars, and according to others more than $600 million,<ref name=NYTObit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/nyregion/robert-w-wilson-hedge-fund-founder-and-philanthropist-dies-at-87.html "Robert W. Wilson, Frugal Philanthropist, Dies at 87"] by [[Paul Vitello]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 27, 2013</ref> to environmental and preservation organizations including the [[Nature Conservancy]] and the [[World Monuments Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1120_phil_newgivers/source/4.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131225042345/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1120_phil_newgivers/source/4.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |title=Meet the New Top Givers|work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> While Wilson mainly donated to conservation and environmental causes, he also donated to both politically conservative and liberal causes. He gave nearly $1 million to The [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]] (FAIR), yet he also donated $800,000 to the [[Drug Policy Alliance]] in 2007 and opposed the [[War on drugs|War on Drugs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philanthropist Robert W. Wilson Supports Federation for American Immigration Reform |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2009/philanthropist-robert-w-wilson-supports-federation-american-immigration-reform |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |language=en}}</ref> After his death, an email correspondence with [[Bill Gates]] revealed that Wilson opposed [[The Giving Pledge]], calling it "practically worthless."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kosman |first=Josh |url=https://nypost.com/2014/01/01/bill-gates-told-that-his-charity-pledge-is-worthless/ |title=Bill Gates told that his charity pledge is 'worthless' |work=New York Post |date=January 1, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014}}</ref>
An avid art collector at the time, Wilson had been on the board of trustees of the [[Whitney Museum of American Art]] for over thirty years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitney.org/About/Trustees |title=Whitney Museum of American Art: Board of Trustees As of October 22, 2013 |publisher=Whitney.org |date=October 22, 2013 |accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> His name surfaced during a dispute between John L. Stewart (with whom he had formed an art partnership) and Stewart's former assistant Neil W. Stevenson (who went on to become an art dealer himself) and said "John thinks that Neil possesses some pieces of art that belong to us. And Neil thinks John owes him some money. And I suspect both of those statements are true, and why the matter can't be settled is beyond me."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2005/08/a-bomb-grows-in-brooklyn/ |title=A Bomb Grows in Brooklyn |work=The New York Observer |accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref>


In his will Wilson left his art collection to the Whitney with the exception of [[James Rosenquist]]'s 1997 painting, "The Meteor Hits the Swimmer's Pillow".<ref name="nypost1">{{cite web|last=Marsh |first=Julia |url=https://nypost.com/2014/01/16/philanthropist-who-leapt-to-death-leaves-2m-to-female-staffer/ |title=Tycoon who jumped to his death after stroke leaves $2M to staffer |work=New York Post |date=January 16, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014}}</ref>
An avid art collector at the time, Wilson had been on the board of trustees of the [[Whitney Museum of American Art]] for over thirty years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitney.org/About/Trustees |title=Whitney Museum of American Art: Board of Trustees As of October 22, 2013 |publisher=Whitney.org |date=October 22, 2013 |accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref> In his will, Wilson left his art collection to ''The Whitney'' with the exception of [[James Rosenquist]]'s 1997 painting, "''The Meteor Hits the Swimmer's Pillow''."<ref name="nypost1">{{cite web|last=Marsh |first=Julia |url=https://nypost.com/2014/01/16/philanthropist-who-leapt-to-death-leaves-2m-to-female-staffer/ |title=Tycoon who jumped to his death after stroke leaves $2M to staffer |work=New York Post |date=January 16, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014}}</ref>


He was chairman of the [[New York City Opera]] board from 1981 to 1993.<ref name=NYTObit /> Wilson was passionate about criminal justice reform, and was a member of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] for over four decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/organization-news-and-highlights/aclu-mourns-death-robert-wilson |title=The ACLU Mourns the Death of Robert Wilson &#124; American Civil Liberties Union |publisher=Aclu.org |accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref>
He was chairman of the [[New York City Opera]] board from 1981 to 1993.<ref name=NYTObit /> Wilson was passionate about criminal justice reform and was a member of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] for over four decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/organization-news-and-highlights/aclu-mourns-death-robert-wilson |title=The ACLU Mourns the Death of Robert Wilson|publisher=American Civil Liberties Union|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
⚫
Wilson was openly gay.<ref name="nypost1"/> He married once and was divorced; he had no children.<ref name=NYTObit /> He was survived by his brother William.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/tycoon-robert-wilson-gives-away-800million-fortune-before-plunging-to-death-in-suicide-9027278.html "Tycoon Robert Wilson gives away $800 million fortune before jumping to death"] by John Selby, ''[[The Independent]]'', December 27, 2013</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Wilson died on December 23, 2013, at the age of 87, after leaping from his apartment on the 16th floor of [[The San Remo]] on [[Central Park West]] in the New York City borough of [[Manhattan]]. He had suffered a stroke in the month of June and another in the month prior to his suicide.<ref name=DM /><ref>{{cite web|last=Stevens|first=Charles W.|author2=Chris Dolmetsch |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-24/robert-w-wilson-hedge-fund-founder-leaps-to-his-death-at-87.html|title=Robert Wilson, Hedge Fund Founder, Leaps to His Death at 87|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=December 24, 2013|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref>
Wilson died on December 23, 2013, at age 87, after leaping from his apartment on the 16th floor of [[The San Remo]] in [[Manhattan]]. He had suffered a [[stroke]] in June 2013 and another in the month prior to his suicide.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stevens|first=Charles W.|author2=Chris Dolmetsch |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-24/robert-w-wilson-hedge-fund-founder-leaps-to-his-death-at-87.html|title=Robert Wilson, Hedge Fund Founder, Leaps to His Death at 87|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=December 24, 2013|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}</ref>

⚫
Wilson was openly gay<ref name="nypost1"/> but had been married to the former Marillyn Wilson and was divorced from her. He had no children.<ref name=NYTObit /> He was survived by his brother William.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/tycoon-robert-wilson-gives-away-800million-fortune-before-plunging-to-death-in-suicide-9027278.html "Tycoon Robert Wilson gives away $800 million fortune before jumping to death"] by John Selby, ''[[The Independent]]'', December 27, 2013</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Robert W.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Robert W.}}
[[Category:American hedge fund managers]]
[[Category:American hedge fund managers]]
⚫
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 suicides]]
[[Category:Suicides by defenestration]]
[[Category:Suicides by jumping in New York City]]
[[Category:Suicides by jumping in New York City]]
[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]
[[Category:University of Michigan alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Detroit]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Detroit]]
[[Category:LGBT people from Michigan]]
[[Category:LGBT people from Michigan]]
[[Category:LGBT businesspeople from the United States]]
[[Category:American LGBT businesspeople]]
[[Category:American gay men]]
[[Category:Amherst College alumni]]
[[Category:Amherst College alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American philanthropists]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Gay businessmen]]

Revision as of 16:23, 19 January 2024

Robert W. Wilson
Wilson in June 2012
Born(1926-11-03)November 3, 1926
Detroit, Michigan, US
DiedDecember 23, 2013(2013-12-23) (aged 87)
New York City
Alma mater
OccupationBusinessman

Robert Warne Wilson (November 3, 1926 – December 23, 2013) was an American hedge fund manager, philanthropist, and art collector.

Early life and education

Born in Detroit, Wilson gained his undergraduate degree at Amherst College and his master's from the University of Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan law school, but later left to work as a securities analyst.

Career and philanthropy

Wilson began his career in 1949, as a trainee at First Boston, then returned in 1953, following his service in the Korean War.[1]

He founded his own hedge fund in 1969, and retired in 1986. By 2000 he was worth an estimated $800 million.[2]

According to BusinessWeek he gave away over four hundred million dollars, and according to others more than $600 million,[2] to environmental and preservation organizations including the Nature Conservancy and the World Monuments Fund.[3] While Wilson mainly donated to conservation and environmental causes, he also donated to both politically conservative and liberal causes. He gave nearly $1 million to The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), yet he also donated $800,000 to the Drug Policy Alliance in 2007 and opposed the War on Drugs.[4] After his death, an email correspondence with Bill Gates revealed that Wilson opposed The Giving Pledge, calling it "practically worthless."[5]

An avid art collector at the time, Wilson had been on the board of trustees of the Whitney Museum of American Art for over thirty years.[6] In his will, Wilson left his art collection to The Whitney with the exception of James Rosenquist's 1997 painting, "The Meteor Hits the Swimmer's Pillow."[7]

He was chairman of the New York City Opera board from 1981 to 1993.[2] Wilson was passionate about criminal justice reform and was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union for over four decades.[8]

Personal life

Wilson was openly gay.[7] He married once and was divorced; he had no children.[2] He was survived by his brother William.[9]

Death

Wilson died on December 23, 2013, at age 87, after leaping from his apartment on the 16th floor of The San Remo in Manhattan. He had suffered a stroke in June 2013 and another in the month prior to his suicide.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Robert W. Wilson leaps to his death at 87; hedge-fund founder and philanthropist". Washington Post. May 17, 2023. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Robert W. Wilson, Frugal Philanthropist, Dies at 87" by Paul Vitello, The New York Times, December 27, 2013
  3. ^ "Meet the New Top Givers". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  4. ^ "Philanthropist Robert W. Wilson Supports Federation for American Immigration Reform". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Kosman, Josh (January 1, 2014). "Bill Gates told that his charity pledge is 'worthless'". New York Post. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  6. ^ "Whitney Museum of American Art: Board of Trustees As of October 22, 2013". Whitney.org. October 22, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Marsh, Julia (January 16, 2014). "Tycoon who jumped to his death after stroke leaves $2M to staffer". New York Post. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  8. ^ "The ACLU Mourns the Death of Robert Wilson". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "Tycoon Robert Wilson gives away $800 million fortune before jumping to death" by John Selby, The Independent, December 27, 2013
  10. ^ Stevens, Charles W.; Chris Dolmetsch (December 24, 2013). "Robert Wilson, Hedge Fund Founder, Leaps to His Death at 87". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
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