The Richest People In America: Dirk Ziff

#100 Dirk Ziff

$3.7 billion
Source Investments, Inherited

Age 44
Marital Status Married, 2 children

Hometown New York, NY, United States
Education Columbia University, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Harvard University, Master of Business Administration

Son of publishing magnate William Ziff Jr. (d. 2006). Aspiring philosopher William inherited Ziff-Davis publishing company from father 1953; parlayed into niche media conglomerate (PC Magazine, Car & Driver, Boating). Three sons cashed out when family sold 95% of business to Forstmann Little for $1.4 billion in 1994; dad retired to Florida. Plowed proceeds into Ziff Brothers Investments: hedge funds, real estate, corporate debt, equities. Family trust said to be worth more than $10 billion. Rumor: trusts were having their best year ever in 2008, but held long positions in oil; eventually broke even as energy prices plummeted at the end of the year.

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