Gerald W. Schwartz, OC (born 1941) is the founder, chairman and CEO of Onex Corporation.
Early life and career
Schwartz was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He graduated from Kelvin High School in Winnipeg. He received his B.A. and LL.B. degrees from the University of Manitoba where he became an active brother of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity. He later received an MBA degree from Harvard University in 1970.
In the 1970s, Schwartz worked at Bear Stearns. In 1976, his mentor Jerome Kohlberg, Jr. left, followed by Henry Kravis and George Roberts. The trio later founded Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.[2] Schwartz left Bear Stearns shortly afterward and returned to Canada. Along with Izzy Asper, Schwartz co-founded CanWest Global Communications in 1977.
In 1983, Schwartz founded Onex Corporation. Serving as its CEO and majority shareholder, Schwartz grew the company into one of the largest in Canada.
Schwartz has been a director of Scotiabank since 1999. In 2015, Schwartz’s net worth was estimated at $1.78 billion, making him the 26th wealthiest person in Canada. As of 2015, he was the highest paid CEO in Canada.
Personal life
In 1982, Schwartz married Heather Reisman, Chief Executive of Indigo Books and Music. Schwartz has two children from his first marriage and two stepchildren from his marriage to Heather Reisman. The couple are members of the Reform synagogue, Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Schwartz and Reisman own the most expensive house in Toronto, valued at $28 million.
| Gerry Schwartz | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 24, 1941 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Residence | Toronto, Ontario |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba Harvard University |
| Net worth | $2 Billion |
| Spouse(s) | Heather Reisman (1982–present) |
| Children | 4 |
Source:wikipedia