David Bonderman

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

American billionaire businessman (1942–2024)

title: "David Bonderman" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1942-births", "2024-deaths", "death-in-los-angeles", "20th-century-american-businesspeople", "21st-century-american-jews", "21st-century-american-businesspeople", "american-billionaires", "american-chief-executives-of-financial-services-companies", "american-financial-company-founders", "american-financiers", "american-investors", "american-lawyers", "american-philanthropists", "american-sports-businesspeople", "arnold-&-porter-people", "continental-airlines-people", "uber-people", "burger-king-people", "seattle-kraken-owners", "boston-celtics-owners", "businesspeople-from-los-angeles", "businesspeople-from-texas", "businesspeople-from-washington,-d.c.", "corporate-lawyers", "harvard-law-school-alumni", "lawyers-from-washington,-d.c.", "lawyers-from-fort-worth,-texas", "national-hockey-league-owners", "private-equity-and-venture-capital-investors", "tpg-capital-people", "tulane-university-law-school-faculty", "tulane-university-faculty", "university-high-school-(los-angeles)-alumni", "university-of-washington-alumni"] description: "American billionaire businessman (1942–2024)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bonderman" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American billionaire businessman (1942–2024) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameDavid Bonderman
imageWeb Summit 2016 - Centre Stage - Nov 8 - Day 1 ws (4 of 40) (30840332786) (cropped).jpg
altFull-body shot of Bonderman, an elderly man during a Web Summit conference.
captionBonderman in 2016
birth_date
birth_placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
death_date
death_placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
education{{ubl
occupationBusinessman
known_for{{ubl
spouseLaurie Michaels
partnerChrista Campbell (from 2019)
children5
::

| name = David Bonderman | image = Web Summit 2016 - Centre Stage - Nov 8 - Day 1 ws (4 of 40) (30840332786) (cropped).jpg | alt = Full-body shot of Bonderman, an elderly man during a Web Summit conference. | caption = Bonderman in 2016 | birth_date = | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | education = {{ubl | University of Washington (BA) | Harvard University (JD) | occupation = Businessman | known_for = {{ubl | Co-founder, TPG Capital (formerly Texas Pacific Group) | Minority owner, Boston Celtics | Co-founder/co-majority owner, Seattle Kraken | spouse = Laurie Michaels | partner = Christa Campbell (from 2019) | children = 5

David Bonderman (November27, 1942December11, 2024) was an American billionaire businessman. He was the founding partner of TPG Inc. (formerly Texas Pacific Group), and its Asian affiliate, Newbridge Capital. He was also one of the minority owners of the NBA's Boston Celtics as well as the co-founder and co-majority owner (along with Jerry Bruckheimer) of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League. At the time of his death, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$7.4 billion, making him the 400th richest person in the world.

Early life and education

Bonderman was born to a Jewish family, in Los Angeles on November 27, 1942, and was educated there at University High School. Bonderman studied Russian at the University of Washington, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1963, and at Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1966. He was also a member of the Harvard Law Review and a Sheldon Fellow. During his time at Harvard, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to study Islamic jurisprudence and law; consequently, he became known in various Islamic legal circles, ultimately developing a near-native fluency in Modern Standard Arabic. Bonderman began providing the funding for the Bonderman Travel Fellowship at the University of Washington in 1995 which gives eight undergraduate and six graduate students per year with the opportunity to travel the world independently, with very little structure or regulations. In 2013, Bonderman's daughter, Samantha Holloway, donated the funding to create a similar fellowship at the University of Michigan. While the fellowships share the same name (the Bonderman Fellowship), they vary in both eligibility and execution.

Career

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/David_Bonderman-2.jpg" caption="Bonderman at the 2016 [[World Economic Forum]] Annual Meeting in [[Davos]], Switzerland"] ::

Bonderman was an assistant professor at Tulane University Law School during 1967 and 1968; he then was a special assistant to the United States Attorney General during 1968 and 1969. In 1971, he joined the law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., where he became a partner and specialized in corporate, securities, bankruptcy and antitrust litigation.

In 2008, Bonderman was named as one of the investors of what became the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Bonderman was a director of Continental Airlines, Bell & Howell, Ducati, Credicom Asia, the Education Corporation of America, Beringer Vineyards, Carr Realty, Virgin Cinemas, CoStar Group, Gemalto, and Ryanair. He was on the boards of The Wilderness Society, the Grand Canyon Trust, the World Wide Fund for Nature, The University of Washington Foundation and the American Himalayan Foundation. He previously was on the boards of Washington Mutual, American Savings Bank, Denbury Resources and Burger King. He was a board member of Uber until he resigned from that position in June 2017.

In June 2017, Bonderman resigned from the board of Uber amidst controversy surrounding a sexist response to fellow board member Arianna Huffington during a company all-hands meeting. "There's a lot of data that shows when there's one woman on the board, it's much more likely that there will be a second woman on the board," said Huffington. Bonderman replied, "actually, what it shows is that it's much more likely to be more talking." The Uber meeting was, among other things, slated to discuss efforts to rein in a toxic and sexist culture at the company.

In 2018, Bonderman filed an application for a National Hockey League (NHL) expansion team to play at a renovated Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The NHL Board of Governors voted to approve the team, named the Seattle Kraken, on December 4.

Wildcat, Infinity Q, Velissaris

Wildcat Capital Management was originally Bonderman's family office. In early 2019, a mutual fund named Infinity Q Diversified Alpha Fund had reportedly said on its website that the "investment team and control functions are largely the same for both Wildcat and Infinity Q." Wildcat also reportedly had $100 million invested in the fund. Infinity Q had been founded in 2014. In early 2021, the $1.7 billion Infinity Q fund suspended redemptions, the SEC was investigating asset valuations and the chief investment officer, James Velissaris, had been placed on administrative leave. Leonard Potter, Infinity Q's non-executive chairman and owner of Wildcat, was designated to take over Infinity Q's management. Wildcat "managed more than $3 billion at the end of 2019, including capital from Bonderman." In February 2021, SEC charged Velissaris in a fraudulent scheme to overvalue assets held by the Infinity Q Diversified Alpha mutual fund and the Infinity Q Volatility Alpha private fund. According to the complaint, Velissaris collected more than $26 million through fraudulent conduct, deceived SEC staff by creating backdated minutes non-existent valuation meetings, and altering valuation policy documents. The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced criminal charges against Velissaris, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced parallel civil charges against him.

In April 2021, The Wall Street Journal analyzed specific valuation problems in the fund portfolios and received some comment on them. It also reported an apparent loss of $500 million in the fund, bringing valuation to $1.2 billion, and some discussion of the loss. Velissaris was identified as having been majority owner and in control of the fund with Bonderman family investment interests as passive investors in it. Infinity Q was expected to present a plan to distribute funds to investors by May 24, the report concluded.

Personal life and death

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Karen_B.Brooks_with_TPG_Founder_David_Bonderman_and_former_US_Ambassador_to_Austria_Alexa_Wesner(cropped).jpg" caption="Bonderman with [[Karen B. Brooks]] (right) and [[Alexa L. Wesner]] (left) in 2019"] ::

Bonderman was married to Laurie Michaels; they had five children, and lived in Fort Worth, Texas. He was reported to be in a relationship with Christa Campbell in February and May 2019 though he stayed married with Michaels.

In 2002, for his 60th birthday, Bonderman had The Rolling Stones and John Mellencamp play at his birthday party at The Theater at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. John Mellencamp played for an hour, The Rolling Stones played for an hour and a half, and comedian Robin Williams entertained guests between acts. The party cost $7 million, making it one of the most expensive private concerts ever held.

In 2012, for his 70th birthday party, Bonderman held a private concert by former The Beatles member Paul McCartney at Wynn Las Vegas for 1,020 guests. Robin Williams also performed a comedy routine. Bonderman donated $1000 to each guest's charity of choice.

Bonderman died in Los Angeles, on December 11, 2024, at the age of 82. In tribute, the Seattle Kraken added a "Bondo" (Bonderman's nickname) patch to its jerseys and a matching sticker to its helmets on December 12.

Awards and honors

References

References

  1. "Forbes profile: David Bonderman".
  2. Taub, Orna (March 26, 2013). [http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2013/03/26/tpg-sells-shares-of-indian-company-win-win-for-everybody-2/ "TPG Sells Shares of Indian Company – Win-win for Everybody!"] {{Webarchive. link. (January 11, 2014 . [[Jewish Business News]].)
  3. "Business Leaders Biography: David Bonderman".
  4. (November 11, 1992). "Deal Maker Takes Aim at Skies". The New York Times.
  5. (December 13, 2024). "In appreciation of David Bonderman, whose vision broadened horizons and changed lives". University of Washington.
  6. "The Bonderman Travel Fellowship".
  7. "Bonderman Fellowship".
  8. (May 22, 2023). "Executive Profile – David Bonderman J.D.". [[Bloomberg L.P.]].
  9. Steffy, Loren. (March 1, 1988). "Bonderman rides to rescue of corporate wrecks". [[The Journal News]].
  10. (January 13, 2022). "TPG Becomes 2022's First Big I.P.O.". The New York Times.
  11. Kantowski, Ron. (September 15, 2008). "Report: Harrah's out as proposed arena partner". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
  12. "Uber director David Bonderman resigns from board following comment about women". Muslim Global.
  13. Isaac, Mike. (June 13, 2017). "David Bonderman Resigns From Uber Board After Sexist Remark". The New York Times.
  14. Bensinger, Greg. (June 13, 2017). "David Bonderman Resigns From Uber Board in Wake of Disrespectful Comment". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
  15. [[Katie Benner. Benner, Katie]]; Isaac, Mike (July 17, 2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/17/business/uber-arianna-huffington-board.html "As Uber Leaders Step Aside, Arianna Huffington's Influence Grows"] {{Webarchive. link. (June 18, 2017 . ''The'' ''New York Times''. Retrieved June 18, 2017.)
  16. (February 13, 2018). "Seattle group files application for NHL expansion team to play at KeyArena". [[The Seattle Times]].
  17. (December 3, 2018). "After years of trying and a cast of characters in between, the NHL will finally put a team in Seattle".
  18. Weiss, Miles (February 22, 2021). [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/infinity-q-fund-seeks-sec-permission-to-suspend-redemptions "Mutual Fund Locks Out Founder After SEC Questions Swaps Pricing"] {{Webarchive. link. (February 23, 2021 . [[Bloomberg.com]]. Retrieved February 27, 2021.)
  19. [[The Intelligent Investor. Zweig, Jason]] (February 26, 2021). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-piled-into-the-infinity-q-magical-money-machine-now-theyre-stuck-11614354037 "Investors Piled Into This Magical Money Machine. Now They're Stuck" {{subscription required] {{Webarchive. link. (February 27, 2021 . ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. Retrieved February 26, 2021.)
  20. "SEC Charges Infinity Q Founder with Orchestrating Massive Valuation Fraud".
  21. Banerji, Gunjan (April 20, 2021). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-the-mysterious-demise-of-a-1-7-billion-mutual-fund-11618911000 "Behind the Mysterious Demise of a $1.7 Billion Mutual Fund" {{subscription required] {{Webarchive. link. (April 20, 2021 . ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. Retrieved April 20, 2021.)
  22. Osberger, Madeleine. (November 21, 2012). "Paul McCartney helps Wildcat Ranch homeowner celebrate his 70th". Aspen Business Journal.
  23. Quintana, Dolores. (February 4, 2023). "Two Industry Titans Invest $30M in Lavish Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Homes".
  24. (May 24, 2023). "Hedge funder ID'd in $47.5M buy of side-by-side Palisades estates".
  25. Klauder, Benjamin. (July 8, 2009). "Legendary Billionaire Parties". [[Forbes]].
  26. Lattman, Peter. (November 19, 2012). "Tough Times? You Wouldn't Know at Party for Private Equity Titan". [[The New York Times]].
  27. (December 11, 2024). "David Bonderman, Buyout Dealmaker Who Co-Founded TPG, Dies at 82".
  28. Nishimura, Scott. (December 12, 2024). "Revered Fort Worth financier, lawyer David Bonderman dies at 82".
  29. (December 12, 2024). "David Bonderman, co-founder of private equity firm TPG and co-owner of Seattle Kraken, dies at 82".
  30. Booth, Tim. (December 12, 2024). "Kraken honor late owner David Bonderman before topping Bruins".
  31. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". [[American Academy of Achievement]].
  32. "Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients". The M&A Advisor News.
  33. (August 19, 2016). "Wilson Awards for Public Service and Corporate Citizenship in New York and Austin". [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]].
  34. "TBHF Legends". Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1942-births2024-deathsdeath-in-los-angeles20th-century-american-businesspeople21st-century-american-jews21st-century-american-businesspeopleamerican-billionairesamerican-chief-executives-of-financial-services-companiesamerican-financial-company-foundersamerican-financiersamerican-investorsamerican-lawyersamerican-philanthropistsamerican-sports-businesspeoplearnold-&-porter-peoplecontinental-airlines-peopleuber-peopleburger-king-peopleseattle-kraken-ownersboston-celtics-ownersbusinesspeople-from-los-angelesbusinesspeople-from-texasbusinesspeople-from-washington,-d.c.corporate-lawyersharvard-law-school-alumnilawyers-from-washington,-d.c.lawyers-from-fort-worth,-texasnational-hockey-league-ownersprivate-equity-and-venture-capital-investorstpg-capital-peopletulane-university-law-school-facultytulane-university-facultyuniversity-high-school-(los-angeles)-alumniuniversity-of-washington-alumni