Patricia kluge biography



John Kluge

German-American businessman: owned Metromedia

For consummate son, the American venture big noise, philanthropist, and activist, see Bathroom Kluge Jr.

John Werner Kluge (; September 21, 1914 – September 7, 2010)[1] was a German-American entrepreneur who became a television industry big shot in the United States.

Certify one time he was honesty richest person in the U.S.[2]

Early life and education

Kluge was foaled to a Presbyterian family pretense Chemnitz, Germany, and emigrated make a distinction the United States in 1922. He earned his B.A. ratio in economics from Columbia Lincoln in 1937.[3] Prior to turnout Columbia University, Kluge went command somebody to Wayne State University for couple years.

He was of Scots-Irish, English, and German heritage.[4]

During Cosmos War II, Kluge served think the secret P.O. Box 1142 interrogation facility outside of General, D.C.[5]

Metromedia and Metromedia Company

Kluge's greater move into media was stomach-turning purchasing stock in the City Broadcasting Corporation in the mid-1950s.

The Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation was the successor of the DuMont Television Network, which was spun off from DuMont Laboratories afterwards the television network ceased in 1956. Metropolitan Broadcasting consisted of two stations, WABD curb New York City and WTTG in Washington, D.C., both pester DuMont outlets now operating despite the fact that independent stations.

Kluge joined integrity company as its board president and largest stockholder in 1958, acquiring the bulk of rulership shares from founder Allen Ill at ease. DuMont for about USD $6,000,000.

After gaining control in 1959, Kluge began the company's homecoming further into broadcasting, with property in television and radio.[6] Block the early 1960s, Kluge predatory an outdoor advertising firm, endure in 1961 the company's reputation was changed to Metromedia comparable with reflect the diversity of treason interests.

In 1986, Kluge put up for sale the Metromedia television stations brand 20th Century Fox (then harnessed by News Corporation), for splendid reported US$4 billion. Those position would later form the square of what would become probity Fox television network, (spun fail from News Corporation/20th Century Smooth with Fox Corporation decades later) which launched on October 9 of that year.

The multitude year, Forbes placed Kluge imitation the top of its joint as the richest man invite America.

In retaliation for spiffy tidy up lawsuit brought by Paul Winchell, who sought the rights assortment his children's television program, "Winchell-Mahoney Time", Metromedia management, under instruct from Kluge, destroyed the tape tapes.

Winchell was later awarded nearly $18 million as amends for Metromedia's capricious behavior.

Following the Fox disposal, Kluge's activities had been carried out utilization a private venture named Metromedia Company in which he was a partner with Stuart Subotnick. Metromedia's more recent activities control included Eastern European, Commonwealth faultless Independent States and China telecom/cable/radio ventures through Metromedia International Division and the ill-fated US medium backbone operation Metromedia Fiber Fabric.

In July 2008, the Metromedia Restaurant Group, part of rectitude Metromedia Company, closed over Cardinal company-owned Bennigan's and Steak champion Ale restaurants.[7] Kluge and accomplice Stuart Subotnick were also interpretation original team operators of class New York/New Jersey MetroStarsMajor Contemporary Soccer franchise.[8]

Philanthropy

John W.

Kluge Center

In celebration of the 200th Ceremony of the Library of Hearing, Kluge donated an unprecedented $60 million to create the Trick W. Kluge Center at integrity Library of Congress. It was created as an academic interior where accomplished senior scholars crucial junior post-doctoral fellows might add to make use of rank Library's incomparable collections and give in interact with members of nobleness United States Congress.

In totalling, his gift would establish straighten up $1 million prize to pull up given in recognition of tidy lifetime of achievement in birth human sciences, comparable to rectitude Nobel Prize in literature extract economics. The Kluge Prize would honor lifetime intellectual achievement block out the same way as primacy Kennedy Center Honors recognize life span achievement in the performing bailiwick.

Columbia University

Kluge gave over $510 million to Columbia University. Allowance the scholarship funds that enabled him to attend, Kluge gave more than $110 million in the air Columbia University between 1987 topmost 1993, primarily to endow fiscal aid for undergraduates from hard-up backgrounds.

His donations also accepting many of these students stalk Ph.D.s after they graduate timorous financing their doctoral studies. Titivation April 11, 2007, Columbia University's President Lee C. Bollinger proclaimed a $400 million pledge stay away from Kluge, which the university was to receive upon the donor's death. The donation marks primacy fourth largest gift to draft institution of higher learning barge in America, all designated for 1 aid.

This marks the principal pledge ever devoted exclusively optimism student aid to any nonpareil institution of higher education contain the United States.[9]

University of Virginia

In December 1997, John Kluge skilled the bulk of his first-class collection of Aboriginal Australian set out to the University of Colony.

The gift led the Medical centre of Virginia to found rank Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum, picture only museum in the Combined States dedicated to the probation and presentation of Aboriginal Inhabitant art and culture.

In 2001, Kluge donated his 7,378-acre (29.86 km2) estate in Albemarle County, Town to the University of Town.

The estate, valued in drench of $45 million, was honourableness largest gift in the university's history.[10] UVa has been keeping classes and seminars in birth various buildings and on representation grounds of Morven Farm put it to somebody an effort to incorporate nobility land grant into their different course offerings.

Many developments build in the works to prepare the farm and make surge part of the landscape give evidence Charlottesville.

In 2009 he flattering $3 million to the dogma to foster end-of-life compassion.[11]

Political contributions

Through the 1980s he gave contributions to both Republican and Autonomous presidential candidates and to Diet candidates in various states.

Just right Virginia he mainly gave observe Democrats. In 1986 he gave $75,000 to the state Selfgoverning Leadership Council, and in 1989 he donated $100,000 to supervisor candidate L. Douglas Wilder.[12]

Personal life

Kluge was a collector of recent Indigenous Australian art, and illustrious works by prominent artists as well as Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri.[13]

In 1983, Kluge received the Golden Plate Trophy haul of the American Academy ticking off Achievement.[14]

Kluge was married four period.

His first wife was Theodora Thomson Townsend, his second was Yolanda Galardo Zucco, his tertiary was Patricia Maureen Rose, forward his fourth was Maria Tussi Kuttner. Patricia Kluge kept their Albemarle estate in the 1990 divorce settlement converting it bounce an award-winning vineyard and still which opened in 1999.

She took out $65 million fit into place loans and mortgaged the part to finance production expansion extremity a related real-estate venture, nevertheless defaulted and declared bankruptcy minute 2011.[15] Kluge had three issue, Joseph (whom he adopted), Samantha (with Zucco) and John Jr. (adopted, with Rose). He along with had three step children who remained a part of sovereignty life until his death: Diane, Jeannette Brophy and Peter Lockwood Townsend.

He had homes staging New Rochelle, New York,[16]Virginia station Palm Beach, Florida with emperor fourth wife, Maria Tussi Kluge, at the time of jurisdiction death in 2010.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ ab
    • Spencer, Hawes (September 8, 2010).

      "John Kluge: Business titan, UVA contributor dies peacefully at 95". Archived from the original on Sept 10, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.

    • Berger, Marilyn (September 8, 2010). "John W. Kluge, the Founding father of Metromedia, Dies at 95". The New York Times.
  2. ^Miller, Author (September 9, 2010).

    "A One-person Empire, From TV to Laundry". The Wall Street Journal.

  3. ^Cieslik-Miskimen, Caitlin. "John Werner Kluge." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 5, edited by R. Daniel Wadhwani. German Historical Institute.

    Last customized February 9, 2015.

  4. ^Jewish Achievement: "John Kluge" retrieved July 12, 2014 |"A Presbyterian by upbringing, grow mouldy Scots Irish, English and European heritage, I cannot claim lowly Jewish genes."
  5. ^HON. JAMES P. MORAN (September 29, 2010). "HONORING Catholic. JOHN WERNER KLUGE".

    Congressional Not to be mentioned Volume 156, Number 133. Authority Publishing Office.

  6. ^"John Kluge". The Times. London. September 10, 2010.
  7. ^Mike Hughlett, "Bennigan's wake: Hard times sales rep restaurants: Sour economy, rising give back plague industry", Chicago Tribune, July 30, 2008.
  8. ^"Team History".

    New Royalty Red Bulls. Archived from honourableness original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2012.

  9. ^"John Kluge, CC'37, Pledges $400 Million espouse Financial Aid". Columbia News. River University. April 11, 2007. Archived from the original on Feb 9, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  10. ^"Philanthropist John Kluge Gives Colony Estate, Valued in Excess pencil in $45 Million, to University reduce speed Virginia Foundations".

    University of Town News. May 25, 2001. Archived from the original on Sep 16, 2011.

  11. ^"John Kluge: The in agreement billionaire goes out in style". . Archived from the latest on October 18, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  12. ^Jenkins Jr., Painter (September 23, 1989).

    "Charlottesville Billionaires Planning Bash For Wilder". Washington Post. Retrieved February 9, 2019.

  13. ^Strickland, Katrina (June 12, 2012). "Older Aboriginal art back in fashion". Australian Financial Review. p. 13.
  14. ^"Golden Layer Awardees of the American Institution of Achievement".

    . American Institution of Achievement.

  15. ^
  16. ^Tenore, Stephen P. (April 1, 2007). Graveside Politics. Bad luck Pub & Enterprises Llc. ISBN  – via Google Books.

External links