Larry Fink

Laurence Douglas Fink, an American billionaire businessman, was born on November 2, 1952, in Van Nuys, California. He is known for being the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BlackRock, the largest money-management firm in the world.

In 1974, Larry Fink obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

In 1976, Laurence Douglas Fink began his career at First Boston, a New York-based investment bank. He played a significant role in managing the firm's bond department and was one of the first mortgage-backed security traders.

In 1986, Larry Fink's incorrect prediction about interest rates led to a $100 million loss in his department at First Boston, resulting in his departure from the company.

Larry Fink assumed the role of CEO of BlackRock when he co-founded the company in 1988. As the CEO, he played a pivotal role in the growth and success of BlackRock to become one of the world's largest asset managers.

In 1994, Larry Fink was instrumental in the spin-off of BlackRock from The Blackstone Group. This strategic decision allowed BlackRock to operate independently and set the stage for its future success.

Under Larry Fink's leadership, BlackRock diversified its services and investment strategies from fixed income to a wide range of investment products including equities, alternatives, ETFs, and crypto-backed ETFs pending approval.

BlackRock, the investment management firm founded by Larry Fink, went public in 1999. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history and allowed for further growth and expansion.

In 2003, Larry Fink helped negotiate the resignation of Richard Grasso, the CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, due to public criticism over his $190 million pay package.

In 2006, Larry Fink led BlackRock in merging with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, effectively doubling BlackRock's asset management portfolio.

In December 2016, Larry Fink joined a business forum initiated by then president-elect Donald Trump to offer strategic and policy advice on economic matters.

In September 2018, an activist from the U.S. non-profit organization Code Pink confronted Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, onstage at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit over BlackRock's investments in weapon manufacturers.

After the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018, Larry Fink decided not to attend an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.

In his 2019 letter, Larry Fink emphasized the need for companies and CEOs to take the lead in addressing social and political challenges when governments fall short.

In his 2020 annual letter, Larry Fink declared environmental sustainability as a central objective for BlackRock's future investments, highlighting the impact of climate on the economy.