Brian Roberts

Born 1959 · Age 66

American businessman and billionaire; chairman and CEO of Comcast; son of Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts. Led Comcast through major acquisitions and expansion into broadband, media and international markets; active philanthropist and industry leader.

Total Events

Career Span

66 years

Peak Net Worth

$7,000,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1959Age 0

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Born to Ralph J. Roberts (Comcast founder) and Suzanne (Fleisher) Roberts into a Jewish family in Philadelphia.

6/28/1959Source

Confidence

99%

1977Age 18

Graduated Germantown Academy (approx.)

Completed secondary education at Germantown Academy (exact graduation year not specified; estimated around 1977 based on birth year).

1/1/1977Source

Confidence

45%

1980Age 21

Competed at 1981 Maccabiah Games — silver medal (squash)

Contributed to the U.S. squash team that won a silver medal at the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

1/1/1980Net Worth: $500,000Source

Confidence

90%

1981Age 22

Joined Comcast — entry-level roles

Began career at Comcast after graduation, working as manager of cable system marketing and performing frontline work such as door-to-door sales and technical field tasks.

1/1/1981Net Worth: $500,000Source

Confidence

95%

1981Age 22

Graduated Wharton School, UPenn, BS

Earned Bachelor of Science degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

1/1/1981Net Worth: $500,000Source

Confidence

95%

1981Age 22

Early career hands-on work at Comcast (field sales/installation)

Worked door-to-door selling cable subscriptions and climbed utility poles to string cable as part of early training at the company.

1/1/1981Net Worth: $500,000Source

Confidence

95%

1985Age 26

Maccabiah Games — silver medal

Won a silver medal with the U.S. squash team at the 1985 Maccabiah Games.

1/1/1985Net Worth: $1,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1987Age 28

Promoted to Executive Vice President, Comcast

Elevated to executive vice president at Comcast after six years with the company.

1/1/1987Net Worth: $2,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

1990Age 31

Named President of Comcast

Succeeded to the role of president of Comcast at age 31; Comcast annual revenue at the time ~$657 million and customer base roughly 2.4 million.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $50,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

1990Age 31

Comcast stock split history milestone (12 splits by 2004)

By 2004 Comcast stock had split 12 times between 1971 and 2004 — included as a company growth indicator during Roberts' leadership era.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $50,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

1990Age 31

Comcast subscribers ~2.4M and revenue $657M

At the time of Roberts becoming president, Comcast reported approximately 2.4 million customers and $657 million in annual revenue.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $50,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

1994Age 35

Comcast acquired QVC (company content investment)

Comcast purchased the remainder of QVC in a transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion, expanding its content and programming holdings.

1/1/1994Net Worth: $120,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

1994Age 35

Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)

Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.

1/1/1994Net Worth: $120,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1995Age 36

Chairman, NCTA (first term)

Served as chairman of the board of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association from 1995 to 1996 during the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

1/1/1995Net Worth: $150,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

1997Age 38

Maccabiah Games — silver medal

Earned a silver medal with the U.S. squash team at the 1997 Maccabiah Games.

1/1/1997Net Worth: $300,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1997Age 38

Microsoft invests in Comcast — $1 billion deal

Coordinated a deal in which Microsoft (Bill Gates) invested $1 billion in Comcast (reported as roughly 10% stake by some sources) to accelerate broadband expansion.

6/1/1997Net Worth: $300,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2000Age 41

Co-chaired Philadelphia 2000 host committee for Republican National Convention

Served as founding co-chair of Philadelphia 2000, the nonpartisan host committee organizing the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

1/1/2000Net Worth: $600,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2000Age 41

Comcast majority investments in cable channels and sports teams (content build-out)

Under Roberts Comcast built content holdings including stakes/ownership in channels (E!, Style, Golf Channel, OLN, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout) and sports teams/venues (Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers, arenas).

1/1/2000Net Worth: $600,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

2000Age 41

Named board member of The Bank of New York (date approximate)

Listed as a board member of The Bank of New York in industry profiles (exact appointment year not specified in source material).

1/1/2000Net Worth: $600,000,000Source

Confidence

60%

2001Age 42

Comcast increases focus on broadband and invests ~$5B in digital infrastructure

Under Roberts Comcast invested roughly $5 billion in upgrading to a digital/broadband platform (coax fiber hybrid) to enable video on demand, high-speed internet and voice services.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $800,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

2001Age 42

Announced acquisition of AT&T Broadband (major expansion)

Comcast announced the deal to acquire AT&T Broadband — sources list transaction totals differently (Wikipedia cites $72B; other contemporary accounts report $29.2B in stock plus assumption of ~$24B debt). The deal dramatically expanded Comcast's subscriber base.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $800,000,000Source

Confidence

75%

2002Age 43

Police Athletic League of Philadelphia honor

Honored by the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia for commitment to youth programs and community involvement.

1/1/2002Net Worth: $1,200,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2002Age 43

Comcast completes AT&T Broadband acquisition (integration phase)

Transaction closed/implemented around 2002 by some accounts (deal frequently described as 2001–2002); made Comcast the largest cable operator (~21–22 million subscribers).

1/1/2002Net Worth: $1,200,000,000Source

Confidence

80%

2002Age 43

Named Chief Executive Officer of Comcast

Promoted to CEO of Comcast (in 2002), continuing as company president (title sometimes listed as CEO and president).

1/1/2002Net Worth: $1,200,000,000Source

Confidence

98%

2002Age 43

Named one of America's best CEOs (Institutional Investor)

Institutional Investor recognized Roberts among America's best CEOs beginning in the early 2000s and as top vote-getter in Cable & Satellite (2004–2006 period).

1/1/2002Net Worth: $1,200,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2002Age 43

Walter Kaitz Foundation Honoree of the Year

Received the Walter Kaitz Foundation award for commitment to diversity in the cable industry.

1/1/2002Net Worth: $1,200,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2003Age 44

Named to The Pennsylvania Report Power 75

Listed among Pennsylvania's most influential figures (Power 75) and included on PoliticsPA lists of influential individuals.

1/1/2003Net Worth: $1,300,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2003Age 44

Institutional Investor recognition begins

Institutional Investor began recognizing Roberts among America's top CEOs (Roberts would be the top vote-getter in Cable & Satellite category 2004–2006).

1/1/2003Net Worth: $1,300,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2003Age 44

Comcast profit recovery after AT&T acquisition

By end of 2003 Comcast had boosted profit margins at former AT&T Broadband systems, restoring investor confidence after the large acquisition.

1/1/2003Net Worth: $1,100,000,000Source

Confidence

80%

2004Age 45