George R. Roberts
Born 1943 · Age 82
American billionaire financier; co‑founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR); philanthropist and founder/chairman of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Houston, Texas
George Rosenberg Roberts was born in Houston, Texas into a Jewish family.
Graduated Culver Military Academy
Completed secondary education at Culver Military Academy.
Orkin acquisition (early leveraged buyout)
Acquisition of Orkin Exterminating Company cited as one of the trio’s first significant leveraged buyouts; attributed to the group of Roberts/Kohlberg/Kravis while at Bear Stearns (listed in his career history).
Stern Metals buyout (bootstrap investments)
The group completed a buyout of Stern Metals as part of early leveraged buyout activity while at Bear Stearns.
Graduated Claremont McKenna College (BA)
Received Bachelor of Arts from Claremont McKenna College.
Married Leanne Bovet
Married Leanne Bovet (daughter of Eric B. Bovet and Dorothy Champion) in 1968.
Graduated UC Hastings College of the Law (JD)
Earned Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Joined Bear Stearns
Began working at Bear Stearns (late 1960s / reported 1969–1976 tenure).
Other early buyouts (Thompson Wire, Eagle Motors, Barrows)
Through their investment in Stern Metals and the group’s activity at Bear Stearns, the trio completed buyouts including Thompson Wire, Eagle Motors and Barrows (listed as part of the sequence of early leveraged buyouts).
Acquisitions: Incom and Cobblers Industries
The team completed buyouts including Incom (division of Rockwood International) and Cobblers Industries (both cited as 1971 transactions).
Cobblers Industries investment ($27M) ended in bankruptcy
A $27 million investment in Cobblers ultimately ended in bankruptcy (mentioned as a notable unsuccessful investment among their early deals).
Became partner at Bear Stearns (age 29)
Promoted to partner at Bear Stearns at age 29 while conducting outside LBO activity with Kohlberg and Kravis.
Boren Clay buyout (through early LBO activity)
Boren Clay acquisition cited among early buyouts by the Roberts/Kohlberg/Kravis group.
Early investor involvement in KKR (Henry Hillman)
Early investors in KKR included Henry Hillman (mentioned as an early backer of the fledgling firm).
Co‑founded Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
Left Bear Stearns with Jerome Kohlberg and cousin Henry Kravis and co‑founded Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 1976.
KKR raised first institutional fund (after ERISA revision)
Following revision of ERISA regulations, KKR successfully raised its first institutional fund with investor commitments (1978).
Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
Culver Military Academy 'Man of the Year' Award
Awarded Culver Military Academy's 'Man of the Year'.
Death of spouse Leanne Bovet
Leanne Bovet (first wife) died in 2003 (NYT paid notice cites 2003).
Married Linnea Conrad
Married Linnea Conrad, a Goldman Sachs partner, on May 22, 2010.
Donated $50 million to Claremont McKenna College
Made a $50 million gift to his alma mater Claremont McKenna College (reported 2012).
Service roles: Trustee & board memberships (public profiles)
Public profiles list Roberts as trustee of Claremont McKenna College and Culver Military Academy and board member of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet and the Fine Arts Museum (listed in biographical summaries; year indicates presence on profile as reported).
Net worth reported by Forbes: $5.9B
Forbes reported an estimated net worth of approximately US$5.9 billion (2018).
Transitioned from day-to-day CEO role (reported senior transition)
Industry reporting (2021) noted leadership transitions at KKR as the next generation rose; Roberts moved into senior/executive chairman style responsibilities (reported in multiple profiles; mabumbe states he stepped down as Co‑CEO in 2021 and became Co‑Executive Chairman).
Donated $140 million to Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College announced a $140 million donation from George Roberts and designated the Roberts Campus.
REDF revenue reported over $35 million (consolidated)
Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), which Roberts founded and chairs, reported revenue in 2023 of over $35 million (REDF and affiliate consolidated statements).
Bloomberg / other reporting: net worth estimate ~ $21.2B (Dec 2024)
A secondary profile (mabumbe summary referencing Bloomberg Billionaires Index) listed an estimated net worth of about $21.2 billion as of Dec 4, 2024 (source: mabumbe summary referencing public billionaire indexes).
Net worth reported in Wikipedia summary: $17.1B (August 2025)
Wikipedia article snapshot lists an estimated net worth of US$17.1 billion as of August 2025 (dated statement in article).
Key Achievement Ages
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