Nelson Peltz
Born 1942 · Age 83
American billionaire businessman and activist investor; co-founder of Trian Partners; longtime investor in food, packaging and consumer companies; chairman and board member of multiple corporations.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Brooklyn, New York
Nelson Peltz was born to Claire (née Wechsler) and Maurice Herbert Peltz in Brooklyn, New York; youngest of three children; Jewish family.
Matriculated at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Peltz started undergraduate studies at the Wharton School and joined fraternity Phi Gamma Delta.
Left Wharton and joined family business
Dropped out of Wharton intending to become a ski instructor; instead began driving a delivery truck for A. Peltz & Sons and joined the family wholesale food distribution business.
Married Cynthia Abrams
Nuptials at the Plaza; Cynthia Abrams was daughter of Benjamin Abrams of Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corporation.
Peter May joins business; company known as Flagstaff
Peter May joined Peltz after working as an accountant and became CFO; Peltz, his brother Robert, and May were expanding the food-distribution business.
Flagstaff Corp. taken public
The family business (then called Flagstaff Corp.) went public; reported about $150 million in sales at that time.
Sold Flagstaff's foodservice division
Peltz sold the foodservice division of Flagstaff to a group of investors.
Foodservice business bankruptcy and loan salvage
Two years after the 1979 sale the buyer's foodservice business went bankrupt; Peltz was asked by the lender to salvage the outstanding loan and rebuilt the business within a year.
Acquired stake in Triangle Industries
Peltz and Peter May bought a stake in vending-machine and wire company Triangle Industries Inc. to use as an acquisition vehicle.
Divorced Cynthia Abrams
Peltz and Cynthia Abrams divorced (divorce year reported as 1981 in sources; note: Wikipedia lists divorce in 1981—if considered separate event, adjust confidence).
Married Claudia Heffner
Peltz married former model Claudia Heffner (sources indicate the marriage year as 1985).
Acquired National Can (package acquisition)
Using junk-bond financing, Peltz acquired National Can Corporation (reported acquisition financing and activity in mid-1980s).
Birth of son Will Peltz
Will Peltz, actor and one of Nelson Peltz's children, was born in 1986.
Acquired packaging division of American Can
Peltz acquired the packaging division of American Can Company, another major packaging deal in the mid-1980s.
Sold Triangle Industries to Pechiney
Triangle Industries was sold to Pechiney in 1988 — sources cite sale proceeds and valuations as high as $4 billion for the company.
Birth of son Brad Peltz
Brad Peltz, later a hockey player drafted by the Ottawa Senators, was born in 1989.
Birth of daughter Nicola Peltz
Nicola Peltz, one of Nelson Peltz's children and a future actor, was born in 1995.
Triarc Companies acquired Snapple
Through Triarc Companies (their investment vehicle), Peltz and Peter May acquired Snapple from Quaker Oats for about $300 million.
Sold Snapple and beverage brands to Cadbury Schweppes
Triarc sold Snapple and related beverage brands to Cadbury Schweppes for over $1.45 billion after a successful turnaround.
Harvard Business School case published on Snapple turnaround
Harvard Business School published a case study detailing the Snapple turnaround led by Peltz and partners.
Donated maximum to George W. Bush's second inauguration
Peltz was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum $250,000 to the inauguration.
Co-founded Trian Fund Management, L.P.
Peltz, Peter W. May and Edward P. Garden founded Trian Fund Management, an activist investment firm based in New York.
Named among most influential in corporate governance (NACD)
The National Association of Corporate Directors listed Peltz among the most influential people in global corporate governance for 2010.
Named among most influential in corporate governance (NACD)
Repeat recognition by NACD as one of the most influential people in corporate governance.
Won board seat at Ingersoll Rand
Peltz, as an activist investor, secured a board seat at Ingersoll Rand after mounting pressure for change.
Trian involvement in Heinz and other activist stakes
Trian pushed for changes at Heinz (and other companies such as Cadbury/Kraft/Mondelēz, State Street), helping spur strategic shifts and cost cuts.
Trian activism at State Street
Trian disclosed and subsequently pared a stake in State Street as part of its activist playbook in early 2013.
Trian pushes on Family Dollar and other retailers
Trian engaged in activism at Family Dollar and other retailers, signaling broadened activist campaigns in retail sector.
Ranked among highest-earning hedge fund managers for 2013
Forbes listed Peltz as one of the 25 highest-earning hedge fund managers in 2013 with total earnings of $430 million (Forbes list published Feb 2014).
Begins refurbishment of Palm Beach estate (Montsorrel)
Peltz started a refurbishment and expansion project for his Montsorrel property in Palm Beach, previously owned by Robert R. Young.
Reportedly spent over $2M on sons' bar mitzvahs
Reports indicate Peltz spent over $2,000,000 on the bar mitzvah for his twin sons in 2016 and is a significant patron for Jewish causes.
Net worth reported by Forbes
Forbes reported Peltz's net worth as approximately $1.51 billion (February 2017).
Trian builds $3B stake in Procter & Gamble
Trian disclosed having built about a $3 billion stake in Procter & Gamble as an activist investor pressuring for change.
Joined Board of Trustees, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Peltz began serving on the board of trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Organized fundraiser for Trump's re-election
Peltz organized a fundraiser supporting President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign (later expressed regret after Jan 6).
Publicly expresses regret over 2020 Trump vote
On CNBC, Peltz said he voted for Trump in Nov 2020 but regretted that vote following the January 6 Capitol attack.
Forbes net worth estimate
As of October 2021 Forbes estimated Peltz's net worth at approximately $1.7 billion.
Non-executive chairman roles (Wendy's, Sysco, MSG Co.) (current)
Peltz is reported as non-executive chairman of Wendy's Company, Sysco, and The Madison Square Garden Company (dates of appointment vary; roles current as reported).
Trian representation and activism (Unilever / Janus Henderson)
Trian was represented on the board of Janus Henderson and amassed a large stake in Unilever, intensifying activism at major consumer companies.
Daughter Nicola Peltz marries Brooklyn Beckham
Nicola Peltz married Brooklyn Beckham in a Jewish ceremony at the Peltz Palm Beach residence 'Montsorrel'.
Appointed Non-Executive Director at Unilever
Unilever announced the appointment of Nelson Peltz as a non-executive director of the company.
Trian engages with Disney (campaign begins)
Trian began mounting an activist campaign targeting Disney's governance and performance (early stages of the high-profile proxy activism that culminated in 2024).
Self-nominated for Disney board
Peltz self-nominated for a seat on The Walt Disney Company's board in January 2024 as part of an activist push; presentation to shareholders and public statements followed.
Publicly says he will vote for Trump reluctantly
During the 2024 Republican primaries, Peltz said he would reluctantly vote for Trump after expressing concerns about other candidates' positions and Biden's perceived health issues.
Lost proxy fight with Disney
Trian and Nelson Peltz were unsuccessful in securing board seats at Disney following a costly proxy battle; Disney beat back the challenge.
Sold full Disney stake
According to Forbes (May 29, 2024), Peltz sold his full Disney stake after the proxy battle.
Key Achievement Ages
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