Financier and Jewish Philanthropist Jacob Rothschild Dies at 87

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    FILE - Chairman of RIT Capital Partners, Lord Jacob Rothschild arrives for a reception, hosted by Britain's Prince Charles, at Clarence House in London for the delegates of the Global Investment Conference, July 26, 2012. Financier and philanthropist Jacob Rothschild, of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty, has died at 87, his family said Monday Feb. 26, 2024. Rothschild began his career in the family bank, NM Rothschild & Sons, in 1963, before he broke away to start businesses and charitable organizations. His family described him as a “towering presence." (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)

    LONDON (AP) — Financier and philanthropist Jacob Rothschild, of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty, has died at 87, his family said Monday.

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    Rothschild began his career in the family bank, NM Rothschild & Sons, in 1963, before breaking away to start businesses and charitable organizations. His family paid tribute to him in a statement.

    “Our father Jacob was a towering presence in many people’s lives, a superbly accomplished financier, a champion of the arts and culture, a devoted public servant, a passionate supporter of charitable causes in Israel and Jewish culture, a keen environmentalist and much-loved friend, father and grandfather,” his family said.

    “He will be buried in accordance with Jewish custom in a small family ceremony and there will be a memorial at a later date to celebrate his life,” they added, without providing any more details.

    The Rothschild family has an estimated fortune of about 825 million pounds ($1 billion), according to last year’s Sunday Times Rich List. It reportedly gives away millions of pounds to Jewish causes, education and art.

    Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was among the political and cultural leaders who paid tribute to Rothschild. Blair described him as a “towering figure in Britain’s Jewish community” and praised his work advancing peace in the Middle East.

    Born in Berkshire, west of London, Rothschild was educated at Eton College and studied history at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

    After leaving the Rothschild bank, he took control of Rothschild Investment Trust, now RIT Capital Partners. He was chairman of the firm, one of the largest investment trusts on the London Stock Exchange, until 2019.

    He also co-founded the then J Rothschild Assurance Group, now St James’s Place, with Mark Weinberg in 1980, and served as deputy chairman at what was then BSkyB Television, among other roles.

    In the cultural sector he was chairman of the board of trustees at London’s National Gallery and chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

    The Rothschild Foundation, the charity which manages the family’s former home, the country house Waddesdon Manor, said Jacob Rothschild’s daughter Hannah would succeed him as its chair.

    Jacob Rothschild was married for more than 50 years to Serena, who died in 2019. They have four children, Hannah, Beth, Emily and Nat, and many grandchildren.


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    14 Comments
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    Paul Near Philadelphia
    Paul Near Philadelphia
    7 months ago

    An old historic family that so often suffered from bad luck.

    M m
    M m
    7 months ago

    um, he wasn’t Jewish. the mother claimed to be a convert, but didn’t keep shabbos. his father was publicly an avowed atheist, so nearly impossible that he was Jewish. On top of that, he lived like a goy, he certainly wasn’t part of am yisroel

    danny
    danny
    7 months ago

    Is this Jewish news?

    DougFisch
    DougFisch
    7 months ago

    For all those pointing fingers: remember, when you point at someone….there are three fingers pointing back at you’d!

    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    7 months ago

    are his children Jewish halachically?

    cornpop
    cornpop
    7 months ago

    Dynastic infighting. Probably taken out by one of his own space lasers.