Early life

Kenneth Langone was born in Roslyn Heights, New York, to Italian American working-class parents. His father was a plumber and his mother a cafeteria worker. As a student at Bucknell University, Langone worked various jobs; a butcher's assistant, a caddy and a ditch digger. While at Bucknell, Langone became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduating in three and a half years, Langone headed back to New York, this time to Manhattan instead of Roslyn Heights. There he attended New York University Stern School of Business at night while working full-time during the day. That part-time evening program now bears his name, and is known as the "Langone Program" at NYU.

Business career

In the early 1960s, Langone began his career at a Wall Street financial services company named R.W. Pressprich. He soon became a “mover and shaker” in the firm, and a major factor in the development of new business. In 1968 Langone met and wooed Ross Perot into letting Pressprich handle Electronic Data Systems's IPO. In 1969, Langone would be named Pressprich’s president.

In 1974, Langone left to form a new firm, named Invemed - a venture capital firm that would become hugely successful. Langone began to study the home improvement business and eventually bought stock in Handy Dan, a home improvement chain. This led to a relationship with Handy Dan CEO Bernard Marcus and CFO Arthur Blank. Although a minority shareholder, Langone effectively protected Marcus from issues that arose between Marcus and Sanford Sigiloff, the CEO of The Daylin Corporation, Handy Dan's parent company. Marcus, however, felt that if Langone sold his interest in Handy Dan, it might actually improve his relationship with Sigiloff. Shortly after Langone sold his Handy Dan stock both Marcus and Blank were fired. Langone organized financing for Marcus and Blank to found Home Depot. Now a national chain with over 300,000 employees, it is Langone's most notable business venture.

Other endeavors

Langone has attracted publicity with his attempted purchase of the New York Stock Exchange. Although the deal fell through, it raised Langone's stature on Wall Street and in the business community in general. He was a codefendant with Richard Grasso in the 2004 prosecution by Eliot Spitzer over a controversial package of $139.5m of benefits received by Grasso on leaving his post as chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange, in addition to an estimated $10m annual pay. The Exchange was operated as a non-profit enterprise, and so was subject to New York state laws governing remuneration within non-profit enterprises. Langone was, as a director of the Exchange and senior member of the remuneration committee, heavily involved in development of the pay package. On July 1, 2008, the New York State Court of Appeals dismissed the case. The majority opinion stated that, since the beginning of the case, the NYSE had become a subsidiary of a for-profit multinational corporation, and that pursuing the company in the matter was therefore "not in the public interest."

He was elected as director of Yum! Brands effective October 7, 1997, and is a member of the Audit Committee.

On July 8, 2010, Geeknet announced that Kenneth Langone was elected Chairman of its Board of Directors and is now serving as CEO.

Langone served on the board of General Electric in 2001.

Langone tapped Robert Nardelli to become CEO of Home Depot after Jeffrey R. Immelt was chosen over both Nardelli and James McNerney to succeed Jack Welch as CEO of GE.

Langone also served on the board of Database Technologies, a position he filled at invitation of the company's founder Hank Asher. Asher claims Langone was responsible for his ouster.

Langone was a cofounder and board member of ChoicePoint Inc.

The Wall Street Journal discussed a pitch made by Bernard Madoff to Langone just before Thanksgiving 2008. Langone told the newspaper that Madoff said he was raising $500 million to $1 billion for his new fund for exclusive clients.

Langone is a member of Kappa Beta Phi.

Personal life

He and his wife Elaine Langone have three children; Kenneth G. Jr., Stephen, and Bruce Langone.

As a Roman Catholic, he was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI. In December 2013, he criticized Pope Francis over his views on income inequality.

He has expressed his lack of opposition to same-sex marriage, saying "If two boys, two girls want to get married, it doesn't bother me... it's none of my business."

He lives in Sands Point, New York.

Philanthropy

Langone has donated millions of dollars to various charities. His philanthropic focus has been universities, medical research and training, education, and helping children.

Universities Langone has contributed towards include Bucknell University, and NYU. Bucknell University has benefited from his $11 million donation, which financed a new Athletics and Recreation Center. Additionally, he has donated $6.5 million to NYU's Stern School to endow the Kenneth G. Langone Part-time Evening MBA program. In 2008, Kenneth and Elaine Langone made an unrestricted $200 million gift—the largest in the Medical Center's history—and the NYU Medical Center was subsequently renamed the NYU Elaine A. and Kenneth G. Langone Medical Center. Langone serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Langone has contributed towards charities which fund medical research and treatment and provide education and services to the disadvantaged. These charities have included the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, The Children's Oncology Society (Ronald McDonald House), Tomorrow's Hope Foundation, Harlem Children's Zone, and the Robin Hood Foundation, where he serves as Director. Langone is also the Chairman of the Promise Academy, a charter school in New York City.

He serves on the boards of The Ronald McDonald House of NY CSIS, The Medal of Honor Foundation, and the Harlem Children's Zone.

Through Home Depot, Kenneth Langone started the charitable organization Ken's Kids, which provides job training and employment to youths aged 18-21 with disabilities in Philadelphia. Langone himself financially contributes to the charity.

Langone donated millions of dollars to a wide variety of charities, most recently $200 million to what is now known as the New York University Elaine A. and Kenneth G. Langone Medical Center.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]