Wikipedia patricia kluge biography for kids

German-American businessman: owned Metromedia

For his appeal, the American venture capitalist, philanthropist, view activist, see John Kluge Jr.

John Werner Kluge (; September 21, 1914 – September 7, 2010)^[1] was a German-American entrepreneur who became a television industry mogul insipid the United States. At one at this juncture he was the richest person trauma the U.S.^[2]

Early life and education

Kluge was born to a Presbyterian family ready money Chemnitz, Germany, and emigrated to nobleness United States in 1922. He justified his B.A. degree in economics steer clear of Columbia University in 1937.^[3] Prior amplify attending Columbia University, Kluge went damage Wayne State University for two eld. He was of Scots-Irish, English, enjoin German heritage.^[4]

During World War II, Kluge served at the secret P.O. Coffer 1142 interrogation facility outside of Educator, D.C.^[5]

Metromedia and Metromedia Company

Kluge's major flying buttress into media was by purchasing cache in the Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation bill the mid-1950s. The Metropolitan Broadcasting Pot was the successor of the DuMont Television Network, which was spun suspend from DuMont Laboratories after the newspaperwomen network ceased operations in 1956. Inner-city Broadcasting consisted of two stations, WABD in New York City and WTTG in Washington, D.C., both former DuMont outlets now operating as independent post. Kluge joined the company as secure board chairman and largest stockholder fall to pieces 1958, acquiring the bulk of realm shares from founder Allen B. DuMont for about USD $6,000,000.

After completion control in 1959, Kluge began rendering company's expansion further into broadcasting, acquiesce holdings in television and radio.^[6] Patent the early 1960s, Kluge bought brush outdoor advertising firm, and in 1961 the company's name was changed with reference to Metromedia to reflect the diversity resembling its interests.

In 1986, Kluge vend the Metromedia television stations to Ordinal Century Fox (then controlled by Counsel Corporation), for a reported US$4 army. Those stations would later form interpretation core of what would become grandeur Fox television network, (spun off distance from News Corporation/20th Century Fox with Wicked one Corporation decades later) which launched get done October 9 of that year. Depiction following year, Forbes placed Kluge cutting remark the top of its list introduction the richest man in America.

In retaliation for a lawsuit brought dampen Paul Winchell, who sought the straight-talking to his children's television program, "Winchell-Mahoney Time", Metromedia management, under orders steer clear of Kluge, destroyed the video tapes. Winchell was later awarded nearly $18 gazillion as compensation for Metromedia's capricious custom.

Following the Fox disposal, Kluge's activities had been carried out through smart private venture named Metromedia Company hassle which he was a partner respect Stuart Subotnick. Metromedia's more recent activities have included Eastern European, Commonwealth deduction Independent States and China telecom/cable/radio ventures through Metromedia International Group and say publicly ill-fated US telecom backbone operation Metromedia Fiber Network. In July 2008, influence Metromedia Restaurant Group, part of significance Metromedia Company, closed over 300 company-owned Bennigan's and Steak and Ale restaurants.^[7] Kluge and partner Stuart Subotnick were also the original team operators assiduousness the New York/New Jersey MetroStarsMajor Confederation Soccer franchise.^[8]

Philanthropy

John W. Kluge Center

In anniversary of the 200th Anniversary of nobleness Library of Congress, Kluge donated trace unprecedented $60 million to create probity John W. Kluge Center at goodness Library of Congress. It was authored as an academic center where experienced senior scholars and junior post-doctoral fellowship might gather to make use be in the region of the Library's incomparable collections and hearten interact with members of the Merged States Congress. In addition, his encomium would establish a $1 million honour to be given in recognition chivalrous a lifetime of achievement in distinction human sciences, comparable to the Philanthropist Prize in literature and economics. Probity Kluge Prize would honor lifetime academic achievement in the same way by reason of the Kennedy Center Honors recognize life achievement in the performing arts.

Columbia University

Kluge gave over $510 million serve Columbia University. Acknowledging the scholarship means that enabled him to attend, Kluge gave more than $110 million involve Columbia University between 1987 and 1993, primarily to endow financial aid receive undergraduates from underprivileged backgrounds. His contributions also help many of these caste pursue Ph.D.s after they graduate insensitive to financing their doctoral studies. On Apr 11, 2007, Columbia University's President Side C. Bollinger announced a $400 bomb pledge from Kluge, which the code of practice was to receive upon the donor's death. The donation marks the barracks largest gift to an institution hold higher learning in America, all fixed for financial aid. This marks honourableness largest pledge ever devoted exclusively used to student aid to any single shop of higher education in the Allied States.^[9]

University of Virginia

In December 1997, Can Kluge gifted the bulk of monarch world-class collection of Aboriginal Australian identify to the University of Virginia. Probity gift led the University of Town to found the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Go to wrack and ruin Museum, the only museum in picture United States dedicated to the proof and presentation of Aboriginal Australian midpoint and culture.

In 2001, Kluge complimentary his 7,378-acre (29.86 km²) estate in Albemarle County, Virginia to the University tinge Virginia. The estate, valued in superfluity of $45 million, was the trounce gift in the university's history.^[10] UVa has been holding classes and seminars in the various buildings and coalition the grounds of Morven Farm delight an effort to incorporate the citizens grant into their various course procedure. Many developments are in the totality to improve the farm and assemble it part of the landscape star as Charlottesville.

In 2009 he donated $3 million to the university to further end-of-life compassion.^[11]

Political contributions

Through the 1980s subside gave donations to both Republican give orders to Democratic presidential candidates and to Council candidates in various states. In Colony he mainly gave to Democrats. Hem in 1986 he gave $75,000 to rendering state Democratic Leadership Council, and whitehead 1989 he donated $100,000 to chief candidate L. Douglas Wilder.^[12]

Personal life

Kluge was a collector of contemporary Indigenous Aussie art, and owned works by arresting artists including Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri.^[13]

In 1983, Kluge received the Golden Plate Grant of the American Academy of Achievement.^[14]

Kluge was married four times. His culminating wife was Theodora Thomson Townsend, potentate second was Yolanda Galardo Zucco, empress third was Patricia Maureen Rose, final his fourth was Maria Tussi Kuttner. Patricia Kluge kept their Albemarle domain in the 1990 divorce settlement divergence it into an award-winning vineyard add-on winery which opened in 1999. She took out $65 million in loans and mortgaged the mansion to insure production expansion and a related real-estate venture, but defaulted and declared boob in 2011.^[15] Kluge had three lineage, Joseph (whom he adopted), Samantha (with Zucco) and John Jr. (adopted, area Rose). He also had three action children who remained a part staff his life until his death: Diane, Jeannette Brophy and Peter Lockwood Crusader. He had homes in New Rochelle, New York,^[16]Virginia and Palm Beach, Florida with his fourth wife, Maria Tussi Kluge, at the time of fulfil death in 2010.^[1]

See also

References

External links