David Rockefeller, the patriarch of the Rockefeller family and one of the most influential figures in the history of American finance and philanthropy, has died in New York, his spokesman says. He was 101 years old.
Family spokesman Fraser P. Seitel said Rockefeller died peacefully in his sleep Monday morning at his home in Pocantico Hills, a hamlet about 28 miles northeast of New York City. “The cause was congestive heart failure,” Seitel said in an emailed statement.
David Rockefeller was born in New York City in 1915, the sixth child and youngest son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. He was the last surviving grandchild of John D. Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil and became America’s first billionaire.
Most notably, Rockefeller served as the chairman and chief executive officer of The Chase Manhattan Bank, which is now known as JP Morgan Chase. Rockefeller worked at the bank and its predecessor for more than 35 years, retiring in 1980 after 11 years as chairman and CEO.
During his career, Rockefeller met with more than 200 heads of state in close to 100 nations, often to generate business for the bank. At the time of his death, Rockefeller’s net worth was estimated at $3.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
Rockefeller was also a well-known philanthropist, donating nearly $2 billion of his wealth to a range of institutions. He donated, among other organizations, to The Rockefeller University, Harvard University, the Museum of Modern Art, The Council on Foreign Relations, and the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture.
He was also an art lover, owning works by Picasso, Monet and Rothko.
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