David René de Rothschild | |
|---|---|
 Rothschild in 2014 | |
| Born | (1942-12-15)December 15, 1942 (age 82) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po |
| Occupation | Financier |
| Organization | World Jewish Congress |
| Spouse | Princess Olimpia Anna Aldobrandini (m.1974) |
| Children | 4, includingAlexandre |
| Parent(s) | Guy de Rothschild Alix Hermine Jeannette Schey de Koromla |
| Family | Rothschild family |
Baron David René James de Rothschild (French pronunciation:[davidʁəneʒɛmsdəʁɔtʃild]; born December 15, 1942) is a French banker and a member of theFrench branch of theRothschild family. Since 2018, he is supervisory board chairman ofRothschild & Co and chairman of Rothschild Continuation Holdings, a Swiss holding company.[1]
David de Rothschild was born in New York City (the first "Free French" registered at the Consulate according to him[2]), as a result of his parents having to escape the Germans during theGerman occupation of France in World War II. He is the son ofGuy de Rothschild (1909–2007) and his first wife and distant cousin, the former Baroness Alix Hermine Jeannette Schey de Koromla (1911–1982). His maternal grandfather was the Hungarian BaronPips Schey. While his mother remained in New York City throughout the war, his father went to England where he joined theFree French Forces. Following the liberation of France, the family returned to their home in Paris. His parents eventually divorced. David de Rothschild was educated atInstitut d'Études Politiques de Paris in Paris from which he graduated in 1966.[3]
He has one half-brother: BaronÉdouard de Rothschild from his father's later marriage toBaroness Marie-Hélène van Zuylen van Nyevelt.[3]
David René de Rothschild first worked atSociété miniére et métallurgique de Peñarroya, a mining company owned by his family and headquartered in Paris. Afterwards, he did a training in the family-controlledBanque Rothschild.[3]
When the French government reform of banking regulations ended the legal distinction betweenbanques d'affaires anddeposit banks, the bank de Rothschild Frères became Banque Rothschild in 1967, a limited-liability company. David de Rothschild's father was an aggressive businessman who strove to expand the bank and their investments in mining and oil exploration as chairman ofImetal S.A. However, the family fortunes suffered a severe setback following the election to theFrench Presidency of the socialist government ofFrançois Mitterrand in 1981.[4] The newparliament nationalized the Banque Rothschild.[2][3]
In 1986, when the Socialists lost power, the Rothschild family got a new banking license in France, thanks to a helping hand fromRobert Badinter.[2] In 1987 — joined by his half-brother Edouard, step-brother Count Philippe de Nicolay, and cousin Eric de Rothschild — David René de Rothschild createdRothschild & Cie Banque, the successor of Banque Rothschild.[3] During the 1990s, he bought a small share inN M Rothschild & Sons, the two entities started to converge,[5] and he became deputy chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons.[6] In 2003, following the retirement of SirEvelyn Robert de Rothschild as head of N M Rothschild & Sons of London, the UK and French firms merged to become one umbrella entity called "Group Rothschild". Ownership was shared equally between the French and British branches of the family under the leadership of David de Rothschild.[3] The French PresidentEmmanuel Macron had previously worked at his bank.[2]
In 2015, Rothschild was indicted in Spain for fraud in relation to a scheme that allegedly defrauded British retirees who signed up for aninheritance tax minimization scheme.[7][8]
In 2018, his son Alexandre de Rothschild took his succession as Chairman of Rothschild & Co, while David René de Rothschild became chairman of the supervisory board.[3]
Rothschild holds or has held the following positions:
In 1974, David de Rothschild married the Italian PrincessOlimpia Anna Aldobrandini (b. 1955) inReux,Calvados.Yves Saint Laurent designed the bride's dress.[15] They have four children:[16]
As of 2022, his net worth was estimated at €575 million by French weekly business magazineChallenges.[19]
