Robert Muse Bass | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1948-03-19)March 19, 1948 (age 77) |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Stanford University (MBA) |
| Occupations | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Perry Richardson Bass Nancy Lee Bass |
| Relatives |
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Robert Muse Bass (born 19 March 1948[1]) is an Americanbillionaire businessman and philanthropist. He was the chairman ofAerion Corporation, an American aerospace firm inReno, Nevada.[2] In 2018, he had a net worth of $5 billion.[3] Bass has served on theTexas Highway & Public Transportation Commission.[4]
Robert Muse Bass was born on 19 March 1948 inFort Worth, Texas. His father,Perry Richardson Bass, was an investor, philanthropist and sailor. His mother,Nancy Lee Bass, was a philanthropist. He has three brothers:Lee Marshall Bass,Ed Bass, andSid Bass. His uncle isSid Richardson.[citation needed]
Bass attendedThe Governor's Academy, and graduated fromYale University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree.[5] He received a master in business administration from theStanford Graduate School of Business.[5]
Bass's father founded Bass Brothers Enterprises in 1960 after inheriting $11 million from his great uncleSid W. Richardson in 1959.[6]
In 1985, Robert Bass founded the Robert M. Bass Group as his personal investment company.[4] In 1990, it was renamed Keystone, Inc., after the Keystone Field in West Texas from which the Bass family derived their fortune.[7] He foundedOak Hill Capital Partners as afamily office in 1986.[8]
In April 1987, Bass and other owners of TFBA Limited Partnership bought and took privateTaft Broadcasting for $1.43 billion.[9]
In March 1988, Bass sold thePlaza Hotel toDonald Trump, thanks to their mutual friendTom Barrack.[10] In April 1988, he led a buy-out ofBell & Howell.[11] In June 1988, Bass made an offer to purchaseMacmillan Inc., the publishing and information company, but the company responded with a restructuring.[4]
Bass formerly served as chairman of the board atAerion Supersonic, a developer of supersonic business jets. Bass was replaced by Tom Vice as chairman upon the announcement of a partnership betweenBoeing and Aerion on February 5, 2019. It is reported Boeing invested several hundred million dollars for an approximate 40 percent share in Aerion.[12]
Bass has served as chairman ofStanford University's board of trustees,[5] Stanford Management Company, theNational Trust for Historic Preservation, andCook Children’s Medical Center . He is a trustee of Stanford University,[5] a director of Stanford Management Company, a trustee of theBrookings Institution,[13] a trustee ofRockefeller University,Groton School,Middlesex School, and theAmon Carter Museum.
Bass and his wife Anne donated $13 million to fund the renovation of Yale's Cross Campus Library, which was renamed theBass Library.[14] In 2005, they donated $30 million to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.[15] In 2013, they donated $50 million toDuke University to support Bass Connections, an initiative to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and studies.[16] In 2001, Bass and his wife donated $10 million to Duke to strengthen undergraduate teaching. They also donated $10 million in 1996 to establish the Bass Society of Fellows at Duke.[17] They also contributed to the creation of Bass Hall in Downtown Fort Worth (performing arts venue located in Fort Worth, Texas that routinely hosts musical and theatrical performances).[18]
Bass is married to Anne T. Bass.[5] They have four children.[2] One daughter, Margaret, was featured in aWall Street Journal article as an example of a student whose wealth and family connections helped her receive admission to an elite university.[19][20] They reside in the town of Westover Hills nearFort Worth, Texas, and also have homes inNew York City and inWashington, D.C.[21][22][23] They also have a home inSeal Harbor on the southeast side ofMount Desert Island, Maine (south ofAcadia National Park).[24]
