John L. Weinberg
John L. Weinberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 January 1925 Scarsdale, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 7 August 2006 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Financier |
| Known for | Head of Goldman Sachs (1976–1990) |
John Livingston Weinberg (January 25, 1925 – August 7, 2006) was a prominent American financier who served as the head of Goldman Sachs between 1976 and 1990.
Early life
Weinberg, the son of renowned Goldman Sachs banker Sidney Weinberg, was raised in Scarsdale, New York. He completed his secondary education at Deerfield Academy before obtaining an A.B. degree in economics from Princeton University in 1948, where he authored a senior thesis entitled "Status and Functions of Corporate Directors." Additionally, he pursued studies at Harvard Business School. During World War II, Weinberg served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marines and was later recalled to duty for the Korean War.
Career
Beginning his career at Goldman Sachs in 1950, Weinberg rose through the ranks to become a senior investment banker and eventually chairman of the management committee. He led the firm from 1976 until 1990, during which time he opposed taking the company public and discouraged participation in hostile takeover bids.
Beyond Goldman Sachs, Weinberg held board memberships with the Seagram beverage corporation, media company Knight-Ridder, and chemical manufacturer Du Pont. His commitments extended to serving as a trustee for both Princeton University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He also established the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware.
To safeguard Goldman Sachs’ public image, Weinberg discreetly employed an off-the-books staff member to handle media communications, providing a layer of plausible deniability should sensitive information be disclosed.
Family and death
John L. Weinberg passed away at age 81 due to complications stemming from a fall. Residing in Greenwich, Connecticut, he was married to Sue Ann Gotshal, daughter of Sylvan Gotshal (1897–1968). Together they had two children and five grandchildren. Their son, John S. Weinberg, began his career at Goldman Sachs in 1983, became a partner by 1992, served as vice chairman of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. from 2006 to 2015, and subsequently joined Evercore in 2016 as Chairman before assuming the role of CEO in 2020.