Robert Agostinelli
Robert Frank Agostinelli | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 21, 1953 Near Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Financier |
| Known for | Chairman and co-founder of Rhône Group |
Robert Frank Agostinelli (born May 21, 1953) is a billionaire American financier, serving as chairman and co-founder of the private equity firm Rhône Group. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at $1.0 billion, placing him as the 416th wealthiest individual in the United States. In 2012, the Sunday Times Rich List ranked him #124 among the UK's wealthiest, with his fortune valued at £689 million through 2018. That same year, Financial News recognized Agostinelli as the 18th wealthiest financier in the United Kingdom.
Early life
Born near Rochester, New York to parents who immigrated from Italy, Agostinelli attended the Aquinas Institute. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at St. John Fisher College in 1976 and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School at Columbia University. He is also a licensed certified public accountant.
Career
Agostinelli launched his career in financial services at the Swiss investment bank Jacob Rothschild between 1981 and 1982. He subsequently joined Goldman Sachs as a senior partner, where he established its international mergers and acquisitions division based in London. Later, he became Senior Managing Director at Lazard Freres, managing international banking operations and playing a key role in significant European acquisition deals.
In 1995, together with Steven Langman, Agostinelli co-founded the Rhône Group. He has been instrumental in shaping its strategic direction, cultivating relationships with private family offices, corporate executives, institutional investors, and sovereign entities. His responsibilities include leading investment origination, portfolio oversight, and investor relations. Additionally, he holds a position on the supervisory board of Eurazeo.
Politics and philanthropy
Agostinelli serves as director and advisor to numerous philanthropic organizations across Europe and America. As a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he advocates for neoconservative initiatives and is a founding participant in the Friends of Israel Initiative. Previously vice-chairman of the Council for the United States and Italy (CONSIUSA), he also contributes to BSI Group’s Corporate World Opportunities Investment Committee. In 2008, he financially supported the presidential campaigns of both John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
He maintains strong connections with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and ex-Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar. Agostinelli occupies senior positions within organizations such as the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, American Italian Cancer Foundation, National Review Institute, and the American Veterans Center. He regularly authors articles on political and economic topics for the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times. In 1997, he was listed among members of the Bilderberg Group.
Friends of Israel Initiative
In July 2011, Agostinelli joined a delegation from the Friends of Israel Initiative that met with President Shimon Peres at Beit HaNassi in Jerusalem. The delegation included prominent figures such as former Spanish Prime Minister José Aznar, ex-US Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lord David Trimble. During this working session, President Peres outlined Israel’s regional challenges. Agostinelli underscored Israel’s critical role as a democracy facing external pressures and stressed the importance of safeguarding its legitimacy.
Personal life
Agostinelli splits his residence time between New York City and Palm Beach, maintaining additional homes in London and Paris, all crafted by the designer Jacques Grange. In 2014, he purchased "La Loma," recognized as Palm Beach's first officially designated historic estate, for $12 million via Sotheby's International Realty. According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2015, he is in the process of developing a property in Henley-on-Thames. A 2017 report by The Sunday Times revealed his acquisition of a South Kensington estate in London valued at £25 million. Among Agostinelli’s close connections are notable personalities such as Nicolas Sarkozy, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and José María Aznar. He is married to Francesca Lana and is the father of Massimo Agostinelli, an artist based in Switzerland.
Associated publications
- Bowing to Beijing, authored by Brett M. Decker and William C. Triplett II (2011)
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to the British Empire, written by H. W. Crocker III (2011)
- The Last Tycoons, penned by William D. Cohan (2007)