Stephen Schwarzman, began his position as chariman of the Kennedy Center in May 2004. He received a BA in Intensive Culture and Behavior in 1969, from Yale, where he was a member of Skull and Bones with President George W. Bush, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, in 1972. He began his career at Lehman Brothers, and in 1978 was elected Managing Director. He was also Chairman of the Mergers & Acquistions Committee at Lehman Brothers from 1983 to 1984. In 1985 he co-founded The Blackstone Group, where he is currently Chairman and CEO. His income from Blackstone in 2007 was $350 million. He also received $4,7 billion when Balckstone went public. Schwarzman is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; on the board of the New York City Ballet, New York City Partnership, New York Public Library, and Film Society of Lincoln Center. In addition, he has been an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Management.

 

Schwarzman is a longtime contributor to both political parties. His contributions to Republicans include: The presidential campaigns of George Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney, and the Senate campaigns of Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole, Rick Lazlo, Mel Martinez, Pat Roberts, Arlen Spector, Ted Stevens, and John Sununu. He has also given to the Republican National Committee. Democrats he has favored with contributions include: for president, Bill Clinton; for Senate, Erskine Bowles, Barbara Boxer, Jon Corzine, Tom Daschle, Frank Lautenberg, Jay Rockefeller, Charles Schumer; for Congress, Jane Harman, Patrick Kennedy, and Charles Rangel.

 

Schwarzman also gave $10 million to the Kennedy Center’s Theater program.

Blackstone’s Chief Received $350 Million in Pay in 2007 (Associated Press)

The Birthday Party: How Stephen Schwarzman became private equity’s designated villain. (by James B. Stewart, New Yorker)

Wall Street's hottest hand: Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman has built a powerhouse unlike any other. He avoided the blowups of the '90s, and he's finding gold in the market's rubble. (by Andy Serwer, Fortune)