Howard William Lutnick born July 14, 1961 is an American billionaire businessman who succeeded Bernard Gerald Cantor as the head of Cantor Fitzgerald. He is currently the chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group. Lutnick became widely known after losing 658 employees, including his brother, in the September 11 attacks.
Howard Lutnick Biography 2025
He was also among the survivors of the tower collapse and has since gained recognition for his charitable work through the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which supports the families of victims of both the attacks and natural disasters. As of September 2018, Lutnick owns 60% of Cantor Fitzgerald, with a net worth of at least $1.5 billion. He has been a fundraiser for Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2025 and is a vocal supporter of Trump’s tariff proposals. In November 2025, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Lutnick as secretary of commerce.
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Howard Lutnick Biography Details
Born
Howard William Lutnick
July 14, 1961 (age 63)
Jericho, New York, U.S.
Spouse
Allison Lambert
(m. 1994)
Children
4
Education
Haverford College (BA)
Howard Lutnick Early Life
Lutnick was born into a Jewish family on July 14, 1961, in Jericho, New York, on Long Island. His father, Solomon Lutnick, was a history professor at Queens College, and his mother, Jane Lutnick, was a painter and sculptor. He was the middle child, with an older sister, Edie, and a younger brother, Gary. Lutnick’s life was marked by personal tragedy: in 1978, when he was 17, his mother passed away from lymphoma.
The following year, while Lutnick was in his first week at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, his father died unexpectedly after a nurse administered a fatal overdose of chemotherapy. The Lutnick siblings, now orphaned, felt abandoned by their relatives and had to rely on each other for support. Lutnick, then just 18, also had to hire a lawyer to resolve his father’s financial debts. In the wake of these losses, the president and dean of Haverford College, which prides itself on its Quaker heritage, reached out to Lutnick and offered him a full scholarship. Lutnick went on to graduate with a degree in economics in 1983.
Career Overview
Category
Details
Business Title
Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group
Key Achievements
Pioneered electronic trading systems, led Cantor through 9/11 tragedy
Net Worth
Estimated at least $1.5 billion (as of 2018)
Years Active
1983–present
Early Life
Category
Details
Born
July 14, 1961, Jericho, New York
Parents
Solomon Lutnick (History professor), Jane Lutnick (Artist)
Family Tragedy
Both parents passed away before he graduated college
Education
Haverford College, Degree in Economics, 1983
September 11 Attacks
Category
Details
Role at Cantor Fitzgerald
CEO during the September 11 attacks
Tragedy
Lost 658 employees, including his brother, Gary Lutnick
Survival
Was not at work, dropped his son off at kindergarten
Response
Established the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund
Cantor Fitzgerald Recovery
Category
Facts
Actions Taken
Stopped salaries but promised compensation for victims’ families
Charity Fund
Provided over $180 million to families of 9/11 victims
Public Reaction
Faced criticism for salary stoppages but garnered support for relief efforts
Philanthropy and Charity
Category
Details
Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund
Established post-9/11 to support victim families
Global Charity Day
Annual event raising funds for various causes
Notable Donations
$65 million to Haverford College and other causes
Political Involvement
Category
Information
Political Donations
Fundraiser for Donald Trump’s 2020 and 2025 campaigns
Political Stance
Supporter of tariffs and economic policies of Trump
Haverford College Contributions
Category
Details
Role
Board member, co-chair of Board of Managers
Donations
$65 million for scholarships and campus developments
Endowments
Funded Cantor Fitzgerald Art Gallery and athletic centers
9/11 Survivor Story
Category
Details
Event Survival
Survived the collapse by being outside the towers
Family Loss
Lost his brother and several colleagues
Impact on Career
Led the firm through recovery and launched relief efforts
Business Ventures Beyond Cantor Fitzgerald
Category
Points
eSpeed
Led the public offering of the electronic trading system
BGC Partners
Co-founded the company after splitting Cantor Fitzgerald
Rumble IPO
Took video platform Rumble public via SPAC
Leadership Style
Category
Details
Management Focus
Focused on technology and risk management
Public Perception
Known for resilience and handling crises effectively
Crisis Management
Navigated the post-9/11 recovery of Cantor Fitzgerald
Disaster Relief Efforts
Category
Details
Hurricane Sandy
Donated $10 million and adopted 19 schools
Oklahoma Tornado
Donated $2 million to victims of the disaster
Relief Fund Expansion
Donated $280 million to various disaster relief efforts
Family Life and Personal Struggles
Category
Details
Marriage
Married Allison Lambert in 1994
Children
Father of four children, including sons Brandon and Kyle
Personal Loss
Lost both parents before graduation from college
Awards and Honors
Category
Details
Humanitarian Award
FDNY Foundation Humanitarian Award (2013)
Public Service Award
Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
Leadership Award
NYJTL Leadership Award (2011)
Influence in Commercial Real Estate
Category
Details
Ranked Position
Ranked #4 in Commercial Real Estate Finance (2013)
Influence
Recognized for business acumen in real estate finance
Publications
Featured in Commercial Observer’s annual Power 100
Memorial and Tribute Work
Category
Facts
September 11 Memorial
Board member of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Gary Lutnick Center
Funded Gary Lutnick Tennis & Track Center at Haverford
Tribute Projects
Contributions to 9/11-related documentaries and memorials
Securing the Future of Cantor Fitzgerald
Category
Details
Expansion Plans
Efforts to launch FMX Futures Exchange in 2025
Investors
Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Tower Research Capital involved
Firm Growth
Guided Cantor Fitzgerald to steady growth post-9/11
Public Speaking and Advocacy
Category
Information
Speeches
Speaks on resilience, business strategy, and philanthropy
Trump Rally Speech
Advocated for economic policies at Trump rallies
Public Engagement
Regular participant in charity and political events
Howard Lutnick Net Worth
Howard Lutnick is an American businessman who has a net worth of $2 billion.
Howard Lutnick Summary
Howard Lutnick is a prominent businessman, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, and a philanthropist, known for his leadership during and after the 9/11 attacks. He lost his brother and nearly 700 employees in the tragedy but successfully rebuilt his company and launched the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. Lutnick has contributed significantly to disaster relief and education, including donations to Haverford College. He is also involved in politics, supporting Donald Trump’s campaigns. In 2025, Trump announced plans to nominate Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce.
