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 2024
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 2024 and is a vocal supporter of Trump’s tariff proposals. In November 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Lutnick as secretary of commerce.
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 2024 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 2024 |
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 2024, Trump announced plans to nominate Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce.
