Early Life
Byron David Trott was born on December 2, 1958, in Springfield, Missouri. He moved to Union, Missouri, with his parents and three older sisters at a young age. His father was a World War II veteran and later worked for a telephone company. Trott excelled in academics and sports during his youth. He attended the University of Chicago, where he played baseball and football and earned both his undergraduate degree and an MBA.
Rise to Success
Trott's career in finance began at Goldman Sachs in 1982 as a stockbroker. He later joined the investment banking division in 1988. Over his 27-year tenure, he rose to become Vice Chairman of Investment Banking. At Goldman Sachs, he advised wealthy families and closely held companies. In 2009, Trott left Goldman Sachs to establish BDT & Co., which later merged with MSD Partners, forming BDT & MSD Partners.
Key Business Strategies
BDT & MSD Partners focuses on providing long-term capital and advisory services to family-owned and founder-led businesses. Trott’s firm has advised and invested in companies across various industries. He is known for his ability to build relationships with clients and provide strategic advice. BDT & MSD Partners has over $60 billion in assets under management.
Philanthropy
Byron Trott, along with his wife Tina, is committed to philanthropy. They signed The Giving Pledge in 2021. They founded the rootEd Alliance in 2018, an organization that places college and career counselors in high schools in rural America. In 2024, he and his wife gave $150 million to support the Small Town and Rural Students College Network (Stars).
