Early Life and Education
Mortimer Benjamin Zuckerman was born on June 4, 1937, in Montreal, Canada. His parents owned a tobacco and candy store. Zuckerman attended McGill University at the age of 16, earning a BA in 1957 and a BCL in 1961. He then pursued an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with honors. He later obtained an LLM from Harvard Law School.
Rise to Success
Zuckerman began his career by teaching at Harvard Business School and Yale University. He spent seven years at Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, rising to senior vice president and CFO. In 1970, he co-founded Boston Properties with Edward Linde, which grew into a major real estate investment trust. Zuckerman's career also includes ownership of various media outlets. In 1980, he bought The Atlantic magazine, which he chaired until 1999. He acquired U.S. News & World Report in 1984 and later purchased the New York Daily News in 1993.
Key Business Strategies
Key to Zuckerman's success has been his ability to identify promising real estate opportunities and navigate the media landscape. His strategy involved acquiring and developing prime properties, as well as building a portfolio of influential publications. His ability to adapt to changing market conditions and make strategic investments has been critical to his long-term success.
Philanthropy
Zuckerman is a significant philanthropist, supporting various causes. He pledged $200 million to establish the Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University. Additionally, he contributed to cancer research and other humanitarian causes.
