Ezra Zilkha

Ezra Zilkha
Born
Ezra Khedouri Zilkha

(1925-07-31)July 31, 1925
Baghdad, Iraq
DiedOctober 2, 2019(2019-10-02) (aged 94)
New York City, U.S.
NationalityIraqi, American
OccupationFinancier
SpouseCecile Iny
Children3, including Donald Zilkha
ParentKhedouri Zilkha
RelativesSelim Zilkha (brother)
Abdullah Zilkha (brother)
Maurice Zilkha (brother)

Ezra Khedouri Zilkha (July 31, 1925 – October 2, 2019) was an American financier and philanthropist.

Early life

Ezra Zilkha was born on July 31, 1925,[1] in Baghdad, the son of the banker Khedouri Zilkha.[2] He grew up in Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, and New York City.[2]

Career

Zilkha worked for the family's banking businesses in Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Paris, before working for various companies in the US,[2] In 1985, his net worth was estimated at US$150 million.[3] and Zilkha was in the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.[2]

He was president of Zilkha & Sons from 1956, president of Intermediate Corporation from 1991.[4]

Philanthropy

His philanthropy especially in education, the arts and for the disabled, was "formidable".[2] He was a trustee of the International Center for the Disabled and The American Society of the French Legion of Honor, a trustee emeritus of Wesleyan University, and an honorary trustee of the Brookings Institution.[4]

Personal life

In February 1950, he married Cecile Iny, and they had three children, Donald, Donna, and Bettina.[2]

Zilkha died at his home on October 2, 2019.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Who's who in Commerce and Industry, Volume 14". Marquis Who's Who. 1965. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gupte, Pranay (11 April 2006). "A Living Legend With An Eye Focused on History". New York Sun. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. ^ Peter W. Bernstein; Annalyn Swan (2 December 2008). All the Money in the World. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-307-26770-2. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Executive Profile Ezra K. Zilkha". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. ^ "OBITUARY Ezra Zilkha Passed away on October 2, 2019". dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved 4 October 2019.