Edgar Bronfman

Edgar Bronfman, Sr. was a Canadian-American billionaire who led the Seagram Company, a liquor giant founded by his father, Samuel Bronfman. He was also a prominent philanthropist and leader of the World Jewish Congress, an organization that advocates for the rights and interests of Jewish communities around the world. He was born in Montreal, Canada, on June 20, 1929, and attended McGill University, where he earned a degree in commerce. He joined the family business in 1951 and became the head of the U.S. subsidiary, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, in 1953. He expanded the company's portfolio of products and markets, and diversified into other industries, such as oil and gas, chemicals, and entertainment. He acquired a stake in MCA, the parent company of Universal Studios, in 1995, and later sold it to Vivendi in 2000. He retired as the CEO of Seagram in 1994, and as the chairman in 2000. He devoted much of his time and fortune to philanthropic causes, especially those related to Jewish issues. He was the president of the World Jewish Congress from 1981 to 2007, and played a key role in negotiating with the Soviet Union, Germany, and Switzerland on behalf of Jewish victims of oppression and persecution. He also supported various educational, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives, such as the Bronfman Youth Fellowships, the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University, and the Bronfman Building at McGill University. He was the recipient of many honors and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, and the Order of Canada. He was married four times and had seven children, some of whom are also involved in business and philanthropy. He died of kidney failure on December 21, 2013, in New York City, at the age of 84.