Thomas H. Lee, a billionaire private equity financier, was found dead at his Fifth Avenue Manhattan office. He had apparently committed suicide after sustaining a gunshot wound.
The 78-year-old was declared dead by EMTs when police were called at 11:00 on Thursday. To determine the exact cause of death, the medical examiner will conduct an investigation.
#BreakingNews
Billionaire Financier Thomas Lee found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his New York City office; He was 78 years old.#ThomasLee #NYC #NewYork
📷 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/4zBA6vLDAS— READY ALERTS (@ReadyAlerts) February 24, 2023
Lee was the first to use leveraged buyouts, which are buying companies with money borrowed against the company that’s being purchased.
“The family is extremely saddened by Tom’s death. While the world knew him as one of the pioneers in the private equity business and a successful businessman, we knew him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, sibling, friend, and philanthropist who always put others’ needs before his own,” Lee family friend and spokesperson Michael Sitrick said in a statement.
Lee established Thomas H. Lee Partners from 1974 to 2006. He then left Lee Equity Partners. Lee was also a major philanthropist. He contributed to many art-related organizations, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Modern Art. Harvard University also received $22 million from him.
Lee founded Thomas H. Lee Partners in 1974 until he left to form Lee Equity Partners in 2006. He was also a big philanthropist, contributing to many art-related organizations including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. He also gave $22 million to Harvard University.
Lee was twice married and had five children, as well as two grandchildren.
Another thing to note is his friendship with Bill and Hillary Clinton.
After Hillary lost the 2008 primary to Barack Obama, she and Bill stayed at Lee’s East Hampton estate. He was a political donor to Hillary Clinton and a bundler, even during her 2016 campaign.
I wrote earlier this week about the bizarre news that the police report revealed regarding former special advisor to Bill Clinton Mark Middleton, who was found dead last year. Although he was apparently shot in the chest, the report indicated that a gun was not found at the crime scene.
