Gerard Louis Dreyfus Net Worth: $4 Billion
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $4 Billion |
| Birthdate | June 21, 1932 – September 16, 2016 (84 years old) |
| Birthplace | Paris, France |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Businessperson, Poet |
| Nationality | United States of America |
Introduction
Gérard Louis-Dreyfus, also known as William Louis-Dreyfus in the U.S., was a French-American businessman and poet with a net worth of $4 billion at the time of his death in 2016. He served as the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, a subsidiary of his family’s global merchant firm Louis Dreyfus Company. He is also known as the father of award-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
What was Gérard Louis Dreyfus’s Net Worth?
Gérard Louis-Dreyfus had a net worth of $4 billion at the time of his death in 2016. As the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, he significantly contributed to the success and expansion of the family business.
Early Life and Education
Gérard Louis-Dreyfus was born on June 21, 1932, in Paris, France, to French father Pierre and American mother Dolores. His paternal great-grandfather was Léopold, founder of the Louis Dreyfus Company. In 1940, Gérard moved to the United States with his mother and adopted the name William. He attended Duke University, earning a BA in English literature in 1954, and later obtained an LLB from Duke University School of Law in 1957.
Louis Dreyfus Company
After working at Dewey Ballantine in New York City, Gérard joined the Louis Dreyfus Company in 1965. Despite the company’s near-bankruptcy at the time, he turned it around, making it one of the world’s leading commodities traders. As chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, he oversaw crude-oil trading, gas investments, and infrastructure. Gerard Louis Dreyfus Net Worth
Poetry
Beyond his business career, Louis-Dreyfus was a passionate poet. He taught poetry at Jackie Robinson High School in Harlem and served as chairman of the Poetry Society of America from 1998 to 2008. His poems were published in various literary journals, including the Hudson Review, Southwest Review, and the New Criterion.
Other Endeavors
Louis-Dreyfus founded a charitable foundation, supporting initiatives like the Harlem Children’s Zone and awarding scholarships to African-American students. He amassed a significant art collection featuring works by Alberto Giacometti, Wassily Kandinsky, and Helen Frankenthaler. In 2012, he took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to advocate for the protection of voting rights and donated $1 million to the cause.
Personal Life and Death
Louis-Dreyfus married Judith LeFever in 1955, and they had one daughter, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, before divorcing in 1962. He married his second wife, Phyllis Blankenship, in 1965, with whom he had two daughters, Phoebe and Emma, and a son, Raphael. Gérard Louis-Dreyfus passed away on September 16, 2016, at his home in Mount Kisco, New York.
Gérard Louis-Dreyfus’s legacy as a successful businessman and passionate poet lives on through his contributions to the Louis Dreyfus Company and his charitable endeavors. His impact on both the business and cultural worlds remains significant, and his family’s influence continues through the ongoing operations of the Louis Dreyfus Company and the success of his daughter, Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
