Thomas Steyer

Thomas Steyer, an American climate investor, businessman, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, and liberal activist, was born in Manhattan, New York.

His mother, Marnie (née Fahr), was a teacher of remedial reading at the Brooklyn House of Detention, while his father, Roy Henry Steyer, was a partner in the New York law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell and a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials.

Steyer grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and attended the Buckley School and Phillips Exeter Academy.

He graduated from Yale University summa cum laude in economics and political science, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and served as captain of the soccer team.

Steyer received his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar and served on the Stanford University board of trustees.

1979

Steyer began his professional career at Morgan Stanley.

1983

He worked at Goldman Sachs as an associate in the risk arbitrage division.

Steyer became a partner and member of the Executive Committee at Hellman & Friedman, a San Francisco–based private equity firm.

January 1986

Steyer founded Farallon Capital, a hedge fund firm headquartered in San Francisco.

He made his fortune running Farallon, which was managing $20 billion by the time he left the company.

Steyer was known for taking high risks on distressed assets within volatile markets.

October 2012

Steyer stepped down from his position at Farallon to focus on advocating for alternative energy.

He was criticized for not disposing of carbon-polluting investments quickly enough and for investments in private prisons while leading Farallon.

Steyer founded OneRoof, Inc., a B Corp and social enterprise business designed to bring broadband connectivity, computer literacy, and employment skills to small rural towns in rural India and Mexico.

He also founded Beneficial State Bank, a community development bank, to provide commercial banking services to underserved Bay Area businesses, nonprofits, and individuals.

August 2010

Steyer signed onto The Giving Pledge, an initiative of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.

He created the TomKat Ranch in Pescadero, California, near Half Moon Bay, to research and demonstrate a sustainable way of doing agriculture.

Steyer joined the board of Next Generation, a nonprofit intending to tackle children's issues and the environment.

2013

He founded NextGen Climate, an environmental advocacy nonprofit and political action committee.

August 2015

Steyer launched the Fair Shake Commission on Income Inequality and Middle Class Opportunity.

1983

Steyer worked on Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.

2000

He raised money for Bill Bradley.

2004

Steyer raised money for John Kerry.

2008

An early supporter of Hillary Clinton, Steyer became one of Barack Obama's most prolific fundraisers.

2004

Steyer served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

2008

He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Steyer is a member of the Hamilton Project and involved with the Democracy Alliance.

2008

Steyer was considered for appointment as Secretary of Treasury after the Obama victory.

2010

Steyer co-chaired the No on Prop. 23 campaign, which defeated a measure concerning California's environmental legislation, AB32.

2012

Steyer was the leading sponsor of Proposition 39 on the ballot in California, which closed a loophole that allowed multi-state corporations to pay taxes out of state.

2012

Steyer hosted a fundraiser for President Obama at his home.

2012

Steyer gave a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, criticizing Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's energy policies and supporting Obama's policies.

February 2013

Steyer spoke at an anti-Keystone XL Pipeline rally in Washington, D.C.

2013

Steyer founded NextGen Climate (now NextGen America), an environmental advocacy nonprofit and political action committee.

2014

Steyer funded political campaigns to advocate for the election of at least nine candidates and to influence climate change policy through NextGen Climate.

April 2015

Steyer testified before the California Legislature in favor of a greenhouse-gas reduction bill.

July 2015

Steyer called on 2016 candidates to develop strategic plans to provide the United States with at least 50% of its energy from clean sources by 2030.

2016

Steyer raised money for Hillary Clinton and hosted a fundraiser on her behalf.

October 2017

Steyer spent approximately $10 million for a television ad campaign advocating the impeachment of Donald Trump.

March 2018

Steyer launched a 30-city town hall tour as part of the Need to Impeach campaign.

2018

Steyer considered running for governor of California but announced he would not.

July 2019

Steyer launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Steyer was a self-funded candidate, committed to spending millions of dollars in campaign advertising.

Steyer qualified for and participated in six televised Democratic primary debates.

Steyer failed to qualify for one debate.

Steyer came in seventh place in the Iowa caucuses and sixth place in the New Hampshire primaries.

Steyer earned no national pledged delegates from Iowa, New Hampshire, or Nevada.

Steyer spent a great deal of time and money in South Carolina but finished third.

February 29, 2020

Steyer suspended his campaign after the South Carolina results.

Steyer spent over $253 million, with all but a little over $3.5 million coming from his personal funds.

Steyer's political positions include a focus on environmentalism, healthcare, gun control, campaign finance, taxation, and five non-partisan issue areas he outlined as the 5 Rights.

Steyer has received several awards for his environmental work, including Equality California's 2015 Humanitarian Award.

August 1986

Steyer married Kathryn Ann Taylor.

Steyer has four children: Samuel Taylor ("Sam"), Charles Augustus ("Gus"), Evelyn Hoover ("Evi"), and Henry Hume ("Henry").

Steyer's net worth is estimated to be $1.6 billion.

Steyer is known for his modest lifestyle and wearing tartan neckties every day.

Steyer had a "revelation" in his late 30s and became more involved in the Episcopal Church.

2018

Steyer received two suspicious packages from convicted mail bomber Cesar Sayoc.

Steyer resides in San Francisco, California.