What is Robert F. Smith's net worth?
CEO of Vista Equity Partners is a philanthropist, chemical engineer and investment banker
Elliott Wave chief equity analyst for Asia Mark Galasiewski says the coronavirus should lead investors to buy Chinese stocks while the price is good, but China expert Gordon Chang doesn't think buying is a good idea as the virus takes hold of the country.
Robert F. Smith is an American billionaire is the founder, chairman and CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners. With over $50 billion in assets, Vista is one of the world's most successful private equity firms, with reported annualized returns of 22 percent since its founding.
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Chair of the Board Robert F. Smith speaks during the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple Of Hope Awards on Dec. 12, 2018, in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights )
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In March 2018, Forbes named Smith America's richest African American, overtaking Oprah Winfrey.
So how much is the man behind the millions worth?
Smith's early career began as a chemical engineer, working with big-name companies such as Air Products & Chemical, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and Kraft General Foods.
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At Columbia University, Smith earned an MBA with honors specializing in finance and marketing. In 1994, Smith forged a career in technology investment banking in New York City followed by San Francisco, where he worked with Goldman Sachs in a lucrative merger-and-acquisition deal.
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Smith was so successful that he left Goldman Sachs and founded Vista Equity Partners, a company that specializes in investments in the software, data, and technology industries, working with companies who have a long-term perspective. Today, Vista Equity lists Apptio, Finastra, PowerSchool, Advanced, Advicent Solutions and Stats Perform, to name but a few.
Recent reports state Vista Equity's estimated annual revenue as $1.2 billion.
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He is listed as number 131 on Forbes' 2019 billionaires list, with an estimated net worth of $5 billion.