Career Timeline of Howard Lutnick: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Howard Lutnick, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Howard William Lutnick is an American businessman who has served as the 41st United States secretary of commerce since 2025.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1983: Hired at Cantor Fitzgerald

In 1983, Howard Lutnick was hired at Cantor Fitzgerald by B. Gerald Cantor after working as a broker for the United States dollar–Japanese yen exchange. Cantor was encouraged by Rod Fisher, a partner at the firm and Cantor's nephew.

December 1990: Appointed Cantor's Successor

In December 1990, Howard Lutnick was appointed as Cantor's successor in the event of his death.

1990: Becomes CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald

In 1990, Howard Lutnick became president and chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald.

1991: Becomes Firm's CEO and President

In 1991, after a failed attempt to oust him, Howard Lutnick became the chief executive and president of Cantor Fitzgerald.

1994: Diversifying Cantor's Investments

Since 1994, Lutnick had been diversifying Cantor's investments, seeking to establish a brokering business in Europe.

December 1995: Cantor Hospitalized; Succession Plan Implemented

In December 1995, Cantor was hospitalized in New York after a medical incident. Lutnick moved to implement a succession plan at Cantor Fitzgerald, allowing him to become a managing general partner at the firm.

1996: Appointed Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald

In 1996, after Cantor's death, Howard Lutnick was appointed chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald. He then made a significant investment in technology, which resulted in the creation of an electronic trading platform known as eSpeed.

September 1998: Electronic Trading Begins

In September 1998, Cantor Fitzgerald began electronic trading for futures contracts on Treasury bonds and notes and developed eSpeed with an investment of US$250 million.

March 1999: eSpeed Released

In March 1999, eSpeed, an electronic trading platform, was released.

September 2001: eSpeed Creates Marketplaces

By September 2001, eSpeed had created four dozen marketplaces, including TradeSpark, an exchange for natural gas and electricity.

October 2001: Relief Fund Donations Begin

In October 2001, after the September 11 attacks, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund began donating US$5,000 to families of victims with one or more children.

February 2002: Profit Divided to Survivors

In February 2002, Cantor Fitzgerald announced it would divide US$4.9 million in profit to survivors of the September 11 attacks.

September 2002: Cantor Fitzgerald Donates to Relief Fund

In September 2002, Cantor Fitzgerald donated US$4 million to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.

August 2004: Partnership Established

In August 2004, Cantor Fitzgerald established a partnership, BGC Partners, for its voice brokerage business.

September 2006: Relief Fund Donations

As of September 2006, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund had donated US$180 million to families.

October 2007: Lutnick Appointed CEO

In October 2007, Howard Lutnick was appointed the chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald's fixed-income trading and sales business, succeeding Irvin Goldman.

2013: Donation to Moore Tornado Victims

In 2013, Howard Lutnick gave debit cards of an equal amount to victims of the Moore tornado.

September 2014: Charity Day Raises Millions

By September 2014, Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners' annual charity day on September 11 had raised US$101 million for non-profits dedicated to the attacks, including the September 11th Education Trust.

October 2014: Largest Single Donation to Haverford College

As of October 2014, Howard Lutnick has donated US$65 million to Haverford College in total, including a single donation valued at US$25 million. Lutnick's donations have gone towards the library (named after him), the Douglas B. Gardner Integrated Athletic Center, the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, and the Gary Lutnick Tennis & Track Center, among other facilities.

January 2017: Anshu Jain Joins Cantor Fitzgerald

In January 2017, Anshu Jain, a former Deutsche Bank executive, joined Cantor Fitzgerald as its president.

2017: Donation to Hurricane Harvey Relief

In 2017, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund donated to hurricane relief, including Hurricane Harvey.

2020: Cantor Fitzgerald Invests in Cryptocurrency

Since 2020, Cantor Fitzgerald has invested in cryptocurrency, particularly Tether, a major cryptocurrency company.

July 2024: Lutnick Speaks at Bitcoin Conference

In July 2024, Howard Lutnick and presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where Lutnick announced Cantor Fitzgerald would open a US$2 billion lending facility with Bitcoin as collateral.

August 2024: Co-chair of Trump's Transition Team

In August 2024, Howard Lutnick was named as the co-chair of Donald Trump's presidential transition.

November 2024: Lutnick joins Partnership for New York City's board and Weill Cornell Medicine.

As of November 2024, Lutnick is a member of the Partnership for New York City's board and Weill Cornell Medicine.

2024: Lutnick considered for Secretary of the Treasury, later nominated for Secretary of Commerce

In 2024, following the presidential election, Howard Lutnick was considered for the position of Secretary of the Treasury. However, on November 19, 2024, Donald Trump selected Lutnick as his nominee for Secretary of Commerce.

January 2025: Lutnick's financial disclosure reveals significant assets

In January 2025, Lutnick's financial disclosure form revealed that he had at least US$806 million in assets, including shares in GE Aerospace, GE Healthcare, The Walt Disney Company, Nasdaq, Inc., and the musical Kimberly Akimbo.

January 2025: Senate Committee Hearing

In January 2025, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a committee hearing for Howard Lutnick.

February 2025: Allison Lambert appointed trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center

In February 2025, Allison Lambert, Lutnick's wife, was appointed a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after president Donald Trump was elected chairman.

February 2025: Lutnick involved in discussions to offer Intel's manufacturing facilities to TSMC

In February 2025, The New York Times reported that Lutnick had been involved in discussions to offer Intel's manufacturing facilities to TSMC.

February 2025: Lutnick Names Sons to Leadership

In February 2025, after being confirmed as the United States secretary of commerce, Lutnick named his sons, Brandon and Kyle, as chairman and executive vice chairman, respectively, of Cantor Fitzgerald.

March 2025: Lutnick defends Trump's tariffs and denies recession risks

In March 2025, Lutnick stated on Meet the Press that there was "no chance" of a recession due to Trump's economic policies and argued that tariffs are necessary to reverse globalization and deter fentanyl.

March 2025: Lutnick endorses Tesla on Fox News, raising ethics concerns

In March 2025, amid the decrease in values of stocks for Tesla, Lutnick appeared on Fox News and declared that people should buy Tesla stock, prompting government ethics experts to suggest he violated a law that prevents federal government employees from giving endorsements.

2025: Becomes Secretary of Commerce

In 2025, Howard Lutnick assumed the role of the 41st United States secretary of commerce.

2025: Lutnick criticizes The Heritage Foundation

In 2025, as co-chairman of Trump's transition team, Lutnick called The Heritage Foundation, which led Project 2025, "radioactive" to the New York Post.