History of Larry Fink in Timeline

Laurence Douglas Fink is an American billionaire and the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm. BlackRock manages over $10 trillion in assets. As of April 2024, Fink's net worth was estimated at $1.2 billion. He also serves on the board of the World Economic Forum.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1925: Birth of Frederick Fink

In 1925, Frederick Fink, Larry Fink's father, was born. He later owned a shoe store.

1930: Birth of Lila Fink

In 1930, Lila, Larry Fink's mother, was born. She later became an English professor.

November 2, 1952: Laurence Douglas Fink Born

On November 2, 1952, Laurence Douglas Fink, the future co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BlackRock, was born.

1974: Fink Earned BA from UCLA

In 1974, Larry Fink earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UCLA.

1974: Fink Married Lori Weider

In 1974, Larry Fink married his high-school sweetheart, Lori Weider.

1976: Fink Started Career at First Boston

In 1976, Larry Fink began his career at First Boston, an investment bank in New York. He became one of the first mortgage-backed security traders and eventually managed the firm's bond department.

1976: Fink Received MBA from UCLA Anderson

In 1976, Larry Fink received an MBA in real estate from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

1986: Losses at First Boston

In 1986, Larry Fink's department at First Boston lost $100 million due to an incorrect prediction about interest rates, influencing his future focus on comprehensive risk management.

1988: Co-founded BlackRock

In 1988, Larry Fink co-founded BlackRock under the corporate umbrella of The Blackstone Group, becoming its director and CEO.

1994: BlackRock Split from Blackstone

In 1994, when BlackRock split from Blackstone, Larry Fink retained his positions as director and CEO.

1998: Fink Became Chairman of BlackRock

In 1998, Larry Fink became the chairman of BlackRock after the company became independent.

1999: BlackRock Went Public

In 1999, BlackRock became a public company.

2003: Fink Negotiated Resignation of NYSE CEO

In 2003, Larry Fink helped negotiate the resignation of the CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Grasso, after criticism of his $190 million pay package.

2004: Bought Finch Farm

In 2004, Larry and Lori Fink bought Finch Farm in North Salem, New York from Stanley Tucci for $3.7 million.

2006: Merger with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers

In 2006, Larry Fink led the merger of BlackRock with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, doubling BlackRock's asset management portfolio. BlackRock also purchased Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village for $5.4 billion, which later resulted in losses for clients after the project ended in default.

2007: Start of the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis

In 2007, the beginning of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the U.S. government contracted BlackRock to aid in its recovery.

2008: BlackRock contracted to help the Fed after the 2008 financial crisis

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the Fed turned to BlackRock to help it purchase distressed securities, mirroring the 2008 financial crisis when BlackRock was originally contracted to help the Fed.

2008: Height of the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis

During the height of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, BlackRock was contracted by the U.S. government to aid in its recovery. This led to relationships with government officials and potential conflicts of interest.

December 2009: BlackRock Purchased Barclays Global Investors

In December 2009, BlackRock purchased Barclays Global Investors, making the company the largest money-management firm in the world.

2009: Fink Founded Center at UCLA Anderson

In 2009, Larry Fink founded the Lori and Laurence Fink Center for Finance & Investments at UCLA Anderson and serves as its chairman.

2010: Fink's Compensation in 2010

In 2010, BlackRock paid Larry Fink $23.6 million.

2010: Vanity Fair Report on Fink's Impact at First Boston

In 2010, Vanity Fair reported that Larry Fink had increased First Boston's assets by approximately $1 billion.

2012: Death of Lila Fink

In 2012, Lila Fink, Larry Fink's mother, passed away.

2013: Death of Frederick Fink

In 2013, Frederick Fink, Larry Fink's father, passed away.

December 2016: Fink Joined Trump's Business Forum

In December 2016, Larry Fink joined a business forum assembled by then president-elect Donald Trump to provide strategic and policy advice on economic issues.

2016: BlackRock's Assets and Employees in 2016

By 2016, BlackRock had $5 trillion under management, with 12,000 employees in 27 countries.

2016: Fink Aspired to be Treasury Secretary

In 2016, Larry Fink aspired to become Hillary Clinton's Treasury Secretary.

2016: Fink Received ABANA Achievement Award

In 2016, Larry Fink received the ABANA Achievement Award in New York City for outstanding leadership in banking and finance and commitment to positive cooperation between the US, the Middle East and North Africa.

September 2018: Activist Confronted Fink Onstage

In September 2018, an activist with Code Pink confronted Larry Fink onstage at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit, due to BlackRock being the largest investor in weapon manufacturers through its U.S. Aerospace and Defense ETF.

October 2018: Fink Cancelled Plans to Attend Investment Conference

In October 2018, after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Larry Fink cancelled plans to attend an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.

2018: Fink Ranked on Forbes List

In 2018, Larry Fink was ranked #28 on the Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful People.

2018: Fink's 2018 Annual Letter to CEOs

In his 2018 annual open letter to CEOs, Larry Fink called for corporations to play an active role in improving the environment, working to better their communities, and increasing the diversity of their work forces, signaling a move by BlackRock to enforce these targets.

2019: Bought Land in North Salem

In 2019, Larry and Lori Fink bought 27 acres of land in North Salem from the town's deputy supervisor Peter Kamenstein for $5.4 million.

2019: Fink's 2019 Open Letter

In his 2019 open letter, Larry Fink stated that companies and their CEOs must step into a leadership vacuum to tackle social and political issues when governments fail to address these issues.

2020: BlackRock Aided Fed During Pandemic

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the Fed turned to BlackRock to help it purchase distressed securities, mirroring the 2008 financial crisis.

2020: Fink's 2020 Annual Letter

In his 2020 annual open letter, Larry Fink announced environmental sustainability as a core goal for BlackRock's future investment decisions and explained how climate would become a driver in economics. He also announced that BlackRock will be cutting ties with investments involving thermal coal.

December 2021: BlackRock Teamed up with Saudi Asset Manager

In December 2021, BlackRock teamed up with a Saudi asset manager to pay $15.5 billion to buy and then lease back gas pipelines to Saudi Aramco.

2021: Fink's Compensation in 2021

In 2021, BlackRock paid Larry Fink $36 million.

2022: Fink Named Climate Villain

In 2022, Larry Fink was named one of the US' top "climate villains" by The Guardian due to BlackRock's profiting from deforestation.

2022: Fink on Companies Taking Action on Climate Change

In an open letter in 2022, Larry Fink stated "Every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net-zero world. The question is, will you lead, or will you be led?"

April 2024: Fink's Net Worth Estimated by Forbes

In April 2024, Forbes estimated Larry Fink's net worth to be US$1.2 billion.

2024: Fink on 2024 Presidential Election

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Larry Fink stated that it "really doesn’t matter" for financial markets whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the election.

March 2025: Fink on protectionism in March 2025

In March 2025, following weeks of poor performance by US stocks amid actions by the Donald Trump administration, Fink said, "protectionism has returned with force."