Early Life and Education of Tom Steyer: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Tom Steyer. From birth to education, explore key events.

Tom Steyer is an American businessman, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, and political activist. He founded Farallon Capital, a $20 billion investment firm, and co-founded Beneficial State Bank, a community development bank. Steyer has been actively involved in political and environmental causes, advocating for climate action and liberal policies. He served on Stanford University's board of trustees and was a partner at Hellman & Friedman, a private equity firm.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

June 27, 1957: Tom Steyer's Birth

On June 27, 1957, Thomas Fahr Steyer was born. He is an American climate investor, businessman, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, political candidate, and liberal activist.

August 1986: Steyer married Kathryn Ann Taylor

In August 1986, Tom Steyer married Kathryn Ann Taylor. The ceremony was performed by Reverend Richard Thayer and Rabbi Charles Familant. They have four children.

2007: Appointment to Stanford University Board of Trustees

In 2007, Tom Steyer began his service on the board of trustees at Stanford University.

2008: Steyer created the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy

In 2008, Tom Steyer and Taylor gave $41 million to create the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy at Stanford University, focused on developing affordable renewable energy technologies and promoting public policies for accessibility.

August 2010: Signing onto The Giving Pledge

In August 2010, Tom Steyer and his wife signed onto The Giving Pledge, an initiative of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, committing to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

2010: Signing of The Giving Pledge

In 2010, Tom Steyer and his wife committed to donating half of their fortune to charity during their lifetime by signing The Giving Pledge.

2010: Co-chairing No on Prop. 23 campaign

In 2010, Tom Steyer co-chaired the 'No on Prop. 23' campaign in California, which aimed to preserve the AB32 climate change law.

2010: Steyer opposed Citizens United v. FEC

In a November 2014 interview, Tom Steyer said that he opposes Citizens United v. FEC, the 2010 Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited corporate donations to super PACs.

2011: Steyer received Phillip Burton Public Service Award

In 2011, Tom Steyer received the Phillip Burton Public Service Award of Consumer Watchdog for his environmental work.

2012: Steyer received Environmental Leadership Award

In 2012, Tom Steyer received the Environmental Leadership Award of the California League of Conservation Voters for his environmental work.

2012: Sponsoring Proposition 39

In 2012, Tom Steyer sponsored Proposition 39 in California, which sought to close a tax loophole to fund clean-energy infrastructure.

2012: Steyer focused on Keystone Pipeline

In 2012, after conversations with Bill McKibben, Tom Steyer focused on the Keystone Pipeline. He officially left Farallon in 2012.

September 2013: Steyer appeared in commercials opposing the Keystone pipeline

In September 2013, Tom Steyer appeared in a series of commercials in opposition to the proposed Keystone pipeline.

October 2013: Steyer launched the Risky Business Project

In October 2013, Tom Steyer, along with Michael Bloomberg and Henry Paulson, launched the Risky Business Project, an initiative to combat climate change by quantifying and publicizing its economic risks in the United States.

2013: Steyer supported Terry McAuliffe's campaign

In 2013, Steyer supported Terry McAuliffe's successful campaign for governor of Virginia through his NextGen Climate Action, contributing funds for paid media and get-out-the-vote efforts.

2013: Steyer helped elect Ed Markey

In 2013, Tom Steyer helped elect Ed Markey to the Senate in a special election in Massachusetts, reportedly spending $1.8 million attacking Stephen Lynch, including paying for a plane to fly over a Boston Red Sox game with a banner.

2013: Steyer received Environmental Achievement Award

In 2013, Tom Steyer received the Environmental Achievement Award of the Environmental Law Institute for his environmental work.

June 2014: Steyer Planned Involvement in California Legislative Races

In June 2014, Steyer announced plans to get involved in California legislative races, targeting three to four races in each house to influence climate change policy. It was reported that Steyer became the single largest donor in American politics and a leading advocate of environmental issues.

June 2014: Risky Business Project published a National Report

In June 2014, the Risky Business Project, co-chaired by Tom Steyer, published a National Report quantifying the economic risks of climate change in the United States.

November 2014: Steyer explained why he invests in elections over philanthropy

In a November 2014 interview, Tom Steyer stated that he invests his money into elections rather than philanthropic organizations because the price of inaction is too high not to take a direct role.

2014: Steyer spent $67 million in the midterm elections

In 2014, Steyer spent approximately $67 million of his personal fortune in the midterm elections and had a 40% success rate, with three of the seven Senate and gubernatorial candidates NextGen Climate supported winning their races.

2014: Steyer funded political campaigns through NextGen Climate

In 2014, Tom Steyer funded political campaigns to advocate for the election of at least nine candidates and influence climate change policy through NextGen Climate.

January 2015: Risky Business Project published a Midwest Report

In January 2015, the Risky Business Project, co-chaired by Tom Steyer, published a Midwest Report quantifying the economic risks of climate change in the United States.

April 2015: Steyer testified before the California Legislature

In April 2015, Steyer testified before the California Legislature in favor of a greenhouse-gas reduction bill.

April 2015: Risky Business Project published a California Report

In April 2015, the Risky Business Project, co-chaired by Tom Steyer, published a California Report quantifying the economic risks of climate change in the United States.

July 2015: Steyer called on 2016 candidates to develop clean energy plans

In 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, with the message reportedly targeted at Hillary Clinton.

August 2015: Steyer discussed bills to cut gasoline use

In August 2015, Steyer was the guest of honor at the California Democratic Party headquarters, where he discussed bills to cut gasoline use in half by 2030.

November 2015: Steyer called the Obama administration's decision to reject the Keystone pipeline "fantastic"

In a November 2015 interview, Tom Steyer described the Obama administration's decision to reject the Keystone pipeline as "fantastic."

2015: Steyer received Equality California's Humanitarian Award

In 2015, Tom Steyer received Equality California's Humanitarian Award "for his work advancing progressive causes that benefit the LGBT community."

2015: Steyer received Land Conservation Award

In 2015, Tom Steyer received the Land Conservation Award of the Open Space Institute for his environmental work.

2015: Steyer joined the Breakthrough Energy Coalition

In 2015, Tom Steyer signed on to the Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Coalition, which aims to jumpstart the demand and availability of green energy sources.

2016: Steyer focused on Florida

In 2016, Steyer cited Florida's pivotal role in the presidential election and its vulnerability to climate change as reasons for his focus on the state.

2016: Steyer raised money for Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Tom Steyer raised money for Hillary Clinton, hosted a fundraiser at his home, and contributed $87,057,853 exclusively to Democratic Party candidates during the election cycle.

2016: Sponsoring Proposition 56

In 2016, Tom Steyer sponsored Proposition 56, a tobacco-tax increase in California to fund healthcare and smoking cessation programs.

2016: Steyer called on 2016 candidates to develop clean energy plans

October 2017: Steyer launched a TV ad campaign advocating for Trump's impeachment

Beginning in October 2017, Steyer spent approximately $10 million for a television and digital ad campaign advocating for the impeachment of Donald Trump, alleging that Trump has brought the country to the brink of nuclear war, obstructed justice, and violated the constitution.

October 2017: Steyer expressed support for raising personal taxes

In an interview in October 2017, Tom Steyer said that he was in favor of raising personal taxes, arguing that upper-income people in the United States had done "disproportionately well" at the expense of working families. He also called one version of a 2017 Republican tax reform proposal a "thinly veiled reverse Robin Hood" and supports a wealth tax for anyone worth at least $32 million.

2017: Departure from Stanford University Board of Trustees

In 2017, Tom Steyer concluded his service on the board of trustees at Stanford University after ten years.

January 2018: Steyer announced he would not run for governor of California

In January 2018, Tom Steyer announced that he would not run for governor of California, after initially considering it.

March 2018: Steyer launched a town hall tour for Need to Impeach

In March 2018, Tom Steyer launched a 30-city town hall tour for the Need to Impeach campaign. By the fall election season, the campaign had amassed close to 6 million petition signatures.

November 2018: Steyer outlined campaign issues in a USA Today ad

In November 2018, Tom Steyer outlined five non-partisan issue areas on which he said the Democrats should campaign in a full-page USA Today ad, including voting rights protections, a clean environment, a complete education, a living wage, and good health.

2018: Steyer received suspicious packages from Cesar Sayoc

In 2018, Tom Steyer received two suspicious packages from convicted mail bomber Cesar Sayoc.

July 9, 2019: Steyer launched his presidential campaign

On July 9, 2019, Tom Steyer launched his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in an online campaign video posted to Twitter, committing to spending millions of dollars in campaign advertising.

July 2019: Steyer stepped down from Need to Impeach to announce presidential campaign

In July 2019, Tom Steyer stepped down from his role as president of Need to Impeach when he announced his presidential campaign. He named Nathaly Arriola as the new executive director. He had reportedly spent over $70 million in the effort as of 2019.

February 29, 2020: Steyer suspended his presidential campaign

On February 29, 2020, Tom Steyer finished third in the South Carolina primary with 11% of the vote and no pledged delegates, after which he suspended his presidential campaign.

2023: Steyer held a fundraiser for Joe Biden

In 2023, Tom Steyer held a fundraiser for President Joe Biden's re-election bid for the White House in his San Francisco home.

November 2025: Steyer entered race to succeed Gavin Newsom

In November 2025, Tom Steyer entered the race to succeed Gavin Newsom as Governor of California, framing himself as an outsider focused on affordability and unafraid to "change up the system" in an open race without a clear frontrunner.