Jacob Rothschild was a British aristocrat, financier, and scion of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty. Engaging in pivotal positions across business, finance, and the public sphere in Britain, he also dedicated himself to various charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 87 years
Full name-Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild
Height-180 cm
Weight-67kg
Born-29 April 1936
Birthplace-Berkshire, United Kingdom
Death place- 26 February 2024
Spouse-Serena Rothschild (m. 1961–2019)
Profession-British investment banker
Nationality-German Jewish descent
Cause of Death
Jacob Rothschild, a prominent British financier, philanthropist, and scion of the Rothschild banking dynasty, has passed away at the age of 87. The announcement of his death was made by the Rothschild Foundation in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). No cause of death was provided.
“The Rothschild Foundation and Waddesdon Manor are deeply saddened to announce the death of Lord Rothschild, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and cultural leader,” read a statement from the charity. “He will be greatly missed by his family, his colleagues and his many friends.”
His family has also confirmed his passing in a statement.
“Our father Jacob was a towering presence in many people’s lives, a superbly accomplished financier, a champion of the arts and culture, a devoted public servant, a passionate supporter of charitable causes in Israel and Jewish culture, a keen environmentalist and much-loved friend, father and grandfather,” their statement read.
The family shared that Rothschild “will be buried in accordance with Jewish custom in a small family ceremony and there will be a memorial at a later date to celebrate his life.”
Family
His parents were Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild, and Barbara Judith Rothschild.
Wife
In 1961, Rothschild married Serena Mary Dunn. Lady Rothschild passed away in 2019.
Children
They had four children: Hannah Mary Rothschild Brookfield, Beth Matilda Rothschild Tomassini, Emily Magda Rothschild Freeman-Attwood, and Nathaniel Philip Victor James Rothschild.
Education
Rothschild received his education at Eton College before continuing his studies at Christ Church, Oxford. There, under the guidance of Hugh Trevor-Roper, he excelled in history, earning a First-class degree.
Career
From 1963, Rothschild began his career at the family bank N M Rothschild & Sons in London, eventually resigning in 1980 amidst a family disagreement. Following this, he divested his minority stake in the bank due to a change in leadership to his distant cousin Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild. However, he retained control of Rothschild Investment Trust (now RIT Capital Partners plc), an investment trust listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Subsequently, Rothschild co-founded J. Rothschild Assurance Group (now St. James’s Place plc) in 1991 alongside Sir Mark Weinberg. Throughout his career, he engaged in various ventures, including an unsuccessful bid for British American Tobacco in 1989 alongside Sir James Goldsmith and Kerry Packer.
Rothschild held prominent positions, serving as Chairman of RIT Capital Partners plc, one of the largest investment trusts on the London Stock Exchange, and as Chairman of J Rothschild Capital Management. Additionally, he maintained interests in venture capital and property.
His involvement extended to various boards and councils, including serving as Deputy Chairman of BSkyB Television from November 2003 to 2008, Director of RHJ International until 2008, and as a member of the council for the Duchy of Cornwall for the Prince of Wales. He was also part of the International Advisory Board of The Blackstone Group.
Rothschild’s contributions were recognized through honors such as being appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2020 New Year Honours for his services to the Duchy of Cornwall.
Moreover, he engaged in strategic investments, including acquiring a 5% equity interest in Genie Energy, a subsidiary of IDT Corporation, in November 2010. Rothschild also inherited the Waddesdon and Eythrope estates in Buckinghamshire in 1988, establishing a close association with Waddesdon Manor and contributing significantly to its restoration through a private family charitable trust.
Waddesdon Manor, under Rothschild’s stewardship, garnered acclaim, attracting numerous visitors and earning accolades such as Visit England’s “Large Visitor Attraction of the Year” category in 2017.
Furthermore, Rothschild commissioned notable projects like the award-winning Flint House on the Waddesdon Manor estate, which he subsequently donated to the Rothschild Foundation. The estate also served as a venue for various high-profile events, including hosting visiting heads of state and international conferences.
Net Worth
At the time of his passing, Jacob Rothschild reportedly had a net worth of £15.7 trillion.
