Overview

""Entertaining... The Baron of Wall Street helps to reclaim a major American financial figure from the shadows."" –The Wall Street Journal The definitive biography of one of the most influential and innovative figures in the history of American finance who revolutionized Wall Street and whose story reads like a real-life Great Gatsby J.P. Morgan. John D. Rockefeller. Charles E. Mitchell. These are some of the most prominent icons of wealth and influence during the Roaring Twenties. Yet the one figure who has strangely escaped notice all these years is an enigmatic banker by the name of Clarence Dillon. In the dazzling 1920s, as he rose in wealth and influence, Dillon became one of the original behind-the-scenes players in Hollywood, and his contact list included everyone from Thomas Edison to Charlie Chaplin and Joseph P. Kennedy to FDR. Like many great figures in history, Dillon’s personality was complex and contradictory: he could be utterly ruthless and cold-blooded, yet he was also sophisticated and elegant. This immensely influential man left a lasting mark on the history of finance in America. Yet, strangely, he eluded the close attention of biographers and historians—until now. A revolutionary in finance, Clarence Dillon single-handedly: Created modern bankruptcy law Pioneered leveraged buyouts Invented junk bonds Engineered some of the biggest mergers and acquisitions ever seen This first-ever complete inside look at Dillon and his life will fill a void in how we view the wild excesses of the Roaring Twenties, and how we understand the increasingly complex nexus between Wall Street and political power in our own time. The Baron of Wall Street is a vivid, novelistic account of Wall Street’s most formative years and its transformation through one dynamic and influential player in the financial world, highlighting his significant role in shaping US foreign policy today.

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9781335016430

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Reviews

""In The Baron of Wall Street: Clarence Dillon and the Making of the Modern Financial World, Bill Loomis offers a vivid portrait of one of the most influential figures of 20th century finance. Loomis traces Dillon’s remarkable transformation from the son of Jewish immigrants to a powerful Wall Street financier whose influence rivaled that of Rockefeller and Morgan. Clarence Dillon’s story is one of reinvention, ambition, and lasting impact – in finance, academia and government. A captivating biography that brings a man both respected and reviled to life.""–Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder of Blackstone  “What if Jay Gatsby had attained all he sought? William Loomis, a former senior Wall Street investment banker, chronicles the remarkable life of Clarence Dillon in The Baron of Wall Street. Dillon pioneered much of modern American finance amidst a fascinating supporting cast. The Baron of Wall Street is replete with new stories  about the constellation of immediately familiar names, among whom Dillon blazed his brilliant career.”—Paul Isaac, Founder and Portfolio Manager at Arbiter Partners

Author Information

WILLIAM R. LOOMIS JR., is a former CEO of Lazard. A Wall Street veteran with over twenty-five years of experience in investment banking, Loomi s ser ved on the boards of seven NYSE and foreign-listed corporations, including Alcan, Limited Brands, and Phillips 66. After earning a BA in Political Economy and Asian Studies from Williams College, Loomis was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to write while traveling from Afghanistan to Borneo. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and pursued graduate studies in history at the University of California.

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