Gérard Louis-Dreyfus

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Gérard Louis-Dreyfus
Born Gérard C. Louis-Dreyfus
(1932-06-21) June 21, 1932[1]
Paris, France
Nationality French
Other names William Louis-Dreyfus
Education Duke University
Duke Law School
Occupation Businessman
Title Ex Chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services
Spouse(s) Judith Bowles (1959-1962)
Phyllis B. Louis-Dreyfus
(1965-present)
Children Julia Louis-Dreyfus (with Bowles)
Phoebe Eavis
Emma Louis-Dreyfus

William Louis-Dreyfus (born Gérard C. Louis-Dreyfus; June 21, 1932)[1] is a French-born American businessman. His net worth was estimated at $3.4 billion by Forbes in 2006.[2] He is the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services and the great grandson of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, founder of Louis Dreyfus Group.[3] He is the father of Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Life and career

Louis-Dreyfus was born in Paris. His great-grandfather Léopold Louis-Dreyfus founded the Louis Dreyfus Group in 1851. His mother, Dolores Porges (née Neubauer), was American-born,[1] the daughter of a Brazilian father and a Mexican mother.[4] His father, Pierre Louis-Dreyfus, (1908-2011),[5] was a French Jew who headed the Louis Dreyfus group and fought in the French Resistance during World War II.[6] In 1940, Louis-Dreyfus moved to the United States with his mother after her divorce from Pierre. By 1945 he had adopted the name William as a symbol of his integration into American society.

After graduating from Duke University and Duke University School of Law, Louis-Dreyfus worked at the law firm of Dewey Ballantine, New York, before joining Louis Dreyfus in 1965.

Louis-Dreyfus was chairman of the Poetry Society of America from 1998 to 2008. He is also a poet who has had poems published in publications such as The Hudson Review.

Politics

In October 2012, Dreyfus published a full page ad in the New York Times named 'A Call To Arms To The Wealthy To Protect The Right To Vote' in a bid to encourage fellow voters to contribute to protect their voting rights. Dreyfus himself donated $1 million.[7][8]

Family

Immediate family

First Wife: Judith (née LeFever) Bowles. Divorced, 1962.

Child With Judith Bowles:

Second Wife: Phyllis B. Louis-Dreyfus.

Children With Phyllis Louis-Dreyfus:

  • social worker Phoebe Émilie Dominique Louis-Dreyfus Eavis (born May 1968), she married financial journalist Peter Eavis in 1996.[9][10]
  • social worker Emma R. Louis-Dreyfus (born 1974).

Cousins

One cousin is Jean Louis-Dreyfus, grandson of the family business founder, Léopold Louis-Dreyfus. Another cousin is Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the former chief executive officer of Adidas.

See also

  • List of billionaires

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Legal Eagle: PORGES v. LOUIS-DREYFUS, 280 A.D. 277 (1952) Dolores N. Porges, Appellant-Respondent, v. Guy P. Louis-Dreyfus, Respondent-Appellant, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Department. June 3, 1952
  2. ↑ Forbes.com "Gérard Louis-Dreyfus & family". Forbes.com. October 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 
  3. ↑ "Gerard Louis Dreyfus Executive Biography". Louis Dreyfus Group. Retrieved 2007-10-28. 
  4. ↑ Rootsweb: "Dowling Family Genealogy" retrieved August 16, 2013
  5. ↑ "Louis Dreyfus Dead at 102". Retrieved 2011-06-11. 
  6. ↑ By TVtropolis June 1, 2006 (2006-06-01). "Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Seinfeld". Canada.com. Retrieved 2010-09-01. 
  7. ↑ "Billionaire William Louis-Dreyfus Calls On Fellow Rich To Battle Voter Suppression". Huffington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2013. 
  8. ↑ "BA call to arms to the wealthy to protect the right to vote". Brennan Center For Justice. Retrieved 31 January 2013. 
  9. ↑ New York Times: Marriages: "Phoebe Louis-Dreyfus, Peter Eavis" October 20, 1996
  10. ↑ Talking Biz News: "Ex-WSJer Eavis to join NYT" by Chris Roush November 28, 2011
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