What Was Jacob Rothschild's Net Worth?
Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild, OM, GBE, CVO, was a British investment banker who had a net worth of $5 billion at the time of his death. Jacob Rothschild was a highly successful investment banker and one of the most well-known members of the historic Rothschild family. He died on February 26, 2024, at the age of 87.
Early Life
Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild, the 4th Baron Rothschild, was born on April 29, 1936, in Berkshire, England. He was the son of Victor Rothschild, the 3rd Baron Rothschild. Jacob attended the prestigious boarding school Eton College as a child. After graduating, he enrolled at Christ Church at the University of Oxford. Eventually, he earned First Class Honours and graduated with a degree in history.
Jacob comes from the storied Rothschild family, a Jewish banking clan that has its roots in Frankfurt, Germany. Over time, the family developed an international banking system that spanned across the most important cities of Europe, including Vienna and London. At one point, the Rothschilds were the richest family in the world, and they had the largest private wealth in the world. They became especially influential and wealthy after the defeat of Napoleon, although in modern times, the family is significantly less wealthy and influential than they once were.
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Career
Jacob's business career began in 1963 when he worked at N M Rothschild & Sons bank in London – a family-run business. This continued until 1980 when the 4th Baron suddenly resigned. His father had the chance to chair the bank but instead pursued a career in science. This meant that he lost control of the company, and Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild took the vacant seat as chair instead (and the majority voting shares).
Because Jacob felt that he would never be allowed to reach his full potential in a business run by Sir Evelyn Robert, he sold his minority stake in the bank and assumed control of Rothschild Investment Trust instead. He then founded the J. Rothschild Assurance Group in 1991, a wealth management business.
Perhaps his most notable role in the business world is his position as Chairman of RIT Capital Partners plc. The company is one of the largest investment trusts on the London Stock Exchange, and it has a net value of about 2 billion pounds. In addition, he chaired a number of subsidiary companies under the umbrella of RIT Capital Partners plc.
In 2003, Jacob became the Deputy Chairman of BSkyB Television – better known simply as "Sky." He also became involved with Russian oil during this period, famously purchasing shares in the oil company YUKOS before Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested. He then purchased a 5% interest in Genie Energy, a company that was given exclusive oil rights in an area within the Golan Heights. His shares were worth $10 million at the time.
During his business career, Jacob Rothschild developed close connections with some of the most influential people in the world. These included Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, French President Francois Mitterand, Warren Buffet, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. Eventually, Jacob retired from his business career in 2008.
(Photo by Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Relationships
In 1961, the 4th Baron Rothschild married Serena Mary Dunn, a descendant of a famous Canadian financier. Over the course of their relationship, they had four children together. Lady Rothschild died in 2019.
Waddesdon Manor
After James de Rothschild's death in 1957, he bequeathed Waddesdon Manor to the National Trust in order to preserve it as a historical property. Eventually, Jacob Rothschild chaired the management committee of the National Trust and the responsibility of preserving Waddesdon Manor fell to him.
Waddesdon Manor is one of the most notable chateaus created by the Rothschild family during the 1800s, and construction was completed in 1889 by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. Although the 5,500-acre property and the home itself are certainly impressive, the collection of rare antiques and historic items inside the grounds is truly astonishing. The home is open to the public, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Britain.
When Jacob Rothschild inherited the role of custodian, renovations for Waddesdon Manor were already underway. By 1997, these renovations had been completed under his watchful eye, with a total cost of over 180 million pounds. In 1994, he oversaw the creation of Waddesdon's new Wine Cellars, which now hold more than 15,000 bottles – some of which are over 150 years old. It is the largest private collection of Rothschild wines on the planet.
The manor is famous for its incredible art collection of 18th-century portraits. There are also a number of priceless items from the Renaissance era, including carpets, tapestries, furniture, and books. In addition, the manor contains extremely old medieval manuscripts. One of the most treasured items in the collection is a desk once owned by Marie Antoinette. An entire section of the manor is a dedicated aviary with some of the rarest Asian songbirds in the world. Although Jacob's ancestors played a central role in developing this collection, he, too, had been steadily adding new content to Waddesdon Manor over the years.
Jacob also constructed his own property on the grounds of Waddesdon Manor during this period. Known as "Flint House," his residence is decidedly modern – a stark contrast to the 18th-century chateau that is the focal point of the entire estate. The home is indeed constructed from flint, and it features interesting architectural additions such as a glass-backed fireplace that creates flames floating on water. Jacob also purchased a "flock" of metallic pink sheep from a Christmas display and arranged them outside as another artistic statement. After constructing the home, he donated it to the Rothschild Foundation.
