David Bonderman Biography

David Bonderman (born November 27, 1942) is an American businessman. He is the founding partner of TPG Capital (formerly Texas Pacific Group "TPG") and its Asian affiliate, Newbridge Capital. Bonderman is listed on the 2012 Forbes 400 list as the 170th wealthiest American with a net worth of approximately $2.6 billion.

Education

Bonderman studied at the University of Washington and at Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1966 and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Washington in 1963. He was also a member of the Harvard Law Review and a Sheldon Fellow. While at or shortly after his time at Harvard, he traveled to Cairo, Egypt, to study Islamic Legal Jurisprudence and Law, and became proficient in various Islamic legal cliques developing a near-native fluency in Modern Standard Arabic. Later, Bonderman developed the Bonderman Fellows program at the University of Washington providing undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities for unstructured international travel and study.

Career history

Prior to forming TPG in 1992, he was a partner in the law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in corporate, securities, bankruptcy and antitrust litigation. Previous to that he was a Fellow in Foreign and Comparative Law at Harvard University, special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General and an assistant professor at Tulane University Law School.

Bonderman, a principal and general partner of TPG Partners, L.P., Fort Worth, Texas, was previously chief operating officer of the Robert M. Bass Group, Inc. (RMBG), which now does business as Keystone Inc. He previously served on the boards of Washington Mutual, Inc., American Savings Bank, Denbury Resources, Inc., and Burger King Holdings, Inc., resigned. Bonderman serves on the boards of Continental Airlines, Inc., Böwe Bell & Howell Co., Ducati Motorcycles S.P.A., Credicom Asia, the National Education Corp., Beringer Wine Estates, Carr Realty Co., Virgin Cinemas, Ltd., CoStar Group, Inc., GemAlto N.V., Ryanair Holdings, Inc. and Ryanair, Ltd. He has been the Chairman of Ryanair Holdings and Ryanair Limited since December 2003. He also serves on the boards of The Wilderness Society, the Grand Canyon Trust, the World Wildlife Fund, The University of Washington Foundation and the American Himalayan Foundation.

Bonderman has been named as one of the investors of a new sports arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the New Las Vegas Arena. Bonderman currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

He is the Chairman of the Board and Director of European low-cost airline, Ryanair.

Personal life

In 2002, for his 60th birthday, Bonderman had The Rolling Stones and John Mellencamp play at his birthday party at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. John Mellencamp played for an hour, The Rolling Stones played for an hour and a half and comedian Robin Williams entertained guests between acts. The party cost $7 million, making it one of the most expensive private concerts ever held.

In 2012, for his 70th birthday party, Bonderman held a private concert by former Beatle Paul McCartney at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada for 1020 guests. Robin Williams also performed a comedy routine. Bonderman donated $1000 to each guest's charity of choice.