Thomas Lee was the Founder and Chairman of Lee Fairness.

American billionaire Thomas Lee, who was thought of a pioneer of personal fairness funding and leveraged buyouts, died by suicide on the age of 78 at his Manhattan workplace on Thursday, in line with a report within the New York Publish. 

The businessman was declared useless at his Fifth Avenue Manhattan workplace, the headquarters of his funding agency, on Thursday morning round 11:10 am native time when police responded to an emergency 911 name. The outlet added that Mr Lee died by “a self-inflicted gunshot wound” and life-saving efforts have been unsuccessful.  He was noticed on the lavatory’s ground in his workplace by a feminine assistant. She had gone to search for him since she had not heard from him since morning. 

Moreover, the first-responders discovered Mr Lee “mendacity on his aspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the top”. 

In line with a report in Fox Information, Thomas Lee’s household good friend and spokesperson Michael Sitrick stated in an announcement, “The household is extraordinarily saddened by Tom’s loss of life. Whereas the world knew him as one of many pioneers within the non-public fairness enterprise and a profitable businessman, we knew him as a loyal husband, father, grandfather, sibling, good friend and philanthropist who all the time put others’ wants earlier than his personal.”

Thomas Lee was the Founder and Chairman of Lee Fairness, which he based in 2006 and beforehand served as Chairman and CEO of Thomas H. Lee Companions, which he based in 1974. The Lincoln Middle, the Museum of Trendy Artwork, Brandeis College, Harvard College and the Museum of Jewish Heritage have been among the many establishments he served on the boards of as a trustee and philanthropist.

Over the previous 46 years, the billionaire was accountable for investing greater than $15 billion in tons of of offers, together with the acquisition and later gross sales of well-known manufacturers like Warner Music and Snapple Drinks. Reportedly, he was one of many first financiers to purchase companies utilizing cash borrowed towards the enterprise entity. It’s now referred as a “leveraged buyout”.