Biography

Michael Milken, chairman of the Milken Institute, has been at the forefront of successful initiatives in medical research, education, public health and access to capital for more than four decades. Fortune called him “The Man Who Changed Medicine” and Forbes listed him among “Visionaries Reimagining Our Children’s Future.”

In 1982 he formalized his philanthropy by co-founding the Milken Family Foundation. The Milken Institute hosts more than 250 events annually, including major conferences in Singapore, London, Abu Dhabi, New York, Los Angeles and Washington. In March 2020, the efforts of his foundations, the Institute’s 10 centers, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University were redirected to respond to the coronavirus crisis, including developing policy recommendations, expediting treatments and addressing funding issues. He also launched a podcast series titled, Conversations with Mike Milken, which have focused on COVID-19, the resulting economic impact, and the social justice movement.

As a financier, Mike revolutionized modern capital markets by pricing and rewarding risk more efficiently. The thousands of companies he financed created millions of jobs. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Mike earned his M.B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He and his wife Lori have been married since 1968 and are members of the Giving Pledge; they have three children and 10 grandchildren. More information is at www.mikemilken.com.