A Quiet Giant of Private Equity: David Bonderman Has Passed Away

David Bonderman, a respected lawyer and investor who served one of the richest families in Texas, has passed away at the age of 82. As a co-founder of TPG, a heavyweight in private equity, and a pioneer of professional ice hockey in Seattle, Bonderman leaves behind an impressive legacy. Despite his outstanding career, Bonderman deliberately stayed in the background of the public. He was known for skillful corporate takeovers and high-return investments. In March 2023, his fortune was estimated by Forbes at 6.5 billion US dollars. Born in Los Angeles, Bonderman completed his law degree at Harvard Law School. After teaching at Tulane University, he joined the US Department of Justice and later became a partner at the law firm Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. In the 1980s, he worked for the Robert M. Bass Group and entered the business with partner Jim Coulter, conducting numerous successful takeovers. This laid the foundation for the creation of Texas Pacific Group in 1992, known today as TPG. Despite his achievements, he remained modest. Those close to him remember him as someone who was rarely the loudest in the room but often the smartest. Privately a strong supporter of former Republican President George W. Bush, he made a political shift in 2004 and supported Democrat John Kerry. A notable incident in his career was his resignation from the Uber board in 2017, after making an ill-considered comment during a meeting discussing gender equality. David Bonderman's legacy lives on in the enterprises he helped shape and the charities he supported.