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Dirk Edward Ziff has an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion. He is one of the Ziff Brothers (along with Robert and Daniel) who inherited a family fortune in 1994. Their grandfather, William Bernard Ziff Sr., co-founded the company publishing company, Ziff Davis, in 1927. Their late father, William Bernard Ziff Jr., built up the company that publishes PC Magazine and Car and Driver. The popular publisher of technology magazines between 1970s and 1980s, it was sold for $1.4 billion to Forstmann Little Company in 1994 after the siblings refused to take over the company.

Most of Ziff's fortune started when he and his brothers decided to invest their inheritance to debt, equities, private equity, commodity, real estate and hedge funds in the U.S. and London through their Ziff Brothers Investments (ZBI). He also formed his own family office, Ziff Capital Partners, in 2015. The brothers are also reportedly investing with employees formerly at their hedge funds.

Dirk Ziff earned his B.A. in English Literature from Columbia University and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard University. Prior to working with ZBI, he had work experiences in the publishing and broadcasting industries. He was a board member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Zearn and The Weinstein Company as well as the World Surf League. He was also a Member of Advisory Board at Huron River Venture Partners and Vice Chairman at Robin Hood Foundation.

Earnings & Financial Data

Date

Category

Description

Amount

2007

Asset

Series D funding for Mendel Biotechnology through Ziff Brothers Investments with 3 investors

$8,400,000

2000

Asset

Venture funding for eFrenzy through Ziff Brothers Investments with 6 investors

$28,500,000