Howard Schultz and George Soros are of the list of American billionaires who have managed to accumulate their wealth in absolutely different spheres. Schultz has made Starbucks what it is today, while Soros is known for being one of the most prominent hedge fund investors. Both names were mentioned during the J.C. Penney leadership issues in 2013, but they are not related and not involved in business together.
Profile Bio
| Detail | Howard Schultz | George Soros |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Howard D. Schultz | George Soros |
| Birth date | July 19, 1953 | August 12, 1930 |
| Age in 2026 | 73 years | 96 years |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, USA | Budapest, Hungary |
| Nationality | American | Hungarian-American |
| Profession | Businessman and author | Investor and philanthropist |
| Known for | Building Starbucks globally | Soros Fund Management |
| Estimated net worth | Around $6.6 billion | Around $8.6 billion |
| Height | Not reliably verified | Not reliably verified |
| Spouse | Sheri Kersch Schultz | Tamiko Bolton |
| Children | 2 | 5 |
| Main philanthropy | Schultz Family Foundation | Open Society Foundations |
Why Their Names Appeared Together
In 2013, J.C. Penney faced a public boardroom battle after Ron Johnson was removed as CEO. Activist investor Bill Ackman wanted the company to replace returning CEO Myron Ullman quickly. Schultz criticized Ackman’s campaign and called the leaking of a letter seeking Ullman’s removal “despicable.” Soros Fund Management reportedly also supported Ullman and chairman Thomas Engibous.
Howard Schultz’s Early Life
Howard D. Schultz was born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in public housing with his parents, Fred and Elaine Schultz, and siblings Michael and Ronnie. Financial hardship during his childhood influenced his later views about employee benefits, healthcare, and workplace security.
Schultz attended Northern Michigan University and graduated with a communications degree in 1975. He worked for Xerox and Hammarplast before joining Starbucks in 1982. A visit to Italy inspired his belief that American coffee shops could become comfortable community spaces rather than simple places to purchase coffee.
Building Starbucks
Schultz left Starbucks to establish Il Giornale after its original owners resisted his coffeehouse idea. In 1987, he and a group of investors purchased Starbucks. He then expanded it from a small Seattle retailer into an international company with thousands of stores and one of the world’s most familiar consumer brands.
He served as Starbucks CEO during 1987–2000, 2008–2017, and temporarily during 2022–2023. His leadership promoted healthcare access and stock ownership for eligible workers. However, his record also attracted criticism during disputes over wages, scheduling, working conditions, and employees’ efforts to unionize.
George Soros’s Early Life
George Soros, born György Schwartz on August 12, 1930, grew up in Budapest. His parents were Tivadar and Erzsébet Soros, and his older brother was businessman and philanthropist Paul Soros. The Jewish family survived Nazi-occupied Hungary by obtaining false identity papers and concealing its background.
Soros moved to London in 1947 and supported himself through jobs including railway porter and waiter. He studied at the London School of Economics, where philosopher Karl Popper’s ideas influenced him. Soros later moved to the United States and entered banking, securities trading, and investment management.
Investment Career
Soros launched his first hedge fund in 1969 and established Soros Fund Management in 1970. His best-known trade occurred during Britain’s 1992 currency crisis, when his fund bet against the pound and reportedly earned around $1 billion. This led newspapers to call him “the man who broke the Bank of England.”
His investment thinking is connected with reflexivity—the idea that investors’ beliefs can influence market conditions, which then reshape those beliefs. Soros’s career included both gains and losses, but his long-term performance made him one of the best-known investors of his generation.
Age and Net Worth
As of September 2026, Schultz is 73 years old, while Soros is 96. Public wealth calculations change with share prices, private holdings, property values, and other assets. Recent reporting has valued Schultz at around $6.6 billion, largely connected to Starbucks shares and investments.
Forbes estimated Soros’s fortune at approximately $8.6 billion in September 2026. That figure excludes much of the wealth he has already donated. The Open Society Foundations reports that Soros has transferred or contributed more than $32 billion to its work since the 1980s.
Family Life
Schultz has been married to Sheri Kersch Schultz since 1982. They have two children: sports journalist Jordan Schultz and social-impact professional Addison Schultz. Howard and Sheri also established the Schultz Family Foundation, which supports young adults, military veterans, employment programs, and economically challenged communities.
Soros has married three times. His current wife is Tamiko Bolton, whom he married in 2013. He has five children—Robert, Andrea, Jonathan, Alexander, and Gregory—from his earlier marriages. His son Alexander chairs the Open Society Foundations and has taken on greater responsibility for the family’s philanthropic activities.
Philanthropy and Influence
Schultz’s public work focuses on entrepreneurship, employment, veterans, and opportunity. He also considered an independent campaign for the 2020 U.S. presidential election but ultimately decided not to run. His political identity has generally been more independent and business-centered than Soros’s.
Soros began major philanthropic activity in 1979 by funding scholarships for Black South African students during apartheid. His foundations later supported education, independent journalism, public health, justice, human rights, and democratic participation. His political giving has made him influential and controversial, while also attracting numerous unsupported conspiracy theories.
Lifestyle and Appearance
Schultz has owned expensive properties in Washington, Hawaii, and Florida. In 2026, reports linked him to a $44 million Florida penthouse and the $36 million sale of his Hawaii estate. Soros has long been associated with Katonah, New York, and maintains a more investment- and philanthropy-focused public image.
Neither man’s exact height is reliably documented by a primary source. Schultz has gray hair, brown eyes, and a slim-to-average build. Soros has gray-white hair and brown eyes. Because of his advanced age, Soros now makes fewer public appearances than he did earlier in his career.
Books and Social Media
Schultz’s books include Pour Your Heart Into It, Onward, and From the Ground Up. He uses platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and X for business observations and personal updates. Soros has written books including The Alchemy of Finance and The Crisis of Global Capitalism; his public messages also appear through official foundation channels.
Final Thoughts
Howard Schultz and George Soros represent different paths to wealth and influence. Schultz reshaped coffee retail by combining brand, employee culture, and customer experience. Soros built his reputation through financial judgment and later directed much of his wealth toward global philanthropy. Their shared position in the J.C. Penney dispute was brief, but their individual influence continues across business and public life.
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FAQs
Are Howard Schultz and George Soros related?
No. They do not share a family relationship. They are two separate business figures whose names appeared together during the J.C. Penney leadership dispute in 2013.
Why did they support J.C. Penney’s leadership?
Schultz publicly opposed Bill Ackman’s effort to replace CEO Myron Ullman quickly. Soros Fund Management reportedly supported Ullman and board chairman Thomas Engibous during the same dispute.
Who is richer, Howard Schultz or George Soros?
Current public estimates place Soros ahead, at around $8.6 billion, compared with approximately $6.6 billion for Schultz. These estimates may change with financial markets and asset values.
How did Howard Schultz make his money?
Schultz earned most of his wealth through Starbucks shares, investments, and his long association with the company. He helped transform Starbucks from a small retailer into an international coffeehouse brand.
How did George Soros build his fortune?
Soros built his fortune through hedge-fund management, securities, currency trading, and other investments. He later donated billions of dollars to projects supported by the Open Society Foundations.
