Howard Lutnick Bio: Net Worth, Education, Wife, Children, Age, Private Jet, Interview, Parents

Biography

Howard William Lutnick, born on July 14, 1961, in Jericho, New York, is a renowned American billionaire businessman and has served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce since February 2025.

He is best known for his leadership of Cantor Fitzgerald, a prominent financial services firm, where he served as CEO starting in 1991 and became Chairman in 1996. Lutnick played a pivotal role in rebuilding the company after the tragic loss of 658 employees—including his brother Gary—in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

An economics graduate from Haverford College, Lutnick joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and later spearheaded its move into electronic trading through the launch of eSpeed.

Beyond his business achievements, he is deeply involved in philanthropy, raising over $180 million for families affected by 9/11 and contributing $65 million to his alma mater, Haverford College. He is also known as a strong advocate for Donald Trump’s economic policies.

United States Secretary of Commerce
Howard Lutnick
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Howard William Lutnick
Stage Name:	Howard Lutnick
Born:	14 July 1961 (age 63 years old)
Place of Birth:	Jericho, New York, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Haverford College, Jericho High School
Height:	1.76 m
Parents:	Solomon Lutnick, Jane Lutnick
Siblings:	Edie Lutnick, Gary Lutnick
Spouse:	Allison Lutnick (m. 1994)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Brandon Lutnick, Kyle Lutnick, Casey Lutnick, Ryan Lutnick
Occupation:	Businessman • Philanthropist
Net Worth:	$3.2 billion (USD)

Early Life & Education

Howard William Lutnick was born on July 14, 1961, in Jericho, New York, a suburban town on Long Island. He is of Jewish descent, reflecting his family’s heritage, though specific details about his personal religious practices are not widely publicized.

His parents were Solomon Lutnick and Jane Lutnick, both educators—Solomon was a history professor at Queens College, and Jane taught art history at the same institution. Howard grew up as the youngest of three children. He had an older sister, Edie Lutnick, and an older brother, Gary Lutnick, who later worked with him at Cantor Fitzgerald and tragically died in the 9/11 attacks.

Lutnick’s early life was marked by significant loss. His mother, Jane, passed away from lymphoma in 1978 when Howard was 17, and the following year, his father, Solomon, died of colon and lung cancer in 1979 during Howard’s first week at Haverford College. Orphaned at 18, Lutnick was supported by his college community, which granted him a full scholarship to continue his education.

He attended Jericho High School before enrolling at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where he excelled academically, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. His time at Haverford shaped his resilience and ambition, qualities that would later define his career. The college later honored his success and generosity—he donated $65 million in 2015—by naming its library after him.

Career

Howard Lutnick’s career is a powerful story of ambition, resilience, and innovation in finance. After earning a degree in economics from Haverford College in 1983, he joined Cantor Fitzgerald, a Wall Street firm founded in 1945 by Bernard “Bernie” Cantor (Bernard Gerald Cantor, B. Gerald Cantor).

Introduced to Cantor through a college mentor, Lutnick began in an entry-level role but quickly ascended the ranks, propelled by his sharp intellect and relentless drive. By age 29, he was appointed CEO in 1991 and became Chairman in 1996, solidifying his leadership at the firm.

Under Lutnick’s direction, Cantor Fitzgerald became a dominant financial service force, especially in bond trading. In 1999, he launched eSpeed, an electronic trading platform for U.S. Treasury securities that revolutionized the market by replacing traditional voice brokering with digital technology. eSpeed’s success positioned Cantor at the forefront of fintech, and its $1.23 billion sale to Nasdaq in 2013 significantly increased Lutnick’s wealth and influence.

The most defining and tragic moment of Lutnick’s career came on September 11, 2001, when terrorists struck the World Trade Center, destroying Cantor’s headquarters and claiming the lives of 658 of its 960 New York employees—including Lutnick’s brother, Gary.

Lutnick survived only because he was taking his son to his first day of kindergarten. Though initially criticized for suspending paychecks to victims’ families, he quickly committed his personal resources and company profits to support them. Over the following decade, he distributed $180 million to the families of the fallen and led the remarkable rebuilding of the firm.

Lutnick continued to expand Cantor’s reach through ventures like BGC Partners, a spinoff he chairs that became a global brokerage powerhouse. His financial success soared, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $3.2 billion.

In February 2025, Lutnick stepped down from his role at Cantor to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Donald Trump. A close Trump ally and co-chair of the 2025 transition team, Lutnick now brings his extensive business expertise to the national stage, playing a key role in shaping economic policy.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Howard Lutnick
• Twitter: Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) / X
• LinkedIn: Howard W. Lutnick – Cantor Fitzgerald
• Instagram: Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick)

Personal Life

Howard Lutnick was born on July 14, 1961, making him 63 years old. He has been married once—to Allison Lambert (Allison Lutnick), a lawyer by profession—since December 10, 1994.

Though Allison has remained mainly out of the public spotlight, she has been a steady presence behind the scenes, focusing on family and offering support throughout Lutnick’s high-profile career. Together, they have four children: sons Kyle Lutnick and Brandon Lutnick, and daughters Casey Lutnick and Ryan Lutnick.

A poignant chapter in Lutnick’s life is closely tied to his family—on September 11, 2001, he survived the World Trade Center attacks because he was taking Kyle to his first day of kindergarten. That moment has since become a deeply symbolic reminder of how central his family is to his life.

The family occasionally intersects with Lutnick’s public life, particularly through tragedy and philanthropy. After losing his brother Gary in the 9/11 attacks, he dedicated himself to supporting the families of Cantor Fitzgerald employees—a mission Allison is said to have shared deeply.

The Lutnicks primarily reside in New York City, maintaining a relatively low profile despite Howard’s billionaire status and current U.S. Secretary of Commerce role.

Net Worth

Howard Lutnick’s net worth is estimated at $3.2 billion, according to Forbes. His wealth stems primarily from his leadership of Cantor Fitzgerald, where he served as Chairman and CEO until early 2025, and BGC Partners, a global brokerage spinoff he chairs.

Key financial milestones include the $1.23 billion sale of eSpeed to Nasdaq in 2013 and Cantor’s resurgence after the 9/11 attacks, which decimated the firm but not its profitability under Lutnick’s stewardship.

His fortune reflects decades of success in financial services, electronic trading innovation, and strategic real estate ventures, bolstered by his high-profile role as U.S. Secretary of Commerce.