Wall Street People: True Stories of Today's Masters and Moguls - Hardcover

Wall Street has a pantheon of fascinating heroes-and downright villains-who have shaped the face of the contemporary investment world and transformed a narrow street in lower Manhattan into a cultural icon recognized the world over. Who hasn't heard of the achievements and exploits of legends such as Warren Buffett, John Neff, Alan Greenspan, Peter Lynch, John Meriwether, Michael Milken, or George Soros and wondered what the people behind the deeds (or misdeeds) were really like, what they really did, and how?
Wall Street People is a marvelous collection of fascinating profiles of the most interesting, powerful, and talked-about financial luminaries ever to light up the investment world. From influential money managers to ingenious private investors, and from rising stars to fallen heroes, these financial heavyweights have created and performed the great roles on Wall Street-with brilliant stories of money won and lost, amazing financial coups, blind ambition, and brazen cons.
Going behind the image, Wall Street People provides a close look at the personal and professional lives of these powerful, financial personalities and offers inside glimpses into where they got their starts, how they attained their success, what keeps them going, and what earned them fame-or in certain cases-notoriety. Here are portraits of such well-known personalities as:
WARREN BUFFETT-the investment genius whose skill enabled him to become one of America's wealthiest individuals
SIEGMUND WARBURG-the refugee from Nazi Germany who led the transformation of London's financial markets
JOHN TEMPLETON-the self-made man who established a distinguished record in investment management and amassed a billion-dollar fortune
SIDNEY WEINBERG, JOHN WHITEHEAD, AND JOHN WEINBERG-who converted Goldman Sachs from disaster in 1930 to global leadership in 2000
EDWARD C. JOHNSON 2nd AND 3rd-as father in the 1940s and, later, son in the 1960s, led Fidelity from managing $3 million in 1943 to nearly $900 billion today
LARRY TISCH-who parlayed the purchase of a resort hotel into a major American fortune
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG-the engaging, hard-driving, irreverent entrepreneur who made a fortune servicing investors' need for data and transformed the world's markets
JACK DREYFUS-the founder of the billion-dollar Dreyfus Fund and the idea of performance investing
JOHN NEFF-the longest running, most successful mutual fund manager in history
JONATHAN BELL LOVELACE-the gentle genius who took over a troubled mutual fund in the 1930s and, with his son as successor, developed what is now recognized by professionals as the world's leading investment management organization
Revealing, captivating, and at times surprising, the profiles in Wall Street People offer you a rare glimpse of the masterminds behind Wall Street's wheeling, dealing, and everyday dynamics. This unique collection of profiles will be savored by all who are fascinated by or curious about the adventures of finance and investment-and the most significant people who made it happen.

"I know or at least have met most of the people written about in this book. They have one thing in common. For better or worse, each made a lasting impression on the landscape of our business. Each demonstrated raw intelligence, keen insight, the ability to spot an opportunity, and the courage to seize it. While some are viewed as heroes, and others as rascals or villains, there is something to be learned from each of their stories. Wall Street People is a fascinating portrayal of individuals who achieve fame or infamy in one of the most competitive arenas in the world."-Alan C. Greenberg, Chairman, Bear Stearns
"There has been no keener observer of Wall Street than Charley Ellis. If this book had a 'Most Influential' category, Charley should include himself."-Richard H. Jenrette, Senior Advisor, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
"Charley Ellis has correctly concluded that the financial world has produced some extraordinarily interesting people. Wall Street People is certain to provide fascinating reading."-Richard B. Fisher, Chairman Emeritus and Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley
"Charley Ellis's Wall Street People is delicious reading for anyone who's been involved with Wall Street over the past half century. This book depicts saints, sinners, dreamers, and achievers with real panache. It's a treasure trove of great stories."-David H. Komansky, Chairman and CEO, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
"For anyone who enjoys reading about the lives of successful, productive people, Charley's book is filled with fascinating insights into the achievements of Wall Street's best."-Senator Jon S. Corzine, former Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs