Robert Bass
Robert Muse Bass is a Texas billionaire worth approximately $5.46 billion as of 2006. Born into an extremely wealthy family with an uncle, Sid Richardson, worth $810 million, he and his three brothers Lee Marshall Bass, Ed, and Sid Richardson Bass all attended Yale University, where they solidified their moneyed and political connections. Ed Bass was a classmate and personal friend of George W. Bush, and the brothers, especially Lee Bass, helped Bush financially both before and throughout his political career. Working together with his brothers as Bass Brothers Enterprises and independently, Robert Bass made many lucrative investments through his own firm, the Robert M. Bass Group, later Keystone Inc. Most recently, in 2004 he started Aerion Corp to develop supersonic corporate jets, which is the beneficiary of lucrative Federal DARPA contracts.
The Bass family has done well (overall) with its investment strategy and has in fact lost money in order to make money. This is typified by the investments made by Richard Rainwater, with whom he attended Stanford Business School.
Mr. Bass' father, Perry Richardson Bass, passed away at the age of 91 in June 2006. The Fort Worth Star Telegram stated "Perry Richardson Bass, a Texas oilman who turned his riches into philanthropic gold for Fort Worth, the state and the nation...." according to the obituary published in the Star Telegram on 06/02/2006.
It is widely believed or alleged that Mr. Robert M. Bass continues with the family's philanthropic tradition. The Bass family is noted for their developments in Tarrant County, Texas and their efforts to revitalize downtown Fort Worth.
Mr. Bass presently lives in Ft. Worth.
See also: Bass Performance Hall.
Corporate profile
As chairman of Aerion Corporation, Bass leads the investor group funding development of a supersonic business jet and heads the company’s board of directors.
Bass is president of Keystone, Inc. and the founder of the Oak Hill Oak Hill Capital investment partnerships, comprised of over $12 billion of investments across multiple asset classes. Since inception 21 years ago, the track record of private equity investments exceeds 50% annually. Keystone and its affiliates have made significant investments in American Savings Bank, Align Technology, Bell & Howell Company, Cincinnati Bell, Prime Cable, Taft Broadcasting, Westin Hotels and many other leading companies.
Bass is a native of Fort Worth, where his offices are based. He received his B.A. degree from Yale University and an MBA degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is past Chairman of Stanford University, Stanford Management Company, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Cook Children’s Medical Center. Currently he is a Trustee of Stanford University, a Director of Stanford Management Company, and a Trustee of Rockefeller University, Groton School, Middlesex School and the Amon Carter Museum.
In addition, he is heavily committed to and active in numerous civic, community and development activities for the benefit of his community and his state and has been recognized repeatedly for his efforts.