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Gary Winnick: LA's Billionaire Philanthropist and Business Tycoon

12/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Gary Winnick, a Los Angeles businessman and protégé of Michael Milken, rose in the 1990s.
He donated millions to the Los Angeles Zoo.
He mingled with President Bill Clinton.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, he amassed about $6.2 billion, becoming the richest man in Los Angeles.
Global Crossing, his undersea-fiber cable company, propelled him to billionaire status in under two years.

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Story summary

Gary Winnick, a Los Angeles businessman and protégé of Michael Milken, rose in the 1990s.
He donated millions to the Los Angeles Zoo.
He mingled with President Bill Clinton.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, he amassed about $6.2 billion, becoming the richest man in Los Angeles.
Global Crossing, his undersea-fiber cable company, propelled him to billionaire status in under two years.