Henry R. Kravis

Henry Roberts Kravis is an American investor who co-founded the private equity and investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) in 1976. Alongside partners Jerome Kohlberg Jr. and George R. Roberts, he pioneered the use of leveraged buyouts as a primary corporate acquisition strategy. He currently serves as the co-executive chairman of the firm.

His career began in the finance sector at Bear Stearns, where he rose to the position of partner and worked on early mezzanine financing transactions. At KKR, he led numerous high-profile corporate acquisitions, including the 1989 purchase of RJR Nabisco, which at the time was the largest leveraged buyout in history. This transaction became a significant case study in corporate finance and private equity operations.

In addition to his leadership at KKR, Kravis holds several roles within the business and philanthropic sectors. He has served as a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His professional contributions have focused on capital markets, institutional investment, and global corporate restructuring.