Wildcatter Profiles: Ross Perot

Business magnate turned politician, Ross Perot is cut from a different cloth than most.

  • Founded Electronic Data Systems, becoming a billionaire selling IT equipment and services.
  • Invested $20 million as an angel investor in NeXT while Steve Jobs was on the outs with Apple because he was disappointed in a previous missed opportunity to invest with Microsoft.
  • Established the Reform Party, which became one of the most popular third parties in American political history.
  • Made history as the strongest Independent candidate in a presidential election.
  • Sponsored the rescue of prisoners in Iran, which later became a movie in which Perot was portrayed by Richard Crenna.
  • Created the Perot Foundation with his wife Margot, which supports a variety of charitable causes with grants.
  • His 5 children are also actively involved in philanthropy as well as their own business ventures.