Vincent Viola Net Worth
Vincent Viola, an American billionaire businessman and U.S. Army veteran who is also known as Vincent “Vinnie” Viola has a net worth of $3.2 Billion.
Biography – Who is Vincent Viola?
Vincent “Vinnie” Viola, an accomplished American billionaire businessman and a veteran of the U.S. Army, was born in 1956.
Notably, President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as the United States Secretary of the Army, but he later withdrew his consideration. Prior to his nomination, Viola held the position of chairman at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and currently serves as the founder and chairman of Virtu Financial.
In addition to his ventures in the financial industry, Viola owns the Florida Panthers, an esteemed ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). Furthermore, he owns St. Elias Stables and, alongside fellow Brooklynite Anthony Bonomo, co-owns the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming.
Viola commenced his journey after graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School and pursued his education at the United States Military Academy. During his time at West Point, he actively participated in the sprint football team and served as the cadet company commander for Company E-4 during his senior year.
In 1977, Viola obtained his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, he dedicated several years to the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Fort Campbell. In June 1983, Viola attained his juris doctor degree from New York Law School, although he did not pursue the bar exam.
Age – How old is Vincent Viola?
The American businessman was born on 12 February 1956 in New York City, United States. Thus, Vincent James Viola is 76 years old as of 2023.
Vincent James Viola Parents
Vincent “Vinnie” Viola’s parents are Virginia (Torre) and John A. Viola. His father, an immigrant from Italy, worked as a truck driver after serving in the U.S. Army in the European theatre of WWII. His father’s Army service made a significant impression on Viola as a youth.
Vincent “Vinnie” Viola Wife and Children
Viola and his wife Teresa are residents of New York City, and they have raised three grown-up sons. Their association with horseracing is noteworthy, as Viola owns St. Elias Stable, while Teresa is the owner of Teresa Viola Racing.
A significant achievement in their horseracing ventures was their co-ownership of the Kentucky Derby champion, Always Dreaming. Furthermore, the couple has made headlines in the real estate market. In 2013, their townhouse located on the Upper East Side was listed for sale at an impressive price of $114 million.
Another notable transaction took place in January 2021, when they sold their townhouse in the Brooklyn Heights Historical District for a remarkable $25.5 million, setting a record for the borough.
How Vincent Viola business career started
Viola commenced his business career in 1982 as a trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) after raising $10,000 to secure a seat on the exchange. Throughout his tenure on the board of directors, Viola played a pivotal role in the development of NYMEX.
He held various positions, including chairman of the Technology Committee, the Natural Gas Advisory Committee, and the Facilities Committee. Additionally, he served as co-chairman of the Options Committee, vice chairman of NYMEX from 1993 to 1996, and chairman from March 2001 to March 2004. Viola’s acumen in oil trading led him to amass significant wealth, particularly before and after the Gulf War.
Over the course of his career, Viola has established multiple ventures. In 1987, he founded Pioneer Futures, which grew to become one of the top fifty futures commission merchants in the United States. A year later, Viola established The Independent Bank Group, a regional bank headquartered in Texas, which is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol IBTX. Moreover, Viola partnered in the launch of EWT, LLC and Madison Tyler, LLC, two electronic trading firms formerly based in Beverly Hills, California. His proficiency in electronic trading techniques propelled him to immense personal success, earning him a position among the world’s wealthiest individuals. In 2008, Viola founded Virtu Financial, a prominent player in electronic market making. In April 2015, Virtu Financial went public, trading as a listed company on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol VIRT.
Leah McGrath Goodman’s book, The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World’s Oil Market, offers insights into Viola’s personality and character. According to Goodman, Viola possessed a volatile temperament but maintained control over his emotions.
She described him as a tough individual from Brooklyn who exuded leadership qualities. Lou Guttman, Viola’s predecessor as chairman at NYMEX, also praised his astuteness in business and described him as an exceptionally persuasive speaker. Guttman further noted Viola’s ability to attract people and labelled him an opportunist.
As of December 2016, Viola’s net worth stood at $1.78 billion.
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