The Rothschild family has confirmed the news of Lord Jacob Rothschild’s passing at the age of 87.
A towering figure in finance and the arts, Lord Rothschild began his career at the family’s NM Rothschild & Sons bank in 1963 and went on to co-found the J Rothschild Assurance Group, which is known today as St James’s Place.
His career included notable positions such as the deputy chairmanship of BskyB from 2003 to 2008, and his philanthropic efforts were equally significant. He chaired the National Gallery and the Heritage Lottery Fund and was honored with the Order of Merit in 2002 for his contributions to the public service.
The Rothschild family, in a statement to the PA news agency, described him as,
“A towering presence in many people’s lives, a superbly accomplished financier, a champion of the arts and culture, a devoted public servant, a passionate supporter of charitable causes in Israel and Jewish culture….”
Born in Berkshire in 1936, Jacob Rothschild was the son of the third Baron Rothschild, Victor Rothschild, and Barbara J. Hutchinson, a poet and writer. His education at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied history, set the foundation for his illustrious career.
In 1961, he married Serena Dunn and became a father to four children: Hannah, Beth, Emily, and Nathaniel.
His family’s influence, which began in the 18th century with Mayer Amschel Rothschild’s banking business in Frankfurt, grew across Europe, bringing them wealth and power.
Jacob continued this legacy, leading the UK branch of the family and contributing to the financial sector through various investments and ventures. He founded RIT Capital Partners, an investment trust, in 1988, and remained its chair until 2019.
Jacob Rothschild’s business interests included stakes in The Economist, Rockefeller Financial Services, and Notonthehighstreet.com.