Robert B. Menschel (1930-2022) was an American investment banker and philanthropist. He had a 50 year relationship with Goldman Sachs as a Partner or Senior Director. The author of a financial book, and the winner of the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
Early life
Robert Menschel was born circa 1930.[2] His father was a real estate investor. He has a brother, Richard, who is also a Goldman Sachs senior director and philanthropist.[citation needed]
Menschel began his career at Goldman Sachs in 1954.[4] When it became a public company in 1999, Menschel earned $20 million in shares.[5] He is now a (retired) senior director.[4]
Menschel is the author of Markets, Mobs & Mayhem: A Modern Look at the Madness of Crowds, prefaced by William Safire. While presenting historical examples of societal hysteria,[6] Menschel suggests picking stocks by focusing on "value investing, [...] a strong franchise, a defined strategy that focuses on a core competency, and consistent sales and earnings."[2]
Menschel was first elected to the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University in 1981. There, he served as a voting trustee for more than two decades, becoming a trustee emeritus and part of a select group of honorary trustees.[7] He financially supported the Light Work photography center, Robert B. Menschel Media Center,[8] and the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery.[3][9]
With his brother, Richard, Menschel won the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.[13] Menschel and his wife donated over $700,000 to Democrats in 2010.[14]