Richard Handler

Early life

The son of Alan and Jane Handler, Richard Handler grew up in New Jersey, graduating in 1979 from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale. He received a BA in economics from the University of Rochester magna cum laude in 1983 and an MBA from Stanford University in 1987. Prior to Jefferies, he was an investment banker at First Boston and later he worked for Michael Milken at Drexel Burnham Lambert in the high-yield bond department. Handler is Jewish.

The fortune

In 2006, Handler and his wife, Martha, established a scholarship program at the University of Rochester. Named the Jane and Alan Handler Scholarship Fund (after his parents), the program provides financial support for undergraduates of diverse backgrounds who meet certain criteria of financial need, overcoming adversity and demonstrating leadership. The scholarship is awarded to one percent of each graduating class and covers all tuition and expenses.

Handler is also active in conservation efforts through the Wolf Conservation Center, of which his wife presides as president.