Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes. Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes Jr. is an American publishing executive, author, and political figure. He serves as the chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, the company founded by his grandfather B. C. Forbes. A prominent voice in conservative and libertarian economic circles, he is best known for his longtime advocacy of a flat tax and his campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000.

Early life and education

Malcolm Stevenson Forbes Jr. was born in Morristown, New Jersey, the eldest son of Malcolm Forbes and Roberta Remsen Laidlaw. He grew up in the affluent Far Hills, New Jersey, area and was immersed in the world of business journalism from a young age. He attended the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts, before enrolling at Princeton University. At Princeton, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1970, writing his senior thesis on the economic ideas of John Maynard Keynes and Milton Friedman. During his undergraduate years, he was also involved with the campus radio station, WPRB.

Career at Forbes

After graduating, he began his career at Forbes magazine, initially working in research and later as a reporter. He assumed increasing responsibility within the family business, Forbes Media, and was named president and chief executive officer in 1990. Following the death of his father, he also became editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, the company expanded its brand significantly, launching Forbes.com, numerous international editions, and high-profile conferences like the Forbes Global CEO Conference. He has overseen the company's navigation of the digital media landscape and its sale of a majority stake to the Hong Kong-based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments in 2014.

Political activities

Forbes entered national politics with his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996. Running on a platform centered on implementing a 17% flat tax, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and promoting school choice, he spent millions of his own fortune. He won primaries in Arizona and Delaware but ultimately lost the nomination to Bob Dole. He ran again in the 2000 primaries, emphasizing similar themes but withdrawing after poor showings in early contests like the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. He has remained an influential figure in Republican policy debates, served as chairman of the Board for International Broadcasting, and was considered for appointments such as United States Secretary of the Treasury and chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Personal life

He married Sabina Beekman in 1971, and the couple has five daughters. They reside in Bedminster, New Jersey, and are known for their involvement in philanthropic and civic activities. An avid collector, he owns a significant collection of historical American documents, including original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. He is a devout Episcopalian and has served on the boards of institutions like the Heritage Foundation and the Foundation for Economic Education.

Views and publications

A staunch advocate of free-market capitalism and supply-side economics, his political and economic philosophy is heavily influenced by thinkers like Milton Friedman and Arthur Laffer. His signature policy proposal is the adoption of a single-rate flat tax on income. He has authored or co-authored several books, including Flat Tax Revolution and Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy—and What We Can Do About It. He is a regular commentator on financial news networks like Fox Business Network and writes the "Fact and Comment" editorial for Forbes magazine. He also hosts the podcast What's Ahead and has been a prominent critic of Modern Monetary Theory and the policies of the Federal Reserve.

Category:American businesspeople Category:American magazine editors Category:American political writers Category:Forbes family Category:1947 births Category:Living people