Howard Schultz and George Soros: Careers, Wealth, and Influence
Howard Schultz and George Soros made their fortunes in different industries, but both became influential figures in American business and public life. Schultz turned Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain, while Soros established his reputation through investment management and international philanthropy. Their careers show how financial success can lead to broader involvement in charitable work, politics, and public policy.
Although Howard Schultz and George Soros have appeared in some of the same business and political discussions, no verified evidence establishes a close personal relationship or ongoing business partnership.
Quick Bio of Howard D. Schultz; George Soros
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Howard D. Schultz; George Soros (born György Schwartz) |
| Date of Birth | Howard Schultz: July 19, 1953; George Soros: August 12, 1930 |
| Age | Howard Schultz: 73 years; George Soros: 96 years (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Howard Schultz: Brooklyn, New York, USA; George Soros: Budapest, Hungary |
| Nationality | Howard Schultz: American; George Soros: Hungarian-born American |
| Education | Howard Schultz: Northern Michigan University, communications degree (1975); George Soros: London School of Economics (1951–1954) |
| Profession | Howard Schultz: Businessman, investor, and philanthropist; George Soros: Investor, hedge fund manager, author, and philanthropist |
| Known For | Howard Schultz: Expanding Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain; George Soros: Financial investments, the 1992 British pound trade, and the Open Society Foundations |
| Spouse | Howard Schultz: Sheri Kersch Schultz; George Soros: Tamiko Bolton (married 2013) |
| Children | Howard Schultz: Two; George Soros: Five |
| Famous Works | Howard Schultz: Pour Your Heart Into It, Onward, From the Ground Up; George Soros: The Alchemy of Finance, Soros on Soros, The Crisis of Global Capitalism |
| Philanthropic Organizations | Howard Schultz: Schultz Family Foundation (established 1996); George Soros: Open Society Foundations |
| Estimated Net Worth | Howard Schultz: Approximately $3.5 billion; George Soros: Approximately $8.6 billion (Forbes estimates, October 2026; unofficial and subject to change) |
Early Life and Education
Howard Schultz’s Brooklyn Upbringing
Born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, Howard Schultz grew up in public housing in a working-class family. Financial insecurity shaped his understanding of employment and economic opportunity. After his father suffered a workplace injury without adequate benefits, the family’s experience influenced Schultz’s later approach to employee welfare.
Schultz attended Northern Michigan University, graduating in 1975 with a degree in communications. As the first member of his family to complete college, he viewed education as an important route toward professional advancement. These experiences later influenced his business philosophy and philanthropic priorities.
George Soros’s Childhood in Hungary
George Soros was born on August 12, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary, into a Jewish family. During Nazi Germany’s occupation of Hungary in 1944, his family survived by using false identity documents and concealing their Jewish background. Those experiences influenced his later interest in political freedom and democratic institutions.
Soros moved to London in 1947 as Communist influence increased in Hungary. He studied at the London School of Economics, completing undergraduate studies in 1951 and postgraduate studies in 1954. Philosopher Karl Popper’s ideas about open societies helped shape his intellectual outlook.
Howard Schultz and George Soros: Career Breakthroughs
How Howard Schultz Expanded Starbucks
In 1982, Schultz joined Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing. The company, founded in 1971 by Gerald Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, originally concentrated on selling coffee beans rather than running the coffeehouses for which it later became known.
A visit to Italy in 1983 introduced Schultz to espresso bars that served as neighborhood gathering places. Inspired by the concept, he left Starbucks in 1985 to establish Il Giornale. With financial backing from investors, he acquired Starbucks in 1987 and helped turn the regional business into an international coffeehouse chain.
Under Schultz’s leadership, Starbucks introduced health benefits for eligible employees, including part-time workers, and later offered stock options. The company went public in 1992 and continued expanding internationally.
After stepping down as CEO in 2000, Schultz returned in 2008 as Starbucks faced a difficult business period. His second tenure focused on improving customer experience, restoring financial performance, and developing employees. In 2014, the company introduced its College Achievement Plan, expanding educational opportunities for eligible workers.
George Soros’s Investment Career
After moving to the United States in 1956, Soros pursued a career in financial services. Around 1970, he established his own investment operation and developed a reputation for studying global economic conditions and anticipating movements in financial markets.
Reflexivity became a central idea in his investment philosophy. The theory examines how investors’ perceptions can influence financial markets, and it helped shape both his investment strategy and published work.
Soros gained international attention in September 1992 when he took a substantial position against the British pound. Britain’s withdrawal from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism on September 16 reportedly helped him generate approximately $1 billion in profit.
The trade led to his popular description as the investor who broke the Bank of England. Britain’s currency crisis, however, resulted from broader economic conditions and policy pressures, not the actions of a single investor. The reported profit is a historical estimate rather than a publicly audited figure.
Wealth and Financial Influence
Schultz accumulated much of his wealth through Starbucks ownership and business investments. Soros built his fortune primarily through investment funds and financial-market activities.
Published net-worth figures vary. Forbes estimated Schultz’s wealth at approximately $3.5 billion in October 2026, while other financial reporting in 2026 placed it around $6.6 billion. These differences reflect varying valuation methods and estimates of privately held assets.
Forbes estimated Soros’s net worth at approximately $8.6 billion in October 2026. All these figures are unofficial estimates rather than independently confirmed personal financial statements.
Soros’s charitable contributions must also be considered separately from his personal wealth. Assets transferred to philanthropic foundations are not necessarily included in his remaining fortune.
Philanthropy and Social Contributions
Schultz Family Foundation
Schultz and his wife, Sheri Kersch Schultz, established the Schultz Family Foundation in 1996. Its work focuses on economic mobility, employment, youth development, veterans, and community support.
In May 2026, the foundation announced an expansion of the Youth Mental Health Corps into 16 states for the 2026–2027 school year. That September, it announced a $20 million partnership with King County to expand youth homelessness shelter capacity.
These initiatives reflect Schultz’s longstanding emphasis on financial security, education, and employment opportunities.
Open Society Foundations
Beginning in 1979, Soros supported educational opportunities for Black students in apartheid-era South Africa, marking the start of his major philanthropic activities. He established a foundation in Hungary in 1984 and subsequently supported institutions working in education, civil rights, and democratic participation.
Among his prominent educational initiatives was Central European University, which began operating in 1991.
According to a November 2025 Open Society Foundations fact sheet, Soros had contributed more than $32 billion to the organization since 1984. This cumulative contribution should not be confused with his personal net worth or the foundation’s current assets.
Political Involvement and Public Debate
Schultz considered an independent presidential campaign in January 2019, criticizing political polarization and aspects of both major parties. Some Democrats argued that his candidacy could affect their party’s electoral prospects. He announced in September 2019 that he would not run.
His Starbucks leadership also attracted scrutiny over labor relations. During his return as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023, union organizing became a major controversy. Schultz testified before a Senate committee in March 2023 and disputed allegations that he had engaged in union busting.
Through substantial financial contributions, Soros has supported Democratic candidates and political organizations. His involvement has prompted debate about political donations, criminal justice policies, and international philanthropy.
His personal political giving remains distinct from the Open Society Foundations’ charitable programs. Financial support for an organization does not automatically establish control over its decisions.
Did Howard Schultz and George Soros Work Together?
No verified evidence establishes a continuing business partnership between the two men. However, their positions intersected during a 2013 dispute involving J.C. Penney.
Soros was an investor in the retailer, while Schultz publicly supported chief executive Mike Ullman, who also served on Starbucks’ board. Both favored Ullman during a disagreement involving activist investor Bill Ackman, although coordinated action between Schultz and Soros has not been established.
Another indirect connection appeared in 2019 when American Bridge 21st Century, a political organization previously supported by Soros, filed a Federal Election Commission complaint concerning Schultz’s potential presidential campaign.
The FEC dismissed the allegations in November 2021. No available evidence establishes that Soros personally directed or authorized the complaint.
Personal Lives and Recent Developments
Schultz is married to Sheri Kersch Schultz, and they have two children. His published books include Pour Your Heart Into It, Onward, and From the Ground Up, which discuss his experiences and business philosophy.
Soros married Tamiko Bolton in September 2013 and has five children. His works include The Alchemy of Finance, Soros on Soros, and The Crisis of Global Capitalism. His son Alex Soros became chairman of the Open Society Foundations in 2023.
Schultz left Starbucks’ interim CEO position in March 2023 and departed its board that September, retaining the honorary title of chairman emeritus. In March 2026, he and his wife announced their relocation from Seattle to the Miami area, while their foundation remained based in Seattle.
In January 2025, Soros received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, followed by the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma in October 2025. He remains the founder of the Open Society Foundations, where Alex Soros serves as chairman and Binaifer Nowrojee as president.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Howard Schultz and George Soros?
Howard Schultz is an American businessman who helped build Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain. George Soros is a Hungarian-born American billionaire investor and philanthropist known for his financial career and Open Society Foundations.
Are Howard Schultz and George Soros business partners?
No verified evidence establishes a business partnership between Howard Schultz and George Soros, although their interests have occasionally intersected in business and political discussions.
What is the net worth of Howard Schultz and George Soros?
Forbes estimated Howard Schultz’s net worth at approximately $3.5 billion and George Soros’s at $8.6 billion in October 2026. These are unofficial estimates that may change.
How did Howard Schultz and George Soros make their money?
Howard Schultz built his fortune primarily through Starbucks ownership and business investments, while George Soros accumulated wealth through hedge funds, currency trading, and other financial investments.
What philanthropic organizations are associated with Howard Schultz and George Soros?
Howard Schultz and his wife established the Schultz Family Foundation in 1996, focusing on economic opportunity and community support. George Soros founded the Open Society Foundations, which support education, human rights, and democratic institutions.
Conclusion
Howard Schultz and George Soros followed different paths to financial success and public influence. Through Starbucks, Schultz established his reputation in corporate leadership and programs supporting economic opportunity. Soros built his fortune through investments and committed substantial resources to education, civil rights, and democratic institutions.
Their interests have occasionally overlapped, but no verified evidence establishes a lasting personal or business partnership. Examining their separate careers provides a clearer picture of their influence than speculation about possible connections between them.
