Robert Menschel


Robert B. Menschel is an American investment banker and philanthropist. He is a senior director of Goldman Sachs, the author of a financial book, and the winner of the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

Early life

Robert Menschel was born circa 1930. His father was a real estate investor. He has a brother, Richard, who is also a Goldman Sachs senior director and philanthropist. His nephew-in-law, E. W. Priestap, is the assistant director of the FBI Counterintelligence Division.
Menschel graduated from Syracuse University in 1951.

Career

Menschel began his career at Goldman Sachs in 1954. When it became a public company in 1999, Menschel earned $20 million in shares. He is now a senior director.
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, 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."

Philanthropy and political activity

Menschel is an honorary trustee of his alma mater, Syracuse University. Since 1977, he has served on the Committee on Photography at Museum of Modern Art, where he has donated 162 photographs. He serves on the board of trustees of the NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital. He is the namesake of The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium at the Council on Foreign Relations.
With his brother Robert, Menschel won the 2015 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. They are also large donors to the Democratic Party. For example, Menschel and his wife donated over $700,000 to Democrats in 2010.

Personal life

Menschel has a wife, Joyce, who is the namesake of the Joyce F. Menschel Photography Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.