John Bogle American investor Date of Birth: 08.05.1929 Country: USA

John Bogle: American Investor and Founder of The Vanguard Group

John Clifton "Jack" Bogle was born on May 8, 1929, in Verona, New Jersey, U.S. Growing up during the Great Depression, his family experienced significant financial hardships. His father lost his fortune and had to sell their house in an affluent neighborhood. At the age of ten, Bogle started earning money for his own expenses by delivering newspapers and working in a local café.

The challenges his family faced shattered his father, who turned to heavy drinking and eventually left his wife and children to fend for themselves. These difficulties shaped a young John's character and fueled his determination to restore the prosperity he had only heard about from his parents' stories.

Bogle and his twin brother, David, attended Blair Academy, a private boarding school, on a full scholarship from their uncle's company. Bogle later earned his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in 1951 while attending evening and weekend classes at the University of Pennsylvania.

After completing his education, Bogle joined Wellington Management Company, where he worked under the guidance of its founder, Walter L. Morgan. Bogle climbed the corporate ladder and eventually became the chairman of the company's board of directors. However, he was later fired for approving what he calls his "most regrettable" decision - a poorly thought out merger. Despite this setback, Bogle believes that this failure taught him valuable lessons and contributed to his personal growth.

In 1974, Bogle founded his own company, Vanguard, which grew to become the world's second-largest investment management company under his leadership. Influenced by notable American economists such as Eugene Fama, Burton Malkiel, and Paul Samuelson, Bogle revolutionized the market by introducing the world's first index fund called the "Vanguard 500 Index Fund."

Bogle's alma mater, Blair Academy, recognized his contributions by appointing him as a member of its Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Millstein Center for Corporate Governance and Performance at Yale School of Management. In 2005, Bogle received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Princeton University.

Despite undergoing a heart transplant surgery in 1996, Bogle continues to actively participate in the work of Vanguard Group. He and his wife, Eve Bogle, have six children and several grandchildren. They reside in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Time magazine included Bogle in its list of "100 Most Influential People in the World."

Currently, Bogle is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a museum dedicated to the United States Constitution. He previously served as the Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2007 and was appointed Honorary Chairman in January 2007 when the position was passed on to former President George H.W. Bush.

Bogle's investment strategy has been instrumental in the book "The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing," written by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, and Michael LeBoeuf. This guide serves as a valuable resource for novice investors. Additionally, on the popular radio show "Moneytalk" on ABC, host Bob Brinker often discusses Bogle's investment philosophy and recommends his books.