More than Military

MALCOLM FORBES
Multimillionaire/Publisher

Perhaps it can be said that one of the foremost publishers and business moguls in the United States, Malcolm Forbes, managed to turn Bronze into gold; it was after receiving the Bronze Star for military service in World War II that Forbes went on to turn Forbes, the magazine started by his father in 1917, into a publication that grossed over $150 million annually by the time of his death.

Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was born in 1919 in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Princeton University in 1941, and was inducted into the army as a private at the start of World War II.

Forbes was assigned to a heavy machine gun section in the 334th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division. He served in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Wounded in combat at the Battle of Aachen, Forbes was awarded the both Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was discharged from military service in 1945.

Forbes joined his father's magazine after World War II as associate publisher. He later became the magazine's publisher, editor, editor-in-chief, vice-president, and, finally, CEO and president.

Forbes was known to America as the happiest millionaire, and took particular delight in demonstrating that was just an ordinary American. In his book, Fact and Comment, he showed his ability to be candid and maintain a strong sense of humor about himself.

Forbes was an adventurer: a balloonist, a motorcyclist, and a sailor. Robert Forbes, his second eldest son, described him as "boss, confidante, raconteur, balloonist, columnist, happiest millionaire, leader of the pack, source, mentor, friend, super this, mega that, father, grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, cousin, and sparkling naughty boy."

Forbes was also a philanthropist who gave millions of dollars each year to charities. In his final act of charity, in his will, Forbes left each of his 750 employees an extra week's pay and he forgave all loans, up to $10,000, paid to any company employee. He left control of his publishing empire to his son, Steve Forbes.

Malcolm Forbes left his mark on the business and publishing worlds, expanding Forbes into a publishing powerhouse that provided leading-edge business news and became one of the most influential magazines in America, even today. Yet it was his passion for both of business and pleasure, and his spirited way of living life, which became the true legacy of Malcolm Forbes.

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