Charles 'Charlie' Zegar is an American businessman, computer programmer, and billionaire, best known as one of the four co-founders of Bloomberg L.P., the global financial data and media giant. Born in New York City in 1948 to a Jewish family, his mother was a musical comedy performer and opera singer, and his father was a subway conductor for the New York City Transit Authority.

Zegar's academic background is deeply technical: he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Long Island University and a Master of Science (M.S.) in computer science from New York University (NYU). His career began in finance, where he worked at Salomon Brothers, the investment bank, and met his future partner, Michael Bloomberg. This fusion of financial expertise and computer programming talent was the essential catalyst for his multi-billion dollar venture.

Charles Zegar co-founded Innovative Market Systems (later renamed Bloomberg L.P.) in 1982 with Michael Bloomberg, Tom Secunda, and Duncan MacMillan. The foundational idea was to build a specialized computer terminal that could provide real-time market data, news, and analytics to Wall Street traders—a revolutionary concept at the time. Zegar immediately took on the crucial role of leading Bloomberg's software development efforts.

His technical expertise was instrumental in building the initial architecture and continuous innovation of the Bloomberg Terminal, the essential software and hardware platform that is now ubiquitous on Wall Street and in financial institutions globally. Zegar's commitment to the company was total; he became a major shareholder and, despite the company's massive size and valuation, maintained a relatively low public profile, focusing on the technical integrity of the core product. His wealth, now managed through his family foundation, is immense, secured by his early founding stake in the private financial data monopoly.

Charles Zegar is a dedicated philanthropist, having signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charity. His giving is structured through the Zegar Family Foundation and often supports education, public health, and cultural institutions.

He serves on the board of trustees for New York University (NYU), reflecting a commitment to his alma mater and educational advancement. His structural social impact is the creation of the Bloomberg Terminal, a technology that fundamentally standardized and professionalized the flow of financial data for the global markets.

Charles Zegar maintains the simple, highly intellectual, and private style of a computer programmer billionaire. His attire is consistently professional and understated, favoring classic business wear. His aesthetic is anti-glamour, reflecting his focus on the technical integrity of the Bloomberg Terminal.

Residing in New York City, his luxury is the immense security and autonomy derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to his founding company and his philanthropic mission, balancing the logic of computer science with the immense power of global finance.