David M. Rubenstein is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the co-founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest and most successful private equity firms. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1949, his background is rooted in law and high-level government service. He graduated from Duke University and earned a J.D. law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

Rubenstein's career began in politics and government: he worked as an assistant to the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and later served as the Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy during the Jimmy Carter administration. This high-level experience in government, law, and policy provided him with the unique network and political acumen that would define his later career in private equity.

David Rubenstein co-founded The Carlyle Group in 1987 with William E. Conway Jr. and Daniel A. D'Aniello. Their founding vision was to leverage their political and corporate connections to specialize in management-led buyouts and strategic investments, often in the defense and aerospace sectors. Rubenstein's primary role was in fundraising and establishing key client relationships with global investors, leveraging his contacts from his time in government and law.

Under his leadership, Carlyle grew into a global alternative asset giant with hundreds of billions of dollars in assets under management (AUM), executing massive deals worldwide. The company's successful public listing (NASDAQ: CG) secured Rubenstein's multi-billion dollar fortune. He has since become a major patriotic philanthropist, dedicating vast sums to the restoration and preservation of American historical documents and national monuments. He is also the host of The David Rubenstein Show on Bloomberg TV and PBS, where he interviews master historians and business leaders.

David Rubenstein is one of America's most significant philanthropists, focusing on patriotic philanthropy—a movement aimed at preserving American history and culture. He has purchased and donated original copies of The Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence (on display at the National Archives).

He chairs the Boards of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Council on Foreign Relations. His recent $1.7 billion acquisition of the Baltimore Orioles (in 2024) is a massive civic investment in his hometown. His structural contribution is the professionalization of the private equity industry and the immense funding of national cultural institutions.

David Rubenstein maintains the highly professional, refined, and intellectual style of a major private equity executive and public historian. His attire is consistently bespoke, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic is one of serious authority, blending financial power with a profound civic and academic commitment.

Residing in the Washington, D.C. area, his luxury is the security of his multi-billion dollar fortune, which he leverages to preserve national heritage and invest in professional sports. His life is defined by his transition from high-level government service to becoming one of the most successful financiers and cultural patrons of his generation.