James 'Jim' Coulter is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder of TPG Inc. (NASDAQ: TPG) (formerly Texas Pacific Group), one of the world's largest private equity firms. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1959, his career is rooted in finance and high-stakes leveraged buyouts (LBOs).

Coulter graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College and earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1986, where he was named an Arjay Miller Scholar. His career began in finance at Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb before working for Robert M. Bass. His philosophy centers on transforming companies for profit through complex leveraged buyout transactions and operational improvements.

• TPG Inc. (Co-founder & Former Co-CEO): The core publicly traded asset, one of the world's largest private equity firms, specializing in LBOs and growth investments (managing over $207 billion in assets).
• LBO Pioneer: He was involved in some of the largest leveraged buyout transactions on record (e.g., the takeover of Continental Airlines in 1993).
• Investment Focus: His firm invested in major brands like Burger King, J. Crew, Ducati Motor Holding, and Petco.
• Academic Background: He holds an MBA from Stanford and a B.A. summa cum laude from Dartmouth (Economics).

Jim Coulter co-founded TPG in 1992 with David Bonderman and William S. Price III. His strategic genius was applying LBO techniques to industries facing distress (like Continental Airlines in 1993). This landmark takeover became TPG's marquee transaction. Under his leadership (serving as Co-CEO from 2014 to 2021), TPG became a dominant force in private equity, executing complex deals across diverse sectors.

The company successfully executed its IPO on the NASDAQ in 2022. Coulter remains a major figure in governance, serving on the boards of Dartmouth College and Stanford University. His wealth is tied to the colossal, long-term, superior returns generated by TPG's LBO strategies and his success in operational turnarounds.

Jim Coulter's social impact is structural, stemming from TPG's role in restructuring and recapitalizing major corporations globally. His investments often save struggling businesses and stabilize employment. His private equity firm manages over $207 billion in assets globally.

His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, serving on the Boards of Trustees of both Dartmouth College and Stanford University, and founding the Coulter IDEApitch at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) to support new entrepreneurs.

Jim Coulter maintains the professional, composed style of a private equity executive. His attire is consistently bespoke, favoring dark, tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and immense financial authority, typical of a leader in the high-stakes world of global buyouts.

Residing in San Francisco, California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to strategic private equity investment, corporate transformation, and his commitment to higher education and entrepreneurship.