Ronald 'Ron' O. Perelman is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated, a massive privately held conglomerate spanning cosmetics (Revlon), media, and diversified industrial assets. His career is rooted in elite finance, strategic M&A, and high-stakes leveraged buyouts (LBOs).

Perelman holds a B.S. in Economics and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1966). His philosophical approach centers on opportunistic acquisition (buying undervalued or distressed companies), financial engineering (leveraging high debt), and corporate restructuring (selling off non-core assets for massive profits). His structural contribution is tied to pioneering the aggressive LBO model in the U.S. corporate sector.

• MacAndrews & Forbes (Chairman & CEO): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning cosmetics (Revlon), media (former stake in Scientific American), and diversified industrial assets.
• LBO Apex: His success is built on executing highly leveraged buyouts and corporate restructuring (often targeting struggling consumer brands).
• Controversy/Crisis: His career is marked by financial controversies, high debt accumulation, and the bankruptcy of Revlon in 2022.
• Philanthropy: He is a major donor to medical research and the arts (funding the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics at Penn).

Ronald Perelman's strategic genius was his commitment to LBOs. He gained control of MacAndrews & Forbes in 1978 and transformed it into his private investment vehicle. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the aggressive corporate takeover model that was characteristic of 1980s Wall Street. His landmark acquisition was Revlon (cosmetics) in 1985, which became the centerpiece of his empire.

His career faced a massive crisis in 2022 when Revlon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (due to immense debt and market shifts), forcing him to sell off major assets (including real estate and art). His wealth is secured by the colossal liquid gains generated from his prior LBO strategies and asset sales.

Ronald Perelman's social impact is structural, stemming from his LBO activity, which restructured major U.S. corporations. His profound philanthropic contribution is to medical research (funding the Perelman Center for Emergency Services at NYU) and education (funding the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics at Penn). His structural contribution is tied to his influential role in U.S. financial strategy and his commitment to high-impact cultural patronage.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Ronald Perelman maintains the powerful, composed style of a financial executive. His attire is consistently bespoke, favoring dark, tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global financial sector.

Residing in New York City (and traveling globally), his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, corporate governance, and philanthropy.