Michael Rubens Bloomberg is a businessman, philanthropist, and the Mayor of New York City. He gained his wealth as the founder of financial news and data company Bloomberg L.P.
A lifelong Democrat, he ran as a Republican and was elected mayor in 2001, replacing Rudy Giuliani, then won a second term in 2005.
He has been mentioned as a possible independent candidate in the 2008 presidential election and fueled that speculation when he left the GOP in June 2007. He has denied any plans to run and says the news media has concocted the possible presidential bid.
Michael Bloomberg became a partner at Salomon Brothers, heading equity trading, sales and, later, systems development. He made his fortune with his own financial software service company, Bloomberg L.P., which he founded in 1981 to sell financial information terminals to Wall Street firms.
Forbes and other sources report his net worth at $11.5 billion as of 2007, making Michael Bloomberg one of the world's richest people.
Michael Bloomberg married English-born Susan Brown in 1975. Their marriage produced two daughters, Emma (1979) and Georgina (1983). They divorced in 1993 and the mayor is currently single.
NATIONAL[NOTE: Figures above are averages of the 3-6 most recent surveys in each area. Updated June 17]
