The Bronfman Family

• business dynasty
• have a controlling interest in the Seagram Co. which owns 80% of MCA
• MCA owns RCA and Universal Studios
• company grosses over $6 billion anually
• operations in more than 40 countries
• the family also has controlling interest in Hees International Bancorp, Noranda, John Labatt (the brewer), and Royal Trustcorp

Samuel Bronfman (1889-1971 )

• son of refugees from czarist Russia who fled to Canada in 1889
• formed Distillers Corp., Montreal in 1924
• acquired Joseph E. Seagram & Sons of Waterloo, Ont. during American prohibition
• documentary film: Whisky Man

Peter Bronfman (1928-1996)

• died of cancer December 1, 1996 in Toronto
• brother of Edward nephew of Samuel
• co-owned (with Edward) the Montreal Canadiens from 1971-78, London Life, Royal Lepage, MacMillan Bloedel, Labatt's Berweries

Edward Bronfman (1928-2005)

• died April 2005 in
• brother of Peter nephew of Samuel

Edgar Bronfman Sr. (1930- )

• 4 marriages, 3 wives, 7 children
• took over American branch of Seagrams as CEO in 1975
• acquired Tropicana Products and Dole worldwide juice business
• retired as CEO in 1994, remains Chairman of the Board
• worth $2.7 billion
• president World Jewish Congress
• led the campaign to force Swiss Banks to compensate Holocaust victims

Charles Bronfman (1931- )

• born in Montreal
• brother of Edgar Sr.
• took control of Canadian division of Seagrams
• director of Power Corporation of Canada, chairman of Claridge-Israel Inc.

Edgar Bronfman Jr. (1956- )

Edgar Jr. on right with brother Sam

• took over from his father as CEO in 1994
• sold interest in Dupont, bought 80% of MCA from Matsushita in1995 for $5.7 billion; 50% of Interscope Records from Ted Field; and 15% of Time Warner.
• engineered Seagrams huge recent investments in MCA and Time Warner, and a distribution deal with Geffen, Spielberg, and Katzenberg, (DreamWorks SKG)

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