“When you come in to court as a plaintiff or as a defendant, it is terribly important that you look up at the bench and feel that that person represents you and will understand you, that that person is reflective of our community and of our society.”

American businessman and politician

Michael Bloomberg is an American businessman and politician. He is the co-founder and majority owner of Bloomberg L.P., and served as chief executive twice, first from 1981 to 2001 and then from 2014 to 2023. He was mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013. Bloomberg moved through several political affiliations over time. He left the Democratic Party in 2001 to run for mayor as a Republican, later became an independent in 2007, and returned to the Democrats in 2018 before seeking the party’s 2020 presidential nomination. He is also described as a centibillionaire, with his wealth listed at $109.4 billion as of March 2026.