Michael Bloomberg started his New York City story sweating in his underwear in Salomon Brothers' vaults.
And in a little over 20 years, he turned a $10 million severance package from that now defunct bank into a multi-billion dollar company whose service Wall Street can't live without.
According to Forbes, he's the 15th richest man in the world with an estimated networth of $33.2 billion.
The inspiring journey, with plenty of highs and lows, is one of a man who enjoys both success and philanthropy.
After serving twelve years as New York City's mayor, Bloomberg has returned to the company he founded. Although he wasn't expected to take on an active leadership role, it was reported today that he would resume leadership of Bloomberg LP.
Editor's note: Myles Meserve is a former Business Insider intern. This post has been updated.
Bloomberg grew up in a middle class Boston suburb.
Michael Bloomberg was born on Valentines Day, February 14, 1942 near Boston, Massachusetts.
He grew up in a middle class home in Medford, MA.
His father worked seven days a week as an accountant at a local dairy to to provide for his family of four.
He majored in electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins and received his MBA from Harvard.
Bloomberg graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1964 with a degree in electrical engineering.
After graduating from Johns Hopkins, he received his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Two years later in 1966, during the height of the Vietnam war, he applied to the Officer Candidate School of the US Armed Forces, but was rejected for having flat feet.
Source: encyclopedia.com
He went to work at Salomon Brothers in 1966.
In 1966, Bloomberg was hired by Salomon Brothers in New York.
His starting salary at Salomon was $9,000/year.
Source: nyc.gov, nytimes.com
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