Brian L. Roberts

Roberts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Ralph J. Roberts, the founder of Comcast Corporation, and Suzanne (née Fleisher), an actress and playwright, prior to her passing in 2020.{{cite news|url=https://articles.philly.com/2013-02-14/news/37081674_1_suzanne-ralph-dance-floor |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Love: Suzanne (Fleisher) Roberts & Ralph J. Roberts|author= Kellie Patrick Gates|date=February 14, 2013}}{{Cite web |last1=Guttman |first1=Nathan |date=2 March 2014 |title=Brian Roberts' Jewish Roots and Outsized Ambition Drive Comcast's Rise in Media |url=https://forward.com/news/193521/brian-roberts-jewish-roots-and-outsized-ambition-d/ |access-date=2020-02-18 |website=The Forward |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Bonnie L. |date=2020-04-20 |title=Suzanne F. Roberts, philanthropist, performer, and broadcaster, dies at 98 |url=https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/suzanne-roberts-wife-ralph-roberts-comcast-philanthropist-actress-20200420.html |access-date= |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}} His maternal grandfather, Alfred W. Fleisher, was a real estate investor and philanthropist. Roberts graduated from Germantown Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981.[http://articles.philly.com/2001-12-21/business/25308082_1_at-t-comcast-corp-ralph-j-roberts-brian-l-roberts Philadelphia Inquirer: "A continual spotlight awaits a 'very private' Brian Roberts AT&T deal catapults Comcast's chief to the industry forefront" By Benjamin Y. Lowe] December 21, 2001

{{Main|Comcast}}

Roberts began his career at Comcast after graduating from Wharton in 1981, as a manager of cable system marketing. In 1987, he was promoted to executive vice president.

Roberts assumed the role of President of Comcast in 1990 at the age of 31, when the company's annual revenue was $657 million.{{cite web |title=Comcast Biography of Mr. Brian L. Roberts |url=https://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/leadership-overview/brian-l-roberts |access-date=18 March 2019}} The company's annual revenue grew significantly since then, reaching $122 billion by 2024.{{Cite web |title=Form 10-K |url=https://www.cmcsa.com/static-files/fabc4151-d6cd-4480-bf15-43a5dfd96290}}

In 1997, Roberts coordinated a deal with Bill Gates for Microsoft to invest $1 billion in Comcast, which supported the expansion of its broadband network.{{Cite web |date=1997-06-09 |title=Microsoft invests $1 billion in Comcast |url=https://www.deseret.com/1997/6/9/19316740/microsoft-invests-1-billion-in-comcast/ |access-date= |website=Deseret News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Derrick |first=Jayson |date=2022-01-23 |title=The Inside Story Of How Bill Gates And Microsoft Earned A 400% Return On Comcast - Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) |url=https://www.benzinga.com/tech/22/01/9608148/the-inside-story-of-how-bill-gates-and-microsoft-earned-a-400-return-on-comcast |access-date= |website=Benzinga |language=English}} As of 2024 the network is the largest Internet Service Provider in the U.S.{{Cite web |last1=Iscrupe |first1=Lisa |last2=Whatley |first2=Hannah |title=Xfinity Internet 2025 {{!}} Plans, Pricing & Availability |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/internet/xfinity/ |access-date= |website=USA Today Home Internet |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Trey |first=Paul |date=2024-12-09 |title=Xfinity Home Internet Review: Plans, Prices, Coverage and More |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/xfinity-internet-review/ |access-date= |website=CNET |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Anders |first=David |date=2025-01-08 |title=Best Cable Internet Providers for January 2025 |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-cable-internet-providers/ |access-date= |website=CNET |language=en}}

In 2001, Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband for $72 billion.{{Cite web |last=Cohan |first=William D. |date=2024-01-10 |title=The Philadelphia Story |url=https://puck.news/the-philadelphia-story/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110212553/https://puck.news/the-philadelphia-story/ |archive-date=2024-01-10 |access-date= |website=Puck |language=en-US}} The deal allowed Comcast to become the largest cable operator in the world.{{Cite news |last1=Arango |first1=Tim |last2=Stelter |first2=Brian |date=2009-11-12 |title=For Comcast's Chief, Content Led the Way |work=The New York Times}} In 2002, Roberts became the company's CEO; he subsequently became chairman of the board in 2004.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Meg |date=2018-06-10 |title=Brian Roberts has been the force behind Comcast's growth. Now he's in the hunt for Fox |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-brian-roberts-comcast-20180610-htmlstory.html |access-date= |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kelner |first=Braden |date=2007-07-01 |title=Deal-Maker Who Built A National Media Company: Brian L. Roberts, W' 81 |url=https://magazine.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/anniversary-issue/deal-maker-who-built-a-national-media-company-brian-l-roberts-w-81/ |access-date= |website=Wharton Magazine |language=en-US}}

In 2011, Comcast acquired NBCUniversal, expanding the company's portfolio in the media space.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-11-20 |title=Bold Leader Spotlight: Brian L. Roberts, CEO Comcast NBCUniversal |url=https://www.boldbusiness.com/human-achievement/bold-leader-spotlight-brian-l-roberts-ceo-chairman-comcast/ |access-date=2020-04-13 |website=Bold Business |language=en-US}} Through this deal, Roberts was able to integrate Comcast’s cable networks with broadcast television and film production.{{Cite web |last=Arango |first=Tim |date=2009-12-03 |title=G.E. Makes It Official: It Will Sell NBC to Comcast - The New York Times |url=https://archive.today/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/media/04nbc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200827154112/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/media/04nbc.html |archive-date=2020-08-27 |access-date= |website=archive.md}}

In 2018, Comcast acquired the British media and telecommunications company, Sky.{{Cite web |last=Conrad |first=Roger |date=2018-09-25 |title=Comcast Wins Sky Bid: Step In And Buy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2018/09/25/comcast-wins-sky-bid-step-in-and-buy/?sh=49f2c63521c0 |access-date= |website=Forbes |language=en}} The acquisition, according to Roberts, gave Comcast an opportunity for international growth.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2018-04-25 |title=Comcast CEO Brian Roberts: Sky Is a Great Opportunity but Not a 'Necessity' |url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/comcast-sky-acquisition-brian-roberts-1202786254/ |access-date= |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

During Roberts’s tenure, the company’s customer base expanded from 2.4 million in 1990 to 52 million in 2024.[http://corporate.comcast.com/news-information/leadership-overview/brian-l-roberts-2 Comcast Corporation Website: "Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation"], comcast.com; retrieved February 12, 2014

In 2023, Roberts's total compensation at Comcast was $35.5 million, up 11% from the previous year.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-07 |title=Equilar 100: CEO Pay at the Largest Companies by Revenue |url=https://www.equilar.com/reports/111-table-equilar-new-york-times-top-100-highest-paid-ceos-2024.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815195403/https://www.equilar.com/reports/111-table-equilar-new-york-times-top-100-highest-paid-ceos-2024.html |archive-date=2024-08-15 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Equilar |language=en}}

Roberts previously served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) from 1995 to 1996, a period during which the landmark deregulatory 1996 Telecommunications Act was enacted.[https://www.ncta.com/news-and-events/media-room/content/us-cable-industry-launches-%E2%80%9Ctake-control-its-easy%E2%80%9D-campaign-help-parents-manage-their "U.S. Cable Industry Launches 'Take Control. It's Easy' Campaign to Help Parents Manage Their Family's TV Viewing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620203949/https://www.ncta.com/news-and-events/media-room/content/us-cable-industry-launches-%E2%80%9Ctake-control-its-easy%E2%80%9D-campaign-help-parents-manage-their |date=2015-06-20 }} April 26, 2005{{Cite web |title=Brian Roberts |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/advisory-boards/jobs-council/members/roberts#:~:text=Roberts%20is%20a%20member%20of,1996%20Telecommunications%20Act%20became%20law |access-date= |website=The White House |language=en}} He later returned to serve as chairman for two consecutive terms from 2005 to 2007.

Additionally, Roberts was elected chairman of CableLabs, a research and development consortium for the cable industry, where he held the position for three consecutive terms

Institutional Investor Magazine named Roberts as its top vote-getter for three years in a row (2004–06) in the Cable & Satellite category of their America's Best CEOs annual survey; and named Comcast as one of America's Most Shareholder-Friendly Companies in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Brian Roberts |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/26537 |website=The White House |language=en}} Additionally, the magazine has included Roberts in its list of America's top CEOs on multiple occasions since 2003.{{Cite web |date=2003-01-01 |title=HAIL TO THE CHIEFS |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2btgiud8p7kq9pfqpg268/home/hail-to-the-chiefs |access-date= |website=Institutional Investor |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=All-America Executive Team |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/section/research/all-america-executive-team/2024 |access-date= |website=Institutional Investor |language=en}}

Roberts was the recipient of the 1994 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement,{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#business}} the 2004 Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and was the 2002 Walter Kaitz Foundation Honoree of the Year for his commitment to diversity in the cable industry. The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia honored Roberts with their 2002 award for his commitment to youth programs and community involvement.{{cite press release|title=Brian L. Roberts|url=http://www.comcast.com/corporate/about/pressroom/corporateoverview/corporateexecutives/brianroberts.html|access-date=April 21, 2012}}

In 2011, Roberts was awarded the USC Shoah Foundation Institute's 2011 Ambassador for Humanity Award.Michael Elkin [http://www.jewishexponent.com/shoah-salute-personal-meaning-for-comcast-ceo Jewish Exponent: "Shoah Salute: Personal Meaning for Comcast CEO"], jewishexponent.com, May 4, 2011; accessed June 20, 2015. In 2021, he was a recipient of the centennial Philadelphia Award.{{Cite web |title=Brian L. Roberts {{!}} The Philadelphia Award |url=https://www.philadelphiaaward.org/winners/brian-l-roberts/ |access-date= |website=The Philadelphia Award |language=en}} The following year, Roberts received the William Penn award, "the highest honor bestowed upon a business executive in Greater Philadelphia," according to the Chamber of Commerce.{{Cite web |last=Mulligan |first=Ryan |date=2022-12-19 |title=Comcast's Brian Roberts receives 2022 William Penn Award |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2022/12/19/brian-roberts-chamber-william-penn-comcast.html |access-date= |website=Philadelphia Business Journal}}

The Roberts family, led by Brian has made philanthropic contributions to various medical, educational, and cultural institutions. In 2006, they made a donation to help establish The Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine.{{Cite web |date=2007-01-01 |title=Roberts Family Gives $15 Million for Proton Therapy Center |url=https://thepenngazette.com/roberts-family-gives-15-million-for-proton-therapy-center/ |website=The Pennsylvania Gazette}}

In 2016, the family provided a gift to support the creation of the Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.{{Cite web |last=McCullough |first=Marie |date=2016-09-23 |title=CHOP, Comcast founders announce $50 million genetics initiative |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/health/-CHOP-Comcast-founders-announce-50-million-genetics-initiative.html |access-date= |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}} In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Roberts family donated $5 million to the School District of Philadelphia to purchase Chromebooks for students to support virtual learning.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-03-27 |title=Comcast CEO, Family Donate $5 Million to Buy Laptops for Philly Students |url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/coronavirus/comcast-ceo-brian-roberts-philadelphia-schools-laptops/2342938/ |access-date= |website=NBC10 Philadelphia |language=en-US}} In 2021, they established the Roberts Family Professorship in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine, along with the Katalin Karikó Fellowship Fund in Vaccine Development.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-29 |title=University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine Establishes Roberts Family Professorship and Fellowship for Vaccine Research and Development - Penn Medicine |url=https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2021/july/psom-establishes-roberts-family-professorship-and-fellowship-for-vaccine-research-and-development |access-date= |website=Penn Medicine News |language=en-US}}

In March 2025, Roberts and his family donated $125 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which will support the development of a new 20-story building known as Roberts Children's Health.{{Cite web |last=Coates |first=Lauren |date=2025-03-13 |title=Comcast Chief Donates $125 Million to Expand and Refurbish Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/comcast-roberts-donate-childrens-hospital-philadelphia-1236336425/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

An All-American squash player, Roberts competed in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, earning a gold medal with the U.S. squash team in the 2005 Maccabiah Games, and silver medals in the 1981 Maccabiah Games, the 1985 Maccabiah Games, the 1997 Maccabiah Games, and the 2009 Maccabiah Games.Michael Elkin [http://jewishexponent.com/shoah-salute-personal-meaning-for-comcast-ceo "Shoah Salute: Personal Meaning for Comcast CEO"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419112502/http://www.jewishexponent.com/shoah-salute-personal-meaning-for-comcast-ceo |date=2016-04-19 }}, jewishexponent.com, May 4, 2011; accessed June 20, 2015. On October 21, 2012, Roberts was honored by Maccabi USA as a 'Legend of the Maccabiah.'[http://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/2012-legends-of-the-maccabiah Maccabi USA: "2012 Legends of Maccabiah"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221190556/http://www.maccabiusa.com/about/legends/2012-legends-of-the-maccabiah/ |date=2014-12-21 }}; retrieved December 20, 2014.

Roberts was a founding co-chair of Philadelphia 2000, the nonpartisan host committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention. The Pennsylvania Report named Roberts to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics, calling him "Pennsylvania’s most powerful businessman", and noted his influence with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.{{cite web|title=The PA Report 'Power 75' List|work=Pennsylvania Report|publisher=Capital Growth, Inc.|date=January 31, 2003|url=http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920200116/http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PAReportPower75_.pdf|archive-date=2006-09-20|url-status=dead}}

In 2003, Roberts was named to the PoliticsPA list of politically influential individuals.{{cite web|title=Power 50|work=PoliticsPA|publisher=The Publius Group|year=2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040417135307/http://www.politicspa.com/features/power502003.htm|url=http://www.politicspa.com/features/power502003.htm|archive-date=2004-04-17|url-status=dead}}

In December 2009, Roberts wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, endorsing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.{{cite web|title=Roberts endorses PPACA|work=Politico|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702092702/https://www.politico.com/static/PPM143_091203_wh_healthcare_letter.html|url=https://www.politico.com/static/PPM143_091203_wh_healthcare_letter.html|archive-date=2015-07-02|url-status=dead}}

Roberts has donated $90,600 to Democratic candidates/PACs, and $70,300 to Republican candidates/PACs. He has not donated to any political party or candidate since 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&page=1&q=ROBERTS%2C+BRIAN+L&sort=D&type=donors|title= ROBERTS, BRIAN L|work=OpenSecrets|access-date=March 19, 2024}}

File:Ralph roberts brian roberts comcast.jpg

Roberts and his wife, Aileen Kennedy Roberts, live in Philadelphia and have three children. Aileen is the chair of the Barnes Foundation.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005153/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=13774926&privcapId=13718076&previousCapId=867423&previousTitle=LINCOLN%20NATIONAL%20CORP Aileen Kennedy Roberts profile], businessweek.com; retrieved July 8, 2012.[http://www.phillymag.com/the-scene/2012/05/31/hughe-dillon-philadelphia-award-2012 "Philadelphia Award 2012 - Joseph Neubauer and Aileen Roberts were honored for their work on the new Barnes"], phillymag,com, May 31, 2012

In 2010, Roberts, along with his late brother, Douglas, and his father, presented his mother a Women's Image Network Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4K-1aUlm6w |title=Brian, Doug & Ralph Roberts Presenting Suzanne Roberts Lifetime Achievement Honor |date=6 March 2011 |website=YouTube.com |access-date=28 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/business/media/ralph-roberts-cable-tv-pioneer-who-built-comcast-dies-at-95.html?_r=0|title=Ralph Roberts, Cable TV Pioneer Who Built Comcast, Dies at 95 |work=The New York Times, USA |date=19 June 2015 |first1=Glenn |last1=Rifkin |access-date=28 February 2017}}

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Category:1959 births

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Brian L.

Category:Wharton School alumni