Businessman and former presidential candidate Ross Perot died in Dallas today, according to the Associated Press, Perot was 89 years old. Perot was surrounded by family who loved him.
NBC released a statement by the family, “In business and in life, Ross was a man of integrity and action,” the family’s statement said. “A true American patriot and a man of rare vision, principle and deep compassion, he touched the lives of countless people through his unwavering support of the military and veterans and through his charitable endeavors.”
He is survived by his wife, Margot; his sister, Bette Perot; son Ross Jr.; daughter Nancy; daughter Suzanne; daughter Carolyn; daughter Katherine; their spouses, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren.
Perot was the self-made Texas billionaire who rose from a childhood of Depression-era poverty and twice ran for president as a third-party candidate and changed the game in the political spectrum when he did.
The former naval veteran changed the game so much he actually drew 20% of the electoral vote in 1992, he ran again in 1996. Not that it matters, but people will ask, he was estimated to have a net worth of $4.1 billion that he made from his computer tech company and starting at IBM.