Sam Wyly

Sam Wyly - Entrepreneurs, Timeline and Life

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Sam Wyly Biography Stories 

Sam Wyly's Personal Details

Sam Wyly is an American entrepreneur who has converted several small business ventures into billion dollar companies

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 4, 1934
NationalityAmerican
FamousBillionaires, University Of Michigan, Business People, Entrepreneurs
Spousesdivorced) Cheryl Wyly, divorced) Victoria Steele Wyly (married 1978), Rosemary Wyly (married 1960-1976)
SiblingsCharles Wyly
Known asSamuel E. Wyly
Universities
  • University Of Michigan
  • University of Michigan
  • Louisiana Tech University
  • Ross School of Business
Humanitarian Works
  • Founder of ‘Sam Wyly Foundation’
Notable Alumnis
  • University Of Michigan
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Green Mountain Energy
  • Sterling Software
  • Uccel
Birth PlaceLouisiana, USA
GenderMale
FatherCharles, Sr
MotherFlora Wyly
Net Worth$20 Million as of Jan 3,2017
Sun SignLibra
Born inLouisiana, USA
Famous asEntrepreneur

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Sam Wyly's photo

Who is Sam Wyly?

Sam Wyly is undoubtedly one of the most significant names in contemporary American business history. His life is an incredible rags to riches story, which inspires many people today. He was born to a working class family and from a tender age sought to help his parents in their business of printing press. He apparently developed an interest in entrepreneurship and learnt the tricks of the trade while working with his parents. At a time when a degree like Master of Business Administration was not really popular, this man completed his schooling and earned an MBA degree. He earned a scholarship and this helped Wyly complete higher studies in spite of belonging to a poor family. His capabilities earned him a job of a salesman at ‘IBM’. He enhanced his skills while working at the company and later got another job as an area sales manager. However, his innate entrepreneurship quality led him to establish his own firm named ‘University Computing Company’ which was formed with minimum investment. In due course of time, the same company established itself as one of the most renowned business ventures owing to the management and operating skill of Wyly. He has incorporated all the knowledge he gained at the university and at his work places into his business ventures and has been instrumental in building many companies through strategic investments

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Childhood & Early Life

Sam was born to Charles Wyly, Sr. and Flora Wyly on 4th October, 1934, in Lake Providence, Louisiana. He belonged to a poor family and provided a helping hand in his parents’ printing press.

The boy completed his schooling and enrolled at the ‘Louisiana Tech University’, and after completing graduation, he joined the ‘Ross School of Business’ of the ‘University of Michigan’. He then completed his MBA in 1957, from this prestigious university.

Career

Soon after completing his post-graduation, this young man travelled to Dallas and got employed at the ‘Service Bureau Corporation’ of the world-renowned firm ‘IBM’ as a salesman.

He joined the ‘Honeywell International, Inc.’, after working at ‘IBM’ for about three and a half years as an area sales manager.

In 1963, he founded the computer service providing company named ‘University Computing Company’ (UCC). The initial investment in the company was just $1,000 and it dealt with only three customers. The following years saw rapid increase in company’s sales.

Sam, along with his brother Charles Wyly, purchased the chain of restaurants named ‘Bonanza Steakhouse' in 1967. After about twenty five years, they sold the chain and at that time it included around 600 restaurants.

He bought the company ‘Gulf Insurance’ in 1968, and around the same time, he co-founded the firm ‘Earth Resource Company’, where he remained the Executive Committee Chairman for more than twenty decades.

In 1970, he acquired the company ‘Computer Technology’ at $40 million, which was the data processing in-house division of ‘Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV).

He traded a computer terminal to the company ‘Harris-Intertype’ in 1972 and also became an investor in it. The following year, he expanded the ‘University Computing Company’ (UCC), into four companies.

This man was the co-founder of the company ‘Sterling Software’ in 1981, and the following year, he purchased the controlling interest of ‘Michaels’, which is an arts and crafts chain. From a company worth $10 million, it grew to become worth billions and after twenty decades when it was sold to ‘Bain Capital’ and ‘Blackstone Group’, it was about worth $6 billion.

In 1986, he acquired the retail chain named ‘Frost Bros’, but within three years the company was dissolved, owing to bankruptcy protection.

He was a co-founder of the firm ‘Maverick Capital’, which was established in 1990, and about thirteen years later, this company had assets worth $8 billion.

Wyly was the individual who held highest amount of stocks of the institution called ‘Green Mountain Energy’, by 2006. During the same time, he was the person who invested the highest amount of funds in the social networking firm ‘Zaadz.com’.

In 2007, he along with his brother Charles Wyly bought the bookstores named ‘Bistro’ and ‘Explore Booksellers’. The following year, he wrote the book named ‘1,000 Dollars & an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire’.

Major Works

He founded a company named ‘University Computing Company’ in 1963. This firm was later renamed as ‘UCCEL Corp’. This was one of Wyly’s first investments which began with $1,000 dollars and rose to $1 billion in the following years with the capable entrepreneur’s witty strategies.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1960, Wyly married a lady named Rosemary but the couple separated after approximately fifteen years of being together.

The ‘Sam Wyly Foundation’ was established by him in 1968, to help entrepreneurs who owned startup companies with their endeavors.

In 1978, he married a woman named Victoria L. Steele, but this relationship too did not last long.

The ‘Charles Wyly Sr. Tower of Learning’ located in the ‘Louisiana Tech’ campus, was funded by Sam and his brother. He also provided funds to the ‘University of Michigan’ for the construction of the ‘Sam Wyly Hall’.

This businessman married a third time in 2006, to a woman named Cheryl. Sam Wyly had totally fathered six children through both these relationships.

He and his brother were engaged in many philanthropic works and also donated funds to political parties.

The ‘Securities and Exchange Commission’ investigated against the Wyly brothers and after years of investigation, they found Sam and Charles guilty of the charges of violating several laws related to Federal security.

Following this, Sam lost a case against the ‘SEC’ and filed for bankruptcy. In 2015, he was charged of income tax evasion and both he as well as his late brother were charged by the ‘Internal Revenue Service’. However, Sam’s lawyer termed the charges null and void.

This businessman also co-wrote a book named ‘Texas Got It Right!’, which was published in 2012.

Net Worth

During 2006-07, ‘Forbes’ estimated that this accomplished business personality has a net worth of 1.1 billion.

Trivia

Author Dennis Hamilton penned a biography of Sam Wyly in 2011 entitled ‘Beyond Tallulah, How Sam Wyly Became America’s Boldest Big-Time Entrepreneur’

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Sam Wyly biography timelines

  • // 4th Oct 1934
    Sam was born to Charles Wyly, Sr. and Flora Wyly on 4th October, 1934, in Lake Providence, Louisiana. He belonged to a poor family and provided a helping hand in his parents’ printing press.
  • // 1957
    The boy completed his schooling and enrolled at the ‘Louisiana Tech University’, and after completing graduation, he joined the ‘Ross School of Business’ of the ‘University of Michigan’. He then completed his MBA in 1957, from this prestigious university.
  • // 1960
    In 1960, Wyly married a lady named Rosemary but the couple separated after approximately fifteen years of being together.
  • // 1963
    In 1963, he founded the computer service providing company named ‘University Computing Company’ (UCC). The initial investment in the company was just $1,000 and it dealt with only three customers. The following years saw rapid increase in company’s sales.
  • // 1963
    He founded a company named ‘University Computing Company’ in 1963. This firm was later renamed as ‘UCCEL Corp’. This was one of Wyly’s first investments which began with $1,000 dollars and rose to $1 billion in the following years with the capable entrepreneur’s witty strategies.
  • // 1967
    Sam, along with his brother Charles Wyly, purchased the chain of restaurants named ‘Bonanza Steakhouse' in 1967. After about twenty five years, they sold the chain and at that time it included around 600 restaurants.
  • // 1968
    He bought the company ‘Gulf Insurance’ in 1968, and around the same time, he co-founded the firm ‘Earth Resource Company’, where he remained the Executive Committee Chairman for more than twenty decades.
  • // 1968
    The ‘Sam Wyly Foundation’ was established by him in 1968, to help entrepreneurs who owned startup companies with their endeavors.
  • // 1970
    In 1970, he acquired the company ‘Computer Technology’ at $40 million, which was the data processing in-house division of ‘Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV).
  • // 1972
    He traded a computer terminal to the company ‘Harris-Intertype’ in 1972 and also became an investor in it. The following year, he expanded the ‘University Computing Company’ (UCC), into four companies.
  • // 1978
    In 1978, he married a woman named Victoria L. Steele, but this relationship too did not last long.
  • // 1981
    This man was the co-founder of the company ‘Sterling Software’ in 1981, and the following year, he purchased the controlling interest of ‘Michaels’, which is an arts and crafts chain. From a company worth $10 million, it grew to become worth billions and after twenty decades when it was sold to ‘Bain Capital’ and ‘Blackstone Group’, it was about worth $6 billion.
  • // 1986
    In 1986, he acquired the retail chain named ‘Frost Bros’, but within three years the company was dissolved, owing to bankruptcy protection.
  • // 1990
    He was a co-founder of the firm ‘Maverick Capital’, which was established in 1990, and about thirteen years later, this company had assets worth $8 billion.
  • // 2006
    Wyly was the individual who held highest amount of stocks of the institution called ‘Green Mountain Energy’, by 2006. During the same time, he was the person who invested the highest amount of funds in the social networking firm ‘Zaadz.com’.
  • // 2006
    This businessman married a third time in 2006, to a woman named Cheryl. Sam Wyly had totally fathered six children through both these relationships.
  • // 2006
    During 2006-07, ‘Forbes’ estimated that this accomplished business personality has a net worth of 1.1 billion.
  • // 2007
    In 2007, he along with his brother Charles Wyly bought the bookstores named ‘Bistro’ and ‘Explore Booksellers’. The following year, he wrote the book named ‘1,000 Dollars & an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire’.
  • // 2011
    Author Dennis Hamilton penned a biography of Sam Wyly in 2011 entitled ‘Beyond Tallulah, How Sam Wyly Became America’s Boldest Big-Time Entrepreneur’
  • // 2012
    This businessman also co-wrote a book named ‘Texas Got It Right!’, which was published in 2012.
  • // 2015
    Following this, Sam lost a case against the ‘SEC’ and filed for bankruptcy. In 2015, he was charged of income tax evasion and both he as well as his late brother were charged by the ‘Internal Revenue Service’. However, Sam’s lawyer termed the charges null and void.

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Sam Wyly's FAQ

  • What is Sam Wyly birthday?

    Sam Wyly was born at 1934-10-04

  • Where is Sam Wyly's birth place?

    Sam Wyly was born in Louisiana, USA

  • What is Sam Wyly nationalities?

    Sam Wyly's nationalities is American

  • Who is Sam Wyly spouses?

    Sam Wyly's spouses is divorced) Cheryl Wyly, divorced) Victoria Steele Wyly (married 1978), Rosemary Wyly (married 1960-1976)

  • Who is Sam Wyly siblings?

    Sam Wyly's siblings is Charles Wyly

  • What was Sam Wyly universities?

    Sam Wyly studied at University Of Michigan, University of Michigan, Louisiana Tech University, Ross School of Business

  • What was Sam Wyly notable alumnis?

    Sam Wyly's notable alumnis is University Of Michigan

  • Which company or organization was founded by Sam Wyly?

    Sam Wyly was the founder/co-founder of Green Mountain Energy, Sterling Software, Uccel

  • Who is Sam Wyly's father?

    Sam Wyly's father is Charles, Sr

  • Who is Sam Wyly's mother?

    Sam Wyly's mother is Flora Wyly

  • What is Sam Wyly's sun sign?

    Sam Wyly is Libra

  • How famous is Sam Wyly?

    Sam Wyly is famouse as Entrepreneur