# Gary Winnick

> Gary Winnick (1947-2023) was an American financier, founder of Global Crossing, and chairman and CEO of Winnick & Company. His career combined high-yield bond finance, private investment, telecommunications infrastructure, and philanthropy. Global Crossing built an international fiber-optic network before its 2002 bankruptcy; Winnick subsequently continued investing and supporting cultural, educational, and Jewish institutions.

- **Role:** Financier, private equity investor, telecommunications entrepreneur, philanthropist
- **Organizations:** Winnick & Company (formerly Pacific Capital Group), Global Crossing, Drexel Burnham Lambert, WCO Spectrum, Winnick Family Foundation, Museum of Modern Art, Simon Wiesenthal Center
- **From:** New York City, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree, C.W. Post College, Long Island University (now LIU Post)
- **Known for:** Founded Global Crossing, which constructed an international fiber-optic telecommunications network., Founded the investment firm later known as Winnick & Company in 1985., Co-founded the Winnick Family Foundation with Karen in 1983.

## Career timeline

- **1947** — Born in New York City on October 13; raised on Long Island.
- **1969** — Graduated from C.W. Post College, now LIU Post.
- **1983** — Established the Winnick Family Foundation with Karen Winnick.
- **1985** — Founded the private investment firm later known as Winnick & Company.
- **1997** — Founded Global Crossing.
- **1998** — Global Crossing went public.
- **2000** — Joined the Museum of Modern Art board of trustees; purchased Casa Encantada with Karen.
- **2002** — Global Crossing filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; Winnick faced congressional scrutiny.
- **2004** — SEC commissioners declined to bring civil disclosure charges against Winnick.
- **2011** — Level 3 completed its acquisition of the reorganized Global Crossing on October 4.
- **2015** — Discussed investing in Los Angeles startups, including Pluto.TV and Crosscut Ventures.
- **2020** — Established WCO Spectrum to pursue investments in wireless spectrum licenses.
- **2023** — Died November 4 in Bel Air, Los Angeles, aged 76.
- **2026** — Casa Encantada sold at a foreclosure auction for $130 million, reported July 4.

## Achievements

- Founded Global Crossing, which constructed an international fiber-optic telecommunications network.
- Founded the investment firm later known as Winnick & Company in 1985.
- Co-founded the Winnick Family Foundation with Karen in 1983.
- Served on the Museum of Modern Art board of trustees from 2000 to 2023.
- Received the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Laureate Award in 2000.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Casa Encantada, the Winnicks’ longtime Bel-Air home, sold at a foreclosure auction for $130 million, as reported July 4, 2026.
- **2025-12** — Reporting described disputes over loans secured by the family’s properties following Winnick’s death.
- **2023-12** — WCO Spectrum deferred comment while matters concerning Winnick’s estate and company representation were being resolved.
- **2023-11** — Winnick died November 4, aged 76; MoMA and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum published tributes.

## Links

- Website: https://winnickco.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garywinnick

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/gary-winnick
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09