David Rockefeller is the fifth and youngest son of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the grandson of the founder of Standard Oil. He entered the family banking business and became one of the world's most prominent bankers.
Rockefeller was born in New York City on June 12, 1915. He attended school in New York City and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English history and literature from Harvard University in 1936. He followed this with a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, following study at both Harvard and the London School of Economics. Rockefeller married Margaret "Peggy" McGrath in September 1940 and they raised six children, including son David Rockefeller Jr.
David Sr. enlisted as a private in 1942 in the U.S. Army, attended officer’s school, and was discharged as a captain in 1945. During World War II, Rockefeller served in North Africa and France. He received the U.S. Legion of Merit, the U.S. Army Commendation Ribbon, and the French Legion of Honor.
After the war, Rockefeller joined Chase Manhattan Bank, which his family controlled. In 1961, he became its president, and from then until 1981 he held at least one of the bank's three top management positions — president, CEO, or chairman. He also has served on the bank’s International Advisory Committee since 1981, along with others, including Henry Kissinger, George P. Shultz, and Bill Bradley. From 1981 to 1995, he was chairman of the Rockefeller Group, formerly known as the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York. His contribution lay in overseeing the beautification and modernization of its six million square feet of office space. He also was the chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations from 1970 to 1985, an educational institution in which academic leaders, and leaders from the public and private sectors, meet to discuss foreign affairs.
David Rockefeller is best known in certain circles for his role in the formation of the Trilateral Commission in 1973. The "three sides," from which the organization draws its name, are the world's three primary centers of political and economic power — the United States, Europe and Japan. The Trilateral Commission extends membership only to highly influential people from those three regions.
While officially presented as a group of 350 people seeking to promote international understanding and globalization, to others the Trilateral Commission represents a "new cabal" that wishes to promote the economic interests of some of its wealthiest members. It is credited with huge influence that works in largely secretive ways, and has been the subject of conspiracy theories involving global banking operations.
Now in his late 80s, David Rockefeller is the remaining surviving child of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Greene Aldrich, the daughter of Senator Nelson W. Aldrich. David is worth $2.5 billion, making him the 215th wealthiest person in the world.