Mayoral Elections

2001 Election

In 2001, New York City's Republican mayor Rudy Giuliani was ineligible for re-election due to the city's two-term limit. Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat, decided to run for mayor on the Republican ticket. The primary election, which was scheduled for September 11, 2001, was postponed due to the September 11 attacks. Once rescheduled, Bloomberg defeated former Democratic congressman Herman Badillo to secure the Republican nomination. The Democratic nomination went to Mark Green, the city's Public Advocate.

Bloomberg received Giuliani's endorsement for the mayoral race and had a significant advantage in campaign spending. Despite New York City's campaign finance laws restricting contributions, Bloomberg chose not to accept public funds, giving him the freedom to spend extensively. He invested $73 million of his own money in the campaign, outspending Green by a five-to-one ratio.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Bloomberg’s administration successfully bid to host the 2004 Republican National Convention, which drew both political supporters and widespread protests, including opposition to the Iraq War.

2005 Election

Bloomberg was re-elected as mayor in 2005, defeating former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer by a margin of 20 percent, the largest victory ever for a Republican mayor in New York City. Bloomberg spent $78 million on his re-election campaign, surpassing his previous spending record. In a contested Republican primary, Bloomberg's campaign successfully challenged the signatures of Thomas Ognibene, a rival Republican candidate, to prevent him from appearing on the ballot. Ognibene ran instead on the Conservative Party ticket.

Bloomberg received the endorsements of several prominent Democrats, including former Democratic mayor Ed Koch and former Democratic governor Hugh Carey. His stance on various issues, such as his opposition to the confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States and his support for abortion rights, helped him garner bipartisan support.

2009 Election

In 2008, Bloomberg announced his decision to seek a third term in the 2009 mayoral election by pushing to amend the city's term limits law. After a contentious process and significant debate, the New York City Council voted to extend the term limit, allowing Bloomberg to run for a third term. Bloomberg's bid for a third term generated some controversy, with critics accusing him of undermining the democratic process.

Bloomberg’s opponent in the general election was Bill Thompson, the Democratic nominee and New York City Comptroller. Bloomberg won the election with 51 percent of the vote, defeating Thompson, who received 46 percent. Bloomberg spent a record $109.2 million on his campaign, vastly outspending Thompson.

Bloomberg’s campaign faced scrutiny after reports revealed that he had made two $600,000 donations to the Independence Party in the lead-up to the election. The party then paid $750,000 to Republican political operative John Haggerty Jr. for poll-watching services, leading to an investigation into potential campaign finance violations.

2013 Election

Bloomberg did not endorse any of the candidates running to succeed him in 2013, stating that he wanted to ensure a smooth transition for the next mayor. He praised the New York Times for its endorsement of Christine Quinn in the Democratic primary and Joe Lhota in the Republican primary. Bloomberg publicly criticized Bill de Blasio, the eventual Democratic nominee, for his campaign methods, which he initially labeled as "racist." Bloomberg later partially retracted his remarks.

On January 1, 2014, de Blasio succeeded Bloomberg as New York City’s mayor.

Post-Mayoral Political Involvement

Bloomberg was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for the presidential elections in 2008 and 2012, as well as for New York governor in 2010. However, he

 ultimately decided not to pursue these offices.

In November 2012, following Hurricane Sandy, Bloomberg publicly endorsed Barack Obama for a second term, citing Obama’s policies on climate change.

2016 Presidential Election

In January 2016, Bloomberg considered running for president as an independent candidate in the 2016 election, particularly if Bernie Sanders won the Democratic nomination. However, Bloomberg announced in March 2016 that he would not enter the race.

Later, in July 2016, Bloomberg delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention, endorsing Hillary Clinton and warning against a potential presidency under Donald Trump. He criticized Trump’s policies, especially his stance on immigration and trade, and condemned his economic proposals.

2018 Elections

In June 2018, Bloomberg pledged $80 million to support Democratic congressional candidates in the 2018 elections, aiming to flip control of the Republican-held House to the Democrats. By October 2018, Bloomberg had committed over $100 million to the effort, which fueled speculation about a possible presidential run in 2020. On October 10, 2018, Bloomberg officially re-registered as a Democrat after previously being an independent.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

In 1975, Bloomberg married Susan Elizabeth Barbara Brown, a British national from Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The couple has two daughters: Emma Beth (born circa 1979) and Georgina Leigh (born 1983). Both daughters appeared in the 2003 documentary Born Rich, which featured the children of the ultra-wealthy. Bloomberg and Brown divorced in 1993, though Bloomberg has referred to her as his "best friend." Since 2000, Bloomberg has been in a relationship with Diana Taylor, a former New York state 

banking superintendent.

Bloomberg's younger sister, Marjorie Tiven, has served as the commissioner of the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps, and Protocol since February 2002.

Relation with the Sackler Family

During the U.S. opioid epidemic, Mortimer Sackler, a board member of Purdue Pharma, met with Bloomberg to seek his guidance on the issues surrounding the crisis. Purdue's communications head Josephine Martin stated that the company had given Bloomberg exclusive access, praising his treatment of their side of the story. Bloomberg also advised Sackler to consult Stu Loeser for managing communications.

Religion

Though Bloomberg attended Hebrew school, had a bar mitzvah, and his family kept a kosher kitchen, he currently leads a mostly secular lifestyle. He attends synagogue during the High Holidays and participates in a Passover Seder with his sister, Marjorie Tiven. Neither of his daughters had bat mitzvahs, nor do they follow traditional Jewish practices, such as observing kosher dietary laws or the Sabbath.

Public Image and Lifestyle

Throughout his career, Bloomberg has made remarks that some have considered insulting, derogatory, and misogynistic. In his 1997 autobiography, Bloomberg claimed that during his time on Wall Street, he had "a girlfriend in every city." Additionally, he made remarks like "I'd do her," referring to certain women, which he later clarified meant having a personal relationship. Bloomberg’s staff has stated that he regrets making such "disrespectful" comments about women.

As mayor, Bloomberg chose not to live in Gracie Mansion, the official residence, opting instead for his private home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. By 2013, he owned 13 properties worldwide, including a $20 million Georgian mansion in Southampton, New York, and a historical property in London. He and his daughters also own homes in Bermuda.

Bloomberg has stated that during his tenure as mayor, he frequently rode the New York City Subway, though he was often seen being chauffeured to an express station to avoid transferring between local and express trains.

Bloomberg made cameos in several television shows and films, including The Adjustment Bureau, New Year's Eve, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Law & Order.

Bloomberg is a private pilot and owns several aircraft, including three Dassault Falcon 900s, a Beechcraft B300, a Pilatus PC-24, and a Cessna 182 Skylane, as well as two helicopters: an AW109 and an Airbus helicopter.

Wealth Management

Bloomberg's fortune is managed by Willett Advisors, an investment firm that acts as his family office.

Awards and Honors

In 2024, President Joe Biden awarded Bloomberg the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor.

Bloomberg has received numerous honorary degrees, including from Tufts University (2007), Bard College (2007), Rockefeller University (2007), University of Pennsylvania (2008), Fordham University (2009), Williams College (2014), Harvard University (2014), and others. He was the speaker at Princeton University's 2011 baccalaureate service.

Bloomberg has also been recognized with multiple awards, such as the Yale School of Management’s Distinguished Leadership in Global Capital Markets Award (2003), the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (2004), and the Jefferson Awards Foundation’s U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official (2010). He was the first recipient of the Genesis Prize in 2013.

In 2007 and 2008, Time magazine named Bloomberg the 39th most influential person in the world, and in 2010, Vanity Fair ranked him #7 in its "Vanity Fair 100" list of influential figures.

In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Bloomberg as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic contributions.