Stephen Bronfman

Stephen has remained in his ancestral city of Montreal, the last male Bronfman to do so, with his wife, Claudine Blondin, a former Molson marketing executive, and two young children. Through Claridge, his private equity firm, he has made numerous under-the-radar and so far profitable investments, most notably in high-end organic foods. He stands in stark contrast to his 51-year-old cousin Edgar. Edgar Jr., an American citizen who basks in the far brighter New York City spotlight, was chief executive of Seagram (following in the footsteps of Edgar Sr.) and now runs Warner Music Group. Growing up, Stephen Bronfman had no interest in the family business. Bronfman graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1986, then returned to Montreal, where he worked briefly in the marketing department of the Expos, then owned by his father. Still unsure of a career path, in 1990 he enrolled in Montreal's Concordia University to study geology. In 1991 Bronfman had an about-face. He joined Claridge, the investment firm started by his father. In 1997 the young Bronfman took over Claridge. Bronfman was named to Seagram's board in 1999. His stint lasted for a year and a half, until his cousin engineered a sale of the company to Vivendi Universal , a former water company that bought its way into the record and film business. In 2001 Bronfman created the Claridge Food Group. With 15% of his profits from the Netstar deal Bronfman started a foundation that donates to environmental, educational and Montreal causes.