Whitney MacMillan Net Worth, Biography and Career

Whitney MacMillan Net Worth  $5 billion

Whitney MacMillan, who passed on in March 2020, was an American billionaire businessman and heir to his family’s business Cargill. He led the company as its chairman and chief executive officer for almost two decades, starting from 1976 until 1995.

He stepped down from leadership roles at Cargill due to his age and declining health. However, before he relinquished his position at the company at the age of 66. Mr. MacMillan has made great strides in the business that was handed to him by his late father and had helped the company accomplish several set goals that eventually led it to become one of America’s most prosperous businesses.

After retiring, the former chief executive officer had a life of lavish waiting for him and his family thanks to his stake in the highly successful company, which was worth around $3 billion. Respectfully, all that wealth didn’t come from nothing, though.

During his reign as the chief executive officer of Cargill, the company grew from a $10 billion corporation to an establishment worth more than $133 billion in revenue per year. He was able to achieve this magnificent feat by diversifying the assets and investments of the company.

Through his vision, Cargill grew from a medium-income earning venture into one of the biggest names in the industry and became the largest privately held enterprise in the world. More details follow in the article below.

Early Life: Childhood, Education

Whitney MacMillan was born in the United States on September 25, 1929, to Pauline Whitney and Cargill Macmillan Sr. His great-grandfather was William Wallace Cargill, the genius who founded Cargill over a century ago.

Mr. MacMillan was an intelligent and educated man. He attended Yale University, graduating with his bachelor’s degree upon completing his 4-year-long studies at the prestigious institution.

His siblings included one sister, Pauline MacMillan Keinath, and one brother, Cargill MacMillan Jr. (deceased).

Professional Life: Business Career

MacMillan was the last member of his family to serve as the chief executive officer of Cargill when he maintained the post from 1976 to 1995. Under his reign, the company’s annual turnover went from $10 to more than $133 billion over ten years.

By the 1980s, MacMillan had led the company to become the largest grain company in the world, outstripping its European rivals.

He also worked as a director of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund. In addition, he owned and managed a cattle ranch in Park, Sweet Grass, and Fergus counties in Montana.

Personal Life: Wife, Children, Private Interests, Philanthropy

The late businessman lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was married to Betty MacMillan. He was 90 years old when he died on March 11, 2020, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Devoted to philanthropic causes during his lifetime, Mr. MacMillan served on the board of directors of several organizations such as Yale University’s president’s council on international activities,

the Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy in Bozeman, Montana, the Ruckelshaus Institute, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, the Trilateral Commission, the Rural Development Institute, the Salzburg Global Seminar, and the International Peace Institute. Furthermore, he served on the National Advisory Board of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.

Mr. MacMillan was a member of the National Academy of Sciences board on agriculture and natural resources and was also on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations, Mayo Clinic, Care International, and the EastWest Institute. Due to his contributions to several causes, Yale University named its Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies after him.

Achievements: Awards, Honors

In 2002, Montana State University-Bozeman presented Whitney MacMillan with an honorary doctorate. His accomplishments have been identified and recognized by numerous articles in journals where he was hailed as an inspiring philanthropist and business leader.

He was a teacher and executive fellow at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Business in Minnesota.

Whitney MacMillan Net Worth: Salary, Income Sources, Assets

Prior to his demise, Whitney MacMillan, considered to be the wealthiest person in Minnesota, was more than 5 billion dollars rich. His substantial net worth was accumulated through his former position as the main heir to the famous Cargill fortune.

He led his family’s business as chairman and chief executive officer before stepping down from those roles at the age of 66. Cargill ascended to the pinnacle of success in the grain industry, thanks to the hard work and efforts of this businessman during his reign at the helm of affairs.

Through his wise counsel and business intelligence, Mr. MacMillan grew Cargill from the position it was when he inherited it and successfully led it to become one of the biggest names in the American business scene.