Early Life
Dan Gertler was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in December 1973. He is the grandson of Moshe Schnitzer, the founder and first president of the Israel Diamond Exchange. From a young age, Gertler was exposed to the diamond industry, learning the trade from his father and grandfather. At 22, he started his own diamond business.
Rise to Success
Gertler's business career took off in the late 1990s when he entered the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and forged a relationship with Joseph Kabila, son of then-President Laurent Kabila. This relationship led to an exclusive diamond export contract. Gertler expanded his business to include copper, cobalt, and tantalum mines, and in 1996 he founded Dan Gertler International (DGI). He invested in iron ore, gold, oil, and banking.
Key Business Strategies
A key business strategy for Gertler was forming close relationships with key political figures, particularly Joseph Kabila, which helped him secure valuable mining rights. His DGI group of companies has invested in diamonds, iron ore, gold, cobalt, copper, agriculture, and banking. He also partnered with major companies like Glencore. Gertler has also been involved in philanthropic activities through the Gertler Family Foundation, which has supported health, education, and infrastructure projects in the DRC.
Philanthropy
The Gertler Family Foundation (GFF), founded in 2004, has invested millions of dollars in health, education, infrastructure, and emergency assistance in the DRC. The foundation has supported numerous projects, including building hospitals and schools and providing medical supplies. Gertler has also been involved in charitable endeavors in Israel.