Early Life
Henry Ross Perot Jr. was born on November 7, 1958, in Dallas, Texas. He is the son of Margot and H. Ross Perot Sr., a successful businessman and former U.S. presidential candidate. Perot Jr. graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas in 1977 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree from Vanderbilt University. He served in the United States Air Force for eight and a half years.
Rise to Success
Perot Jr. began his entrepreneurial journey by following in his father's footsteps. He founded Hillwood in 1988, focusing on real estate development. His most notable project is the AllianceTexas development, a massive 27,000-acre master-planned community anchored by the Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. AllianceTexas has become a significant logistics hub, hosting over 590 companies and generating billions of dollars in economic impact for the region. He also developed the Fort Worth Alliance Airport, the world’s first industrial airport.
Key Business Strategies
Perot Jr.'s business strategy has focused on identifying and developing strategic locations for industrial and commercial properties. He has leveraged public-private partnerships to facilitate large-scale projects like AllianceTexas. His approach involves acquiring significant land holdings and developing them into comprehensive logistics and business hubs. The Perot Group also manages the family's investments in real estate, oil and gas, and financial investments.
Philanthropy
The Perot family is well-known for its philanthropic endeavors. Ross Perot Jr. and his wife, Sarah, have continued this tradition through the Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. Foundation. The family has contributed significantly to various causes, including education, arts, and medicine. They support initiatives at UT Southwestern Medical Center and have established scholarships for military families through the Army Scholarship Foundation.