Early Life
Norma Wolkoff was born in 1935 or 1936. Her early life remains relatively private, with limited publicly available information. In 1955, she married Al Lerner, beginning a partnership that would last 47 years until his death in 2002.
Rise to Success
Norma Lerner's significant wealth stems from her marriage to Al Lerner, who founded MBNA, a major credit card company. Al Lerner's career included investing in real estate and acquiring Equitable Bancorp before forming MBNA. The sale of MBNA to Bank of America in 2005 for $35 billion significantly contributed to the family's wealth.
Key Business Strategies
While her husband Al was the primary figure in business, Norma Lerner has been instrumental in managing the family's assets and philanthropic endeavors. Her focus has been on strategic investments and charitable giving, which have helped maintain and grow the family's wealth.
Philanthropy
Norma Lerner is deeply involved in philanthropy, especially through the Lerner Foundation. Her major contributions include founding the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, co-founding the Lerner Research Institute, and serving as a director of the Cleveland Clinic. She also supports arts, culture, education, healthcare, and veterans affairs.