Early Life and Military Service
Vincent Viola was born in 1956 in Brooklyn, New York, to an Italian-American family. His father, a World War II veteran and truck driver, instilled in him a strong work ethic. Viola graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played on the sprint football team and was a cadet company commander. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1977 and served in the 101st Airborne Division.
Rise to Success
Viola began his business career in 1982 as a trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). He later founded Pioneer Futures in 1985. In 2001, he became the chairman of NYMEX. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Virtu Financial in 2008, a high-frequency trading firm that revolutionized the trading industry. Virtu Financial went public in 2015.
Key Business Strategies
Viola's success is attributed to his strategic vision and innovative approach to electronic trading. His leadership at Virtu Financial has been marked by technological advancements and a focus on efficiency in the global financial markets. He is also the owner of the Florida Panthers, which he purchased in 2013 for $250 million, and has since seen the team's value increase significantly.
Philanthropy
Viola is actively involved in philanthropy. He founded the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point and has supported various military and educational initiatives. He has also endowed the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Chair in Catholic Theology at Fordham University. His total lifetime giving is $42.1 million.