Early Life
Vincent Viola was born in 1956 in Brooklyn, New York, to an Italian-American family. His father, an immigrant from Italy, was a truck driver and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Viola attended Brooklyn Technical High School and then the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played sprint football and served as cadet company commander.
Rise to Success
Viola began his business career in 1982 as a trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). He later became the chairman of NYMEX from 2001 to 2004. In 2008, he founded Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm that quickly became a leader in the industry. Virtu Financial went public in 2015, solidifying Viola's success in the financial world. Viola's strategic vision and innovative approach have left a lasting impact on the finance industry.
Key Business Strategies
Viola's primary source of wealth is electronic trading. Virtu Financial specializes in high-frequency trading, leveraging advanced technology to provide liquidity in global markets. He has also made significant investments in real estate, including a beachfront condo in Florida and acquiring a building in Brooklyn. Moreover, Viola is the owner of the Florida Panthers, an NHL team, demonstrating his diverse business interests.
Philanthropy
Viola is involved in various philanthropic endeavors. He helped found the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in 2003. Viola also supports the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Chair in Catholic Theology at Fordham University and the National Children's Educational Reform Foundation, demonstrating his commitment to education and community service.