Early Life
William A. Goldring was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in either 1942 or 1943. He is the son of Stephen Goldring and Mathilde "Teal" Goldring. Goldring grew up in New Orleans and earned a bachelor's degree in business from Tulane University.
Rise to Success
Goldring took over the family's alcohol business in the 1960s. He is the chairman of the Sazerac Company, one of the largest liquor distillers in the US. He also serves as the chairman of Crescent Crown Distributing, the second-largest beer wholesaler in the US. Under Goldring's leadership, Sazerac's portfolio includes over 500 alcohol brands and a dozen distilleries across several countries. Notable brands under Sazerac include Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Southern Comfort, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, and Myers's Rum. He grew the family's wholesaling operations and sold their stake in 2010 for an estimated $400 million. Goldring's acquisitions expanded Sazerac's brand portfolio.
Key Business Strategies
Goldring's strategy includes strategic acquisitions and investments. In 2024, Sazerac acquired BuzzBallz line of premixed cocktails for an estimated $400 million. Sazerac is also investing in production capacity and making significant investments to boost production of their aging whiskies. The company is also expanding into new markets, with India identified as a key priority. Sazerac's revenue reached $5 billion as of July 2025.
Philanthropy
Goldring is a member of the board of Tulane University and on the board of trustees of The National WWII Museum, New Orleans. His family established the Goldring Family Foundation. The Goldring Family Foundation supports a wide range of cities across the United States and Canada.