Patrick McGovern
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph McGovern, Jr. (born August 11, 1937) is the chairman and founder of International Data Group
(IDG), a company that includes subsidiaries in technology publishing, research, event management and venture capital.
He was listed on the Forbes 400
list of the richest Americans in 2007 as having a net worth of $4.7 billion. In 2011, his net worth was $2.7 billion, a decline of 43% from 2007.
Forbes magazine claims he earned a scholarship by designing an unbeatable tic-tac-toe program (now a trivial programming task, but no mean feat in the 1950s). He worked at the MIT student newspaper The Tech on the features staff during his sophomore year. He has been observed to have a remarkable memory and apparently demonstrated it while an undergraduate, according to people who knew him at MIT. McGovern received a degree in course 7, or biology/life sciences, from MIT, in 1959.
For a time, he was an editor of Computers & Automation magazine, the first computer magazine in the world, founded, published and edited by Edmund C. Berkeley. He started International Data Corporation
(IDC
) with a friend, Fred Kirch, in 1964, which produced a computer industry data base and published a newsletter, EDP Industry & Market Report. He started the weekly newspaper Computerworld
in 1967.
He has been divorced once, has four children, and lives in Atherton, California
and Hollis, New Hampshire
. He and his second wife Lore Harp gave MIT $350 million to found the McGovern Institute for Brain Research
. He is a trustee of MIT. He also serves on Society for Science & the Public
's board of trustees.
IDG
International Data Group is a technology media, research, event management, and venture capital organization.IDG evolved from International Data Corporation which was formed in 1964 in Newtonville, Massachusetts, by Patrick Joseph McGovern and a friend, Fred Kirch...
(IDG), a company that includes subsidiaries in technology publishing, research, event management and venture capital.
He was listed on the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
list of the richest Americans in 2007 as having a net worth of $4.7 billion. In 2011, his net worth was $2.7 billion, a decline of 43% from 2007.
Forbes magazine claims he earned a scholarship by designing an unbeatable tic-tac-toe program (now a trivial programming task, but no mean feat in the 1950s). He worked at the MIT student newspaper The Tech on the features staff during his sophomore year. He has been observed to have a remarkable memory and apparently demonstrated it while an undergraduate, according to people who knew him at MIT. McGovern received a degree in course 7, or biology/life sciences, from MIT, in 1959.
For a time, he was an editor of Computers & Automation magazine, the first computer magazine in the world, founded, published and edited by Edmund C. Berkeley. He started International Data Corporation
International Data Corporation
International Data Corporation is a market research and analysis firm specializing in information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology. IDC is a subsidiary of International Data Group...
(IDC
IDC
-Businesses and organizations:* Industrial Development Corporation, also known as Castle Grande, an Arkansas company involved in the Whitewater political controversy* Interactive Data Corporation , a financial services company...
) with a friend, Fred Kirch, in 1964, which produced a computer industry data base and published a newsletter, EDP Industry & Market Report. He started the weekly newspaper Computerworld
Computerworld
Computerworld is an IT magazine that provides information for senior IT leaders. It is published in many countries around the world under the same or similar names. Its publisher is International Data Group. Computerworld serves the needs of IT management via print and online...
in 1967.
He has been divorced once, has four children, and lives in Atherton, California
Atherton, California
Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,914 at the 2010 census. In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed Atherton's zip code of 94027 at #2 on its annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, with a median home price of $4,010,200...
and Hollis, New Hampshire
Hollis, New Hampshire
Hollis is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,684 at the 2010 census. The town center village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Hollis Village Historic District....
. He and his second wife Lore Harp gave MIT $350 million to found the McGovern Institute for Brain Research
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
The McGovern Institute for Brain Research is a research institute within MIT. Its mission is to understand how the brain works and to discover new ways to prevent or treat brain disorders...
. He is a trustee of MIT. He also serves on Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public , formerly known as Science Service, is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of science, through its science education programs and publications, including the weekly Science News magazine.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization...
's board of trustees.
External links
- Official Biography
- MIT announcement of the McGovern Institute
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research website
- Pat McGovern Playlist Appearance on WMBR's Dinnertime Sampler radio show November 3, 2004