Henry Kravis Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henry Kravis.

Henry Kravis is an American businessman and co-founder of the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR). He was born on January 6, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kravis attended Claremont McKenna College and later pursued his MBA at Columbia Business School.

In 1976, Kravis, along with his cousin George Roberts and their colleague Jerome Kohlberg, founded KKR, which went on to become one of the most influential private equity firms globally. Notably, KKR is known for business takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and restructuring struggling companies to achieve profitability.

Kravis is widely recognized for his role in pioneering the leveraged buyout industry. He gained prominence in the 1980s with several high-profile acquisitions, including the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1989, which at the time was the largest leveraged buyout in history.

Throughout his career, Kravis has played an instrumental role in shaping the private equity industry and contributing to its growth and development. He has steered KKR towards success, making it a prominent player in investment management and asset management services.

Kravis is also engaged in philanthropic work, actively supporting various causes and organizations. His contributions include significant donations to educational institutions, medical research, and cultural institutions.

With his extensive experience in finance and business, Henry Kravis continues to be regarded as a prominent figure in the private equity industry and a philanthropist aiming to make a positive impact on society.

You only have one thing to sell in life, and that's yourself

You only have one thing to sell in life, and that's yourself.

Henry Kravis


I was an economics major in college, and every summer after

I was an economics major in college, and every summer after school, I would drive my car from California, from Claremont men's college at the time, to New York. And I worked on Wall Street.

Henry Kravis


As I said there is nothing wrong with failing. Pick yourself

As I said there is nothing wrong with failing. Pick yourself up and try it again. You never are going to know how good you really are until you go out and face failure.

Henry Kravis


I love the ability to work with very good managers, and to p

I love the ability to work with very good managers, and to provide the right incentives for them, and truly become a partner with that management, and make that management take a long view.

Henry Kravis

Work Love Ability Rights

If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy

If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.

Henry Kravis

Money

If you build that foundation, both the moral and the ethical

If you build that foundation, both the moral and the ethical foundation, as well as the business foundation, and the experience foundation, then the building won't crumble.

Henry Kravis

Experience