Kenneth Chenault is a well-known American business executive who served as CEO and Chairman of American Express for eighteen years (2001-2018). In addition, he is only the third African American CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name: | Kenneth Chenault |
| Real Name/Full Name: | Kenneth Irvine Chenault |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 72 years old |
| Birth Date: | 2 June 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Mineola, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Weight: | 81 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Wife/Spouse (Name): | Kathryn Chenault (m. 1977) |
| Children/Kids (Son and Daughter): | Yes (Kevin Chenault, Kenneth Jr. Chenault) |
| Dating/Girlfriend (Name): | N/A |
| Is Kenneth Chenault Gay?: | No |
| Profession: | Business executive |
| Salary: | N/A |
| Net Worth in 2024: | $120 million |
Kenneth Chenault Biography
Kenneth Irvine Chenault was born in Mineola, New York, to parents Hortenius Chenault and Anne Chenault on June 2, 1951. His father was a dentist and hygienist who attended Morehouse College and Howard University Dental School. His father received the highest ever recorded score on the New York State dental exam, which was not broken until 2014.
Chenault graduated from the Waldorf School of Garden City, where he was class president. He went on to Bowdoin College, where he received his B.A. in history in 1973. In 1976, he also received his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.
Kenneth Chenault Age, Height, Weight
Kenneth Chenault was born on June 2, 1951, and is 72 years old as of 2024. His height is 1.72 meters and his weight is 81 kilograms.
Career
Kenneth Chenault began his legal career in 1977 as an associate at the law firm Rogers & Wells. He worked as a consultant for Bain & Company from 1979 to 1981. He joined American Express in 1981 as a member of the Strategic Planning Group. He was named president and chief operating officer in 1977, and by the end of 2011, Chenault had been named CEO of American Express.
He has served on several boards throughout his career. In 2007, he joined the Business Roundtable’s Executive Committee and the Council on Foreign Relations. He was appointed to The Business Council’s Executive Committee in 2011.
Chenault stepped down as chairman of American Express in February 2018, and was succeeded by Stephen J. Squeri. He resigned from the boards of IBM and Procter & Gamble the same year. Chenault later became the chairman and managing director of venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners. He also joined Airbnb’s board of directors.
In 2018, he also served on Facebook’s board of directors. In 2020, he stepped down from the Facebook board and was appointed to the board of multinational conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway, replacing Bill Gates.
Kenneth Chenault Achievements and Awards
Kenneth Chenault has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his distinguished career. He was named one of 50 “living pioneers” in the African-American community in 1995.
Chenault was inducted into the Junior Achievement United States Business Hall of Fame in 2002. He delivered the commencement address at Howard University in 2008. Chenault was invited to give the commencement speech at Wake Forest University and Northeastern University the following year.
The Old North Foundation presented him with the Third Lantern Award for individual commitment and dedication to public service in 2010. In 2014, he was appointed President of Harvard Corporation.
He was appointed Chair of the Advisory Council for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2017. Chenault was elected to the NCAA Board of Governors in 2019.
Kenneth Chenault’s Net Worth in 2024
Kenneth Chenault’s net worth is estimated to be more than $120 million as of March 2024. He amassed such a large fortune as a result of his successful career as a business executive.
Kenneth Chenault received $90 million in total compensation as American Express CEO in 2007-08. The following year, he received a total compensation of $10 million, including a $2 million base salary, a $1 million cash bonus, and a $3 million option grant. His total compensation had risen to $16 million per year by the end of 2016.
Chenault also amassed a sizable fortune by serving on the boards of several multinational corporations, including Facebook, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Berkshire Hathaway, and many others.
Kenneth Chenault is a well-known businessman around the world. He began his career as an associate and worked his way up to the position of CEO of American Express through hard work, dedication, and passion. He is regarded as an inspiration to aspiring young businessmen and entrepreneurs.
Kenneth Chenault Wife, Marriage
In 1977, Chenault married Kathryn Chenault. They have two children, Kevin Chenault and Kenneth Jr. Chenault, who they raised together. He is a member of the Westchester Country Club and the fraternity Phi Beta Sigma. He has kept his personal life out of the spotlight and lives happily with his wife and children in New Rochelle, New York.
