Margaret Cushing Whitman, popularly known as Meg Whitman, was appointed the United States’ ambassador to Kenya in July 2022.
Her appointment was confirmed in a unanimous vote by the U.S. Senate as the 18th US Ambassador to Kenya.
Whitman was born on August 4, 1956, in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Her father, Hendricks Hallett Whitman Jr., was a businessman and her mother, Margaret Cushing, was a homemaker.
Her patrilineal great-great-great-grandfather, Elnathan Whitman, was a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
Additionally, Whitman’s maternal side includes notable figures such as historian and jurist Munroe Smith and General Henry S. Huidekoper.
She graduated from Princeton University in 1977 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. At Princeton, she was a member of the Cap and Gown Club, an eating club on the Princeton campus.
After Princeton, Whitman attended Harvard Business School, graduating with an MBA in 1979. Her time at Harvard Business School helped shape her future career in business and management.
Whitman began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, followed by a stint at Bain & Company as a consultant.
She then took on executive roles at The Walt Disney Company and Hasbro, overseeing global management and marketing of various brands.
Whitman joined eBay in 1998 as President and CEO, leading the company through its initial public offering (IPO) in 1998.
Under her leadership, eBay grew from a small company with 30 employees and $4 million in annual revenue to a global enterprise employing 15,000 people with almost $8 billion in revenue by the time she stepped down in 2008.
She was instrumental in launching initiatives like ‘Buy it Now’ and led the company through significant growth.
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After leaving eBay, Whitman became the CEO of Hewlett-Packard in 2011.
She faced the challenge of reviving the struggling tech giant, which she accomplished through significant restructuring, including the decision to split the company into two separate entities: HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Whitman’s next venture was Quibi, a short-form streaming platform founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Although the platform struggled to gain traction, it was shut down just six months after its launch due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lacklustre performance.
Whitman ran as a Republican candidate for Governor of California in 2010 but was defeated by Jerry Brown.
She was later confirmed as the 18th United States Ambassador to Kenya in 2022, where she focused on strengthening the U.S.-Kenya trade and investment relationship.
Whitman’s net worth is estimated to be around $3.4 billion, approximately Ksh 446 trillion.
Her fortune is primarily composed of her wealth from her successful career in the technology industry, particularly her roles as CEO of eBay and Hewlett-Packard.
Whitman’s tenure as CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008 saw the company’s revenue grow significantly, resulting in substantial wealth accumulation.
Similarly, as CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 2011 to 2018, Whitman played a crucial role in the company’s restructuring and growth.
Her compensation package, including stock options and equity, added to her net worth.
Whitman holds significant stakes in various companies, including eBay, Hewlett-Packard, and other tech firms. Her stock holdings have contributed to her net worth over the years.
Additionally, she owns several properties, including a luxurious home in Atherton, California, which is valued at over $100 million.
Whitman’s net worth breakdown includes her eBay stock holdings, estimated to be worth around $1.5 billion. Her Hewlett-Packard stock holdings are estimated to be worth around $1.2 billion.
Her other investments, including real estate and other stock holdings, are estimated to be worth around $700 million. Her cash reserves and other assets are estimated to be worth around $300 million.
