Ross Perot Is Dead at 89

Billionaire philanthropist and twice-independent presidential candidate Ross Perot dies. He was 89.
By M. Corey Goldman ,

Billionaire philanthropist and twice-independent presidential candidate Ross Perot has died. He was 89.

Perot, who ran for president twice in 1992 and 1996, died after a five-month battle with leukemia, a representative for the Perot family confirmed with CNBC on Tuesday.

The spokesperson said in a statement that Perot died early Tuesday morning at his home in Dallas, and that he was surrounded by family. 

"Mr. Perot was a true patriot and a dedicated humanitarian. He will be missed greatly," he told the network.

Perot is survived by his wife, Margot, his five children and 16 grandchildren.

An early tech entrepreneur when they were few and far between, Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962 with $1,000 in savings. Some 20 years later, he founded information technology services provider Perot Systems, which was acquired in 2009 by Dell for $3.9 billion.

"Most people give up when they're about to achieve success," Perot told TheStreet.com back in 2014 as part of a series on millionaires' secrets to wealth. "They quit at the one-yard line. They give up one foot from the winning touchdown."

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