Irwin L. Jacobs

This article is about the businessman and investor. For the founder of Qualcomm, see Irwin M. Jacobs.
Irwin L. Jacobs
Born(1941-07-15)July 15, 1941
Diedc. April 10, 2019(2019-04-10) (aged 77)
Orono, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Occupation(s)Investor, entrepreneur
Known forCEO of Genmar Holdings; Founder of Cable Value Network
SpouseAlexandra Jacobs
Children5

Irwin L. Jacobs (July 15, 1941 – c. April 10, 2019) was an American businessman. He was the CEO of several large corporations, including the boat-building company Genmar Holdings.[1] He earned the nickname "Irv the Liquidator" for his aggressive business practices in the 1970s and early 1980s.[2] In 1973, Jacobs founded COMB ("Close-out Merchandise Buyers"), a catalog-based mail-order retailer. In 1986, COMB and several cable television operators created the Cable Value Network (CVN), a pioneering television shopping channel which was later purchased by Joseph Segel's QVC.[3] Jacobs, based in Minneapolis, became wealthy by taking big stakes in Fortune 500 conglomerates, usually to unlock value by breaking them up.

  1. ^ Feyder, Susan (June 2, 2009). "Irwin Jacobs' Genmar files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy" Archived 2009-11-02 at the Wayback Machine. Star Tribune.
  2. ^ Pink, Aiden (April 10, 2019). Businessman Irwin Jacobs, Wife Found Dead In Minnesota Mansion, The Forward. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jacobs Trading Company: History". Jacobs Trading Company. Retrieved April 27, 2019.