Date of Birth: May 15, 1905
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Date of Death: August 30, 1970
Biography
Abraham Zapruder was a prominent American businessman best known for his accidental filming of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Born in the Russian Empire, Zapruder emigrated to the United States with his family in 1920, eventually settling in Dallas, Texas. He co-founded Jennifer Juniors, Inc., a company that specialized in producing high-quality women’s clothing. Despite his business achievements, Zapruder’s life took a historic turn when he captured the tragic event that unfolded in Dealey Plaza, forever linking his name with one of the most significant moments in American history. His film became a crucial piece of evidence in multiple investigations and remains one of the most analyzed pieces of footage ever recorded.
5 Interesting Facts about Abraham Zapruder
1. Abraham Zapruder originally intended to leave his camera at home on the day of the Kennedy assassination but decided to bring it after being encouraged by his assistant.
2. The 26.6-second Zapruder film contains 486 frames, each capturing a moment of the assassination.
3. Life Magazine purchased the rights to the Zapruder film for $150,000, equivalent to about $1.2 million today.
4. Zapruder donated $25,000 of the film’s proceeds to the widow of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, who was also killed on the day of the assassination.
5. His film was key evidence in the Warren Commission’s investigation into the Kennedy assassination.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Abraham Zapruder
1. “I started shooting the pictures and, as I was doing that, I heard a shot and saw the president lean over to the left.”
2. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing through my viewfinder.”
3. “It was a tragic event, and I happened to be there with my camera.”
4. “I wanted to be as helpful as I could in what was a very dark time for America.”
5. “Capturing those moments was not something I would have chosen, but it was my duty to share it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Abraham Zapruder was estimated to be around $1 million, largely due to his business ventures and the sale of the Zapruder film.
Children
Abraham Zapruder had two children: Henry Zapruder and Myrna Ries. Both children were involved in managing the rights and legacy of the Zapruder film.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography on History.com](https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-zapruder
2. [Zapruder Film on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapruder_film
3. [Life Magazine Purchase](https://www.life.com/history/zapruder-film-story/
4. [Warren Commission Report](https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report
5. [Donation to J.D. Tippit’s Widow](https://www.jdtippit.com/abraham-zapruder