Henry R. Luce

Date of Birth: April 3, 1898

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: February 28, 1967

Biography

Henry Robinson Luce, born on April 3, 1898, in Tengchow, China, was an influential American magazine editor and publisher. He co-founded Time Inc., a media conglomerate that launched some of the most significant publications in the 20th century, including *Time*, *Life*, *Fortune*, and *Sports Illustrated*. Luce was the son of Presbyterian missionaries and spent his early years in China before attending school in the United States. He graduated from Yale University in 1920, where he was a member of the prestigious secret society, Skull and Bones. Luce’s career began when he teamed up with fellow Yale classmate Briton Hadden to create *Time* magazine in 1923. The magazine revolutionized news dissemination by presenting a concise, easily readable format that appealed to busy Americans. His vision and editorial style shaped American journalism and influenced public opinion for decades. Throughout his career, Luce was a staunch advocate for American exceptionalism and played a pivotal role in shaping the political and cultural landscape of the United States in the 20th century. He was married twice, first to Lila Hotz and then to Clare Boothe Luce, a playwright, congresswoman, and ambassador. Henry R. Luce passed away on February 28, 1967, in Phoenix, Arizona.

5 Interesting Facts about Henry R. Luce

1. Henry Luce co-founded *Time* magazine in 1923 with his Yale classmate Briton Hadden.

2. He was instrumental in launching *Life* magazine in 1936, which became one of the most influential photojournalism publications.

3. Luce coined the term “The American Century” in a 1941 editorial, promoting the idea of American global leadership.

4. He was married to Clare Boothe Luce, a prominent playwright and U.S. Ambassador to Italy.

5. Time Inc. under Luce’s leadership grew to include magazines like *Fortune* (launched in 1930) and *Sports Illustrated* (launched in 1954).

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry R. Luce

1. “I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.”

2. “Business, more than any other occupation, is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight.”

3. “Time is the one thing that can’t be bought, stored, or stopped. It is the one thing we must use wisely.”

4. “There are men who can write poetry, and there are men who can read balance sheets. But there is no one who can do both.”

5. “Publishing is a business, but journalism never was and is not essentially a business. Nor is it a profession.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Henry R. Luce’s net worth was estimated to be around $100 million (equivalent to over $800 million today, adjusted for inflation).