In our article titled “Robert Brockman 101: Who is the American Billionaire Businessman?” on Zatrun.com, we will delve into everything you need to know about Robert Brockman, the American billionaire businessman that our readers are curious about, in a detailed manner.
Who is Robert Brockman?
Robert Theron Brockman, the former CEO of Ohio-based software company Reynolds & Reynolds, was an American billionaire businessman. He was born on May 28, 1941 in St. Petersburg, Florida to Alfred Eugene Brockman, who owned a gas station, and Pearl, a physical therapist. He had a brother named Thomas David Brockman. Brockman briefly attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and later graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida in 1963, where he was a member of the business honor society.
At the age of 18, Robert Brockman got married in Kentucky and later got divorced. He then married Dorothy Kay Brockman in 1968 and the couple lived in Houston. Brockman is known to be a very private individual and has refused public interviews. He owned a Bombardier private jet, a 209-foot yacht named Turmoil, a 17,000-square-foot home in Houston, and a 5,800-square-foot cabin in Aspen, Colorado. He was a generous donor to Republican groups and causes. On August 6, 2022, Brockman’s attorney, Kathy Keneally, confirmed that he had passed away the previous day. He was 81 years old and had been diagnosed with dementia prior to his death.
Career Life
Robert Brockman began his career in 1964 as a marketing intern at Ford Motors and also became a reservist in the Navy. From 1966 to 1970, he worked at IBM and was the top U.S. salesperson in IBM’s service bureau. In 1970, Brockman founded Universal Computer Systems, which provided computer systems and software to automobile dealerships, in the living room of his home. The company sold its first dealer management system in 1982. The company merged with Reynolds & Reynolds on August 8, 2006, and Brockman became the CEO after the merger.
Tax Fraud Charges
In September 2020, Robert Brockman was indicted on 39 counts in the Northern District of California. He was accused of running a 20-year scheme to conceal approximately $2 billion in income from the IRS. The charges against him included tax evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and failure to disclose offshore assets. Brockman denied the charges and was released on a $1 million bond. He was placed under an IRS assessment for potential tax delinquents who may flee.
In March 2022, Brockman offered $1.45 billion to ease IRS liens on his property and assets. In May 2022, it was decided by Judge George C. Hanks Jr. of the Southern District of the United States that Brockman was fit to stand trial. Brockman was an investor at Vista Equity Partners, founded by Robert F. Smith. In October 2020, Smith reached a limited settlement with the US Department of Justice and agreed to pay a $139 million fine for failing to pay approximately $200 million in taxes. In October 2021, Brockman and Smith were among those listed in the Pandora Papers leak, which exposed the offshore tax havens of hundreds of politicians, businesspeople, and celebrities.
Philanthropy and Board Memberships
In July 2013, Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, announced that it had received a $250 million donation from Robert Brockman’s philanthropic fund. However, the donation was rescinded as the “significant capital markets event” it was tied to did not occur. Brockman donated money to two buildings at Rice University in Houston that bear his name. He also served on the board of directors of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. He served as a member of the Centre College and Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees.
