The Roberts family is one of America’s most influential in the field of media and broadcasting due to their ownership and controlling interest in the Philadelphia-based Comcast empire.
Comcast was founded by family patriarch Ralph Joel Roberts, who served as its chief executive officer for 46 years. Roberts and his partners first started in the industry by purchasing local antenna television stations in more rural areas. In 1969, they incorporated Comcast, a combination of “communications” and “broadcasting”.
In 1942, at the age of 22, Roberts married actress and playwright Suzanne Fleisher. Together, they had five children: Catherine, Lisa, Ralph Jr. (Rob), Brian and Douglas. Brian Roberts succeeded his father as CEO of Comcast upon Ralph’s death in 2015. Brian has held the position of President of the Comcast corporation since 1990.
Currently, the Roberts family holds a 33 per cent share of voting power in Comcast. Their net worth has been estimated by Forbes to be $1.8 billion. Brian is the only second-generation to take a significantly active role in the day-to-day operations of the company. Ralph Jr. holds the title of Chairman but that is the extent of his involvement.