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{{Short description|American businessman (1941–2019)}}{{About|the businessman and investor|the founder of Qualcomm|Irwin M. Jacobs}}

factoids

| birth_place = {{death date and age4194115}}}} | death_place = Orono, Minnesota, U.S.| other_names = | known_for = CEO of Genmar Holdings; Founder of Cable Value Network| education = | networth = | occupation = Investor, entrepreneur| spouse = Alexandra Jacobs| children = 5| parents = | relations = | website = | alma_mater = University of Minnesota}}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.Feyder, Susan (June 2, 2009). “Irwin Jacobs’ Genmar files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy� {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102183757www.startribune.com/business/46664287.html?page=2&c=y |date=2009-11-02 }}. Star Tribune. He earned the nickname “Irv the Liquidator� for his aggressive business practices in the 1970s and early 1980s.Pink, Aiden (April 10, 2019). Businessman Irwin Jacobs, Wife Found Dead In Minnesota Mansion, The Forward. Retrieved April 27, 2019. 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.“Jacobs Trading Company: History�. Jacobs Trading Company. Retrieved April 27, 2019. Jacobs, based in Minneapolis, became wealthy by taking big stakes in Fortune 500 conglomerates, usually to unlock value by breaking them up.

Early life

Jacobs was born to a Jewish family.Bard, Mitchell G. “Ancient Jewish History: Banking & Bankers�. Jewish Virtual Library. Based on material from Encyclopaedia Judaica (2008). Retrieved April 27, 2019. He started his career working with his father at his business, the Northwestern Bag Company. He attended the University of Minnesota for one day to be able to continue working for his father.NEWS, Irwin & Alexandra Jacobs,www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000305736/, 11 April 2021, Star Tribune,

Career

At the age of 33, Jacobs purchased the ailing Grain Belt Brewery in 1975 for $4.1 million with his company I.J. Enterprises. He tried unsuccessfully for eight months to turn around the company, which was losing nearly $200,000 per month. He then liquidated the company, selling the brand to G. Heileman Brewing Company, and profited $4 million.The Wall Street Journal July 30, 1980. He later sold the property that accompanied the brewery to the City of Minneapolis in 1989 for $4.85 million..Star Tribune. February 18, 1989.Jacobs’ next deal netted him even more money. He read about W. T. Grant filing for bankruptcy in The Wall Street Journal and decided to purchase their consumer accounts receivable. He soon after that negotiated a deal where he purchased the $276.3 million account for $44 million and 5% of first years sales..The Wall Street Journal. July 30, 1980Jacobs also owned a minority share of the Minnesota Vikings, which he sold to Mike Lynn in 1991.NEWS, Two part owners of Vikings to Sell,news.google.com/newspapers?id=icc0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=nG4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6943,5286942&dq, 26 July 2012, The Associated Press/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 17, 1991, At the time of his death, Irwin Jacobs owned many businesses. The list included Watkins Incorporated, Jacobs Management Corp., Jacobs Industries, Inc., J.Y.J. Corp., C.O.M.B. Co., Federal Financial Corporation, FFC Realty, Watkins, Inc., Northwestern Bag Corporation, Nationwide Collection Service, Inc., 1. Jacobs Enterprises, Kodicor, Inc., Brown-Minneapolis Tank and Fabricating Co., Regional Accounts Corporation, Nationwide Accounts, Corporation, Jacobs Bag Corporation, Lawndale Industries Inc., EQC of Indiana, Inc., Touch Corporation, JMSL Acquiring Corporation, S.J. Industries, Inc., JII Air Service, Inc., P.S.T. Acquiring Corporation, Jacobs Trading, and J&D Acquisitions LLC.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}Jacobs founded FLW, the parent organization of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, a series of sportfishing tours best known for its bass fishing tournaments. They were developed with an eye toward media coverage in general and television coverage in particular.www.flwoutdoors.com/mc/Irwin%20L.%20Jacobs.doc.pdf" title="web.archive.org/web/20110711014132www.flwoutdoors.com/mc/Irwin%20L.%20Jacobs.doc.pdf">FLW Outdoors: Irwin Jacobs bio

Personal life

Jacobs lived on a 32-acre estate between Lake Minnetonka and Lake Tanager in the Twin Cities suburb of Orono. The house was originally built in 1939 by the son of James Ford Bell, founder of General Mills, and appeared in a few scenes of the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid not long before he bought it at age 30 for $340,000. He and his wife, Alexandra Jacobs, raised five children in the home.Lynn Underwood, “Homegazing: Inside Irwin Jacobs’ retreat on Lake Minnetonka�, Star Tribune, February 22, 2014. Alexandra was an accomplished artist and philanthropist.Williams, Brandt (April 12, 2019). “Irwin Jacobs’ death ruled a suicide, wife Alexandra a homicide�. Minnesota Public Radio. The couple collected eclectic artwork, including a vast array of African ivory purchased from a trader’s collection. The Jacobses put the estate on the market in 2014 for $22 million, but it had not changed hands at the time he died in 2019. The historic mansion was demolished in 2021.WEB By 2019 Alexandra, Jacobs’ wife of 57 years, was using a wheelchair and showing signs of dementia, and he was reported to be distraught over her condition. Their daughter Sheila has cerebral palsy, and he was a major supporter of the Special Olympics, for which he once served as chairman after donating $8 million in 1991.

Death

Jacobs and his wife were found dead of gunshot wounds on a bed in their Orono home on the morning of April 10, 2019. A handgun was found next to them. The Hennepin County medical examiner concluded that Irwin Jacobs shot his wife and then himself.John Reinan (April 12, 2019). “Medical examiner confirms: Jacobs deaths are murder-suicide�. Star-Tribune. accessed April 12, 2019.

References

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