The OLDEST Public Company CEOs In America (PHOTOS)

By 24/7 Wall Street -- The official retirement age for executives at many large U.S. corporations has been 65 for several decades -- unless the executive also happens to be the founder.

Forty years ago, 65 was considered old. The average life expectancy for a man born in 1900 was 46 and, by 1950, had only risen to 68 . At one time, it made sense to require CEOs to step down at 65.

Now, many people who are 65 years old are in the prime of their lives. The number of people living well into their 90s has soared. There are rare cases of powerful chairmen and CEOs in their 70s and 80s still leading their companies. Surprisingly, the tradition of CEO's retiring around the age of 65 has not changed.

Read the full story here, including all of the CEOs on the list, and check out our favorite CEOs on 24/7 Wall St.'s list below.

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Warren Buffett, 79

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The legendary investor was born in Omaha, NE in 1930. At his father's urging he enrolled and dropped out of Wharton Business School, claiming he knew more than his teachers, and pursued a BA in economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Despite his net worth of $47 billion, Buffet lives in the same $31,500 home he bought in 1957. -- 24/7 Wall Street

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The legendary investor was born in Omaha, NE in 1930. At his father's urging he enrolled and dropped out of Wharton Business School, claiming he knew more than his teachers, and pursued a BA in economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Despite his net worth of $47 billion, Buffet lives in the same $31,500 home he bought in 1957.
-- 24/7 Wall Street

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Showing His Age Sharp As Ever

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Comments

[rotorhead1871]

12:44 AM on 06/05/2010

I hope I have these guys energy at their ages!! excellent collection

[Ozarks]

04:02 PM on 06/04/2010

Lets hope that when Redstone and Murdock pass on, their heirs will dissolve respective empires in the same manner as did Genghis Khan's and Attila the Hun's heirs.

[JScott]

09:18 PM on 06/03/2010

Sumner just quit dyeing your hair you're fooling no one.

[jozie]

03:49 PM on 06/06/2010

Why on earth do you care? Even more, why do you think he would care what you think?

[GrooveGrl4]

04:42 PM on 06/03/2010

Quite literally, our economy is still being run by "the good old boys."

[FoonTheElder]

12:58 PM on 06/03/2010

The founding members of the 'I'll take my billions to the grave' club. Still scwering the world over decades after less greedy people would have retired.

[jozie]

03:51 PM on 06/06/2010

From what I hear Buffet has already named Gates to help donate a good portion of his billions. Just because they are successful, don't assume they are not generous.

[Aurical]

09:42 AM on 06/03/2010

Hey you kids, get off my lawn!