Virginia philanthropist, billionaire Kluge dies at age 95; owned Metromedia broadcasting

Va. philanthropist, billionaire John Kluge dies

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — John Kluge (KLOOG’-ee), who built an investment in a radio station into the Metromedia broadcasting empire, has died. He was 95.

The University of Virginia says Kluge died Tuesday at his home near Charlottesville.

Forbes magazine’s ranked Kluge as the richest man in America from 1989 to 1991 with a net worth of more than $5 billion. He was 35th on the list in 2009.

Rupert Murdoch bought seven TV stations from Metromedia in 1985, enabling him to form the Fox television network.

Kluge also made millions in cell phone and restaurant businesses, and gave hundreds of millions of dollars to Columbia University and other institutions.

Kluge was born in Germany and immigrated as a child. He got into the radio business after World War II.