Nationality United States Name Michael Krasny Role Businessman | Occupation Businessman Religion Judaism Organizations founded CDW | |
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Education University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Net worth 1.29 billion USD (2015) Born 1952/1953 (age 67–68) | ||
Michael Krasny is an American businessman from Illinois. He is the founder and former chief executive officer of CDW Corporation, a direct seller of technical gadgets including computers and networking equipment.
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Early life
Krasny grew up in a Jewish family in Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He worked as a Toyota car salesman at his father's auto dealership in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In 1981, he quit his job as a car salesman and took some classes in computer programming but being unsuccessful in finding steady work, Krasny was forced to sell his own computer for cash. He placed a $3 ad in the Chicago Tribune and ended up selling his computer for a $200 profit.
Career and retirement
Seeing the great demand for computers, Krasny began buying computers in order to resell them eventually forming MPK Computers. A year later he changed the name to Computer Discount Warehouse (CDW) and steadily grew the business. In 1993, he took CDW public. Krasny retired in 2007 after selling the company to Madison Dearborn Partners for $7.3 billion.
According to Forbes, his first caller from 1982 is still a customer (as of 2000).[1]
Since 2009, as a hobby, Krasny has operated a woodworking shop, making plaques and awards, in Northbrook, Illinois called Custom Woodworking Design.
Personal life
Krasny is married with one child. They live in Highland Park, Illinois.