{{Short description|American investment banker and political donor (1940–2021)}} {{Use American English|date=April 2017}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Foster Friess | image = Foster Friess 2017.jpg | caption = Friess in March 2017 | birth_name = Foster Stephen Friess | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|4|2}} | birth_place = Rice Lake, Wisconsin, US | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|5|27|1940|4|2}} | death_place = Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. | political_party = Republican | occupation = {{flatlist| *Businessman *politician *philanthropist *political donor}} | spouse = {{marriage|Lynnette Estes|1962}} | children = 4 | net_worth = | education = University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA) | module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |branch = United States Army |service_years = 1960–1965 |rank = Captain }} }} '''Foster Stephen Friess''' (April 2, 1940 – May 27, 2021) was an American investment manager and prominent donor to the Republican Party and to Christian right causes. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Wyoming in the 2018 election, losing in the primary to state treasurer Mark Gordon. In 1999, CNBC dubbed Friess one of the "century's great investors".<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Barker |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_29/b3741112.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010712110650/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_29/b3741112.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2001 |title=Buy-and-Hold Isn't His Style |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=July 16, 2001 |access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> In a 2001 article, ''BusinessWeek'' suggested Friess "may be the longest-surviving successful growth-stock picker, having navigated markets for 36 years, in his own firm since 1974."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001 |title=Buy-and-Hold Isn't His Style |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2001-07-15/buy-and-hold-isnt-his-style |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916065750/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2001-07-15/buy-and-hold-isnt-his-style |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |access-date=September 17, 2025 |work=BusinessWeek }}</ref>
==Early life and education== Friess was born on April 2, 1940 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, the son of Ethel (Foster) and Albert Friess.<ref name="nyt-obit">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/us/politics/foster-friess-dead.html|title = Foster Friess, Big Donor to Republicans, Dies at 81|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 29, 2021|last1 = Genzlinger|first1 = Neil}}</ref> His father was a cattle rancher and he grew up on the farm.<ref name="nyt-obit" /> As a student at Rice Lake High School in Rice Lake, Friess was valedictorian of his class and a member of the basketball and track teams.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice Lake Sports Hall of Fame: 2003 Inductees |publisher=Rice Lake Area School District |url=http://www.ricelake.k12.wi.us/rlhs/rlhs_hall2003.cfm |date=October 2, 2009 |access-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001230502/http://www.ricelake.k12.wi.us/rlhs/rlhs_hall2003.cfm |archive-date=October 1, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A first-generation college graduate, Friess attended the University of Wisconsin (now University of Wisconsin–Madison), where he earned a degree in business administration. As a student, he served as president of Chi Phi fraternity, enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and was named one of the "ten most outstanding senior men." In 1962, he married fellow student Lynnette Estes, with whom he had four children.<ref name="cowb_Wyom">{{Cite web |title=Wyoming Philanthropist & Businessman Foster Friess Died Thursday {{!}} Cowboy State Daily |work=Cowboy State Daily |date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |url= https://cowboystatedaily.com/2021/05/27/wyoming-philanthropist-businessman-foster-friess-died-thursday/}}</ref> Friess was a born-again Christian.<ref name="huff_Fost">{{Cite web |title=Foster Friess, Prominent GOP Donor, Dies At 81 |last=Ruiz-Grossman |first=Sarah |work=HuffPost UK |date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |url= https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/foster-friess-republican-megadonor-dead_n_60b00477e4b06da8bd7474a3?ri18n=true}}</ref>
==Career== After graduating from college, Friess trained to be an infantry platoon leader and served as the intelligence officer for the 1st Guided Missile Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas. In 1965, he began his investment career, joining the Brittingham family-controlled NYSE member firm in Wilmington, Delaware, where he eventually rose to the position of director of research.<ref name="cowb_Wyom"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARAWAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Foster+Friess%22+%22Director+of+Research%22|title=Morningstar Mutual Fund 500|publisher=McGraw-Hill School Education Group|year=1993|page=7|isbn=9781556230721}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA265|title=Imprimis|volume=32–34|publisher=Center for Constructive Alternatives, Hillsdale College|year=2003|isbn=9781581129052}}</ref>
In 1974, Friess and his wife launched their own investment management firm, Friess Associates, LLC. Although success came slowly in its early years, the firm grew to over $15.7 billion in assets managed. ''Forbes'' named the Brandywine Fund, a Friess Associates flagship that boasted an average of 20% annual gains in the decade ending in 1990, as one of the decade's top performers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brandywinefunds.com/bfunds.nsf?Open |title=Friess Associates |publisher=Brandywinefunds.com |date=August 8, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911041156/http://www.brandywinefunds.com/bfunds.nsf?Open |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2001, Friess Associates partnered with Affiliated Managers Group (AMG), an asset-management firm, to facilitate succession planning and to spread ownership among its partners. AMG acquired a majority interest in Friess Associates in October 2001 and held a 70% interest as of September 2011. A broad group of Friess partners, including senior management and researchers, held 20% equity ownership, while the Friess family retained 10%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brandywinefunds.com/bfunds.nsf/vt1/GCFAF0A242CBEB6A0185256F23006348F9?Open |title=Friess Associates : AMG Partnership |publisher=Brandywinefunds.com |date=n.d. |access-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911041114/http://www.brandywinefunds.com/bfunds.nsf/vt1/GCFAF0A242CBEB6A0185256F23006348F9?Open |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company was purchased by its employees in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Baert | first = Rick | title = Friess employees to buy back firm from AMG | work = Pensions & Investments | access-date = October 8, 2014 | date = July 4, 2013 | url = http://www.pionline.com/article/20130704/ONLINE/130709936/friess-employees-to-buy-back-firm-from-amg }}</ref>
==Political activism== [[File:Friessricelakechronotype032812 (Excerpt).jpg|thumb|right|Excerpt from a pro-Santorum newspaper advertisement funded by Friess ahead of the 2012 Wisconsin primary]] [[File:Foster Friess (8568129286).jpg|thumb|Friess speaking at CPAC 2013]] Friess was a longtime Republican Party mega-donor, giving millions of dollars to Republican and conservative causes,<ref>Sharon Bernstein & Brendan O'Brien, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election/wyoming-secretary-of-state-set-to-win-republican-gubernatorial-primary-idUSKCN1L625L Wyoming secretary of state set to win Republican gubernatorial primary], Reuters (August 21, 2018): "Republican mega-donor Foster Friess"</ref><ref>Dan Eggen & T.W. Farnam, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/super-pac-donors-revealed-who-are-the-power-players-in-the-gop-primary/2012/02/21/gIQAPU3BSR_story.html Super PAC donors revealed: Who are the power players in the GOP primary?], ''Washington Post'' (February 21, 2012): "Friess has been a longtime fixture in GOP political circles, giving millions of dollars to, among others, the Republican Governors Association and groups headed by the conservative Koch brothers."</ref> especially on the Christian right.<ref name=Kilgore>Ed Kilgore, [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/08/trump-endorses-billionaire-friess-in-wyoming-primary.html Trump Endorses Right-Wing Billionaire Foster Friess in Wyoming Gubernatorial Primary], ''New York'' (August 21, 2018): "Friess ... personally bankrolled much of Rick Santorum’s 2012 presidential campaign, which posed the one major threat to Mitt Romney’s nomination in the GOP primaries. And his Christian right cultural views...:"</ref><ref>Jo Becker, [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/us/politics/ralph-reed-hopes-to-nudge-mitt-romney-to-a-victory.html An Evangelical Is Back From Exile, Lifting Romney], ''New York Times'' (September 22, 2012): "Friess is a patron of religious conservative causes"</ref>
Friess donated $250,000 to Rick Santorum's re-election campaign in 2006, and at least the same amount to the Republican Governors' Association.<ref name="MSN01">Isikoff, Michael, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216012522/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/04/9958729-wealthy-wyoming-investment-fund-manager-bankrolling-pro-santorum-super-pac "Wealthy Wyoming investment fund manager bankrolling pro-Santorum Super PAC"], NBC News, January 4, 2012.</ref> Friess largely funded Santorum's unsuccessful campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.<ref name=Kilgore/> Friess was instrumental in keeping Santorum's flagging campaign alive by financing a super PAC, the Red, White and Blue Fund, which ran television advertisements on behalf of Santorum, who was unable to run a television campaign with his own funds.<ref>Chrystia Freeland, ''Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else'', New York: The Penguin Press, 2012, p. 246</ref> According to campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission, Friess' contributions to the Red, White and Blue Fund were more than 40% of its total assets, or $331,000 as of December 31, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00503417/763572/ |title=FEC Disclosure Form 3 for RED WHITE AND BLUE FUND |publisher=Federal Election Commission |date=December 31, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714072915/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00503417/763572/ |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=donors />
In the wake of the 2012 New Hampshire Republican primary, and before the South Carolina primary, Friess told ''Politico'' that he was "putting together a challenge grant to encourage other wealthy donors to give to the Red, White and Blue Fund, ... he said [the fund] received a $1 million check" the day after the New Hampshire vote.<ref>Kenneth P. Vogel, "[https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71358_Page2.html 3 billionaires who'll drag out the race]", ''Politico'', 2012-01-12, Retrieved January 16, 2012.</ref> The million-dollar donation was conveyed in four checks between November 2011 and January 2012.<ref name=donors />
In addition to Santorum's faith, opposition to women’s abortion rights, and hawkish foreign policy leanings, the possibility of defeating incumbent President Barack Obama was a major component of Friess's decision to back Santorum's campaign.<ref name="RutenbergConfessore">{{cite news|last1=Rutenberg|first1=Jim|last2=Confessore|first2=Nicholas|title="Benefactor Likes Santorum Odds" (limited no-charge access)|work=The New York Times|date=February 9, 2012|access-date=February 9, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/us/politics/foster-friess-a-deep-pocketed-santorum-super-pac-backer.html}}</ref> Friess reportedly considered major contributions to American Crossroads, the super PAC founded by Republican National Committee chair Ed Gillespie and Karl Rove, a former White House strategist for President George W. Bush .<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xd3EuIGHWpAC&q=american%20crossroads%20karl%20rove&pg=PA5|title=Boss Rove: Inside Karl Rove's Secret Kingdom of Power|last=Unger|first=Craig|date=September 4, 2012|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781451694932|location=New York|pages=5|language=en}}</ref><ref>Molly Redden, "[http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/100503/rick-santorum-billionaire-donor-foster-friess Pac Man: An eccentric Republican billionaire contemplates his next move]", ''The New Republic'', February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref>
Friess also donated $100,000 to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to help defeat the Democrats' recall effort in 2011. He reportedly invested more than $3 million in conservative commentator Tucker Carlson's ''The Daily Caller'' website.<ref name="MSN01"/> At one of the semi-annual, private seminars held by the Koch brothers in June 2011, Friess was recognized for his donation exceeding $1 million to the Kochs' political activities.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Gavin | last=Aronsen | url=http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/koch-brothers-million-dollar-donor-club | title=The Koch Brothers' Million-Dollar Donor Club | work=Mother Jones | date=September 6, 2011 | access-date=}}</ref>
While being interviewed by NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell regarding contraception, Friess said, "... this contraceptive thing, my gosh, it's so–it's such–inexpensive, you know, back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly."<ref name=donors>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/super-pac-donors-revealed-who-are-the-power-players-in-the-gop-primary/2012/02/21/gIQAPU3BSR_story.html |author1=Dan Eggen |author2=T.W. Farnam |newspaper=Washington Post|title=Super PAC donors revealed: Who are the power players in the GOP primary? |date=February 21, 2012|access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="joke">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/foster-friess-aspirin-joke-shows-danger-to-candidates-of-outside-political-groups/2012/02/17/gIQA3VB6JR_story.html |last=Eggen|first=Dan|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Foster Friess aspirin joke shows danger to candidates of outside political groups|date=February 17, 2012|access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> Friess later apologized for the comment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montopoli |first=Brian |date=2012-02-17 |title=Santorum backer Foster Friess apologizes for contraception comment - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/santorum-backer-foster-friess-apologizes-for-contraception-comment/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Friess was also an advisor to Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization to which he donated seed money.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-07/conservative-boy-wonder|title=This Boy Wonder Is Building the Conservative MoveOn.org in an Illinois Garage|author=|date=May 7, 2015|publisher=|access-date=April 27, 2017|via=www.Bloomberg.com}}</ref> In October 2017, he said that he was exploring a possible candidacy for the Senate challenging Wyoming Senator John Barrasso for the Republican nomination,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/10/09/gop-megadonor-foster-friess-exploring-a-run-for-u-s-senate-in-wyoming/|title=GOP megadonor Foster Friess exploring a run for U.S. Senate in Wyoming|first=Robert|last=Costa|date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=December 18, 2017}}</ref> at the request of Steve Bannon.<ref name="Spina">[http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/jacksonite-friess-to-run-for-wyoming-governor/article_e4872c44-8989-526f-81b2-49282e82c160.html Jacksonite Friess to run for Wyoming governor], ''Jackson Hole News and Guide'', John Spina, April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.</ref> However, in April 2018, he instead decided to enter the crowded Republican field to replace term-limited Governor Matt Mead. Friess was defeated in the primary, coming in second to State Treasurer Mark Gordon by 38,951 votes (33%) to 29,842 (25.3%).<ref name="Spina" />
==Philanthropy== Friess and his wife ran the Friess Family Foundation, which declares its activities as including the support of Christian mobile medical services, sponsoring Water Mission's work to provide clean water in Malawi, and donating to relief and recovery efforts following natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fosterfriess.com/key-issues/carrying-others-burdens/carrying-others-burdens-friess-family-foundation/|title=Carrying Others Burdens – Friess Family Foundation|author=|date=|work=FosterFriess.com|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216150616/http://fosterfriess.com/key-issues/carrying-others-burdens/carrying-others-burdens-friess-family-foundation/|archive-date=February 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Friess sponsored a matching grant program to raise $2 million for relief efforts for the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and traveled to the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami in order to speak with local church and organization leaders to identify the best efforts to support.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalchristian.com/web/1/friess.asp?s=776&p |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130091255/http://www.nationalchristian.com/web/1/friess.asp?s=776&p |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title=Foster Friess |publisher=Nationalchristian.com |access-date=September 19, 2011 }}</ref> He sponsored another matching grant for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, raising more than $4 million.<ref name="autogenerated1" />
Friess supported Community Options, a national nonprofit which develops housing and employment for people with disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Reeta |title=Community Options' Advocate, Foster Friess, Passes Away at the Age of 81 {{!}} Community Options, Inc. |url=https://www.comop.org/community-options-advocate-foster-friess-passes-away-at-the-age-of-81/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.comop.org |language=en-US}}</ref> He supported a YMCA development in Maryvale, Arizona, along with several local mentoring and ministry programs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Debons |first=Amanda |url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/04/07/20080407phx-ymca0409.html |title=Opening of Maryvale YMCA celebrated |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=April 7, 2008 |access-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606030041/http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/04/07/20080407phx-ymca0409.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the principal donor behind the Friess Family Community Campus, a $3.7 million complex equipped with football, baseball, softball fields, and a track at Rice Lake High School in his hometown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ricelake.k12.wi.us/dis_boebldgsgrnds.cfm |title=Board of Education – Buildings and Grounds Committee |publisher=RiceLake.k12.wi.us |access-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916100420/http://www.ricelake.k12.wi.us/dis_boebldgsgrnds.cfm |archive-date=September 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Friess gained fame when news of his 70th birthday party spread.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://philanthropy.com/article/A-Billionaires-Birthday/159481|title=A Billionaire's Birthday Benefits Charity|author=|date=November 28, 2010|work=Philanthropy.com|access-date=April 27, 2017}}</ref> At the lavish event he announced that he would give one charity nominated by his guests $70,000. He surprised his guests by giving each of their favorite charities $70,000, totaling over $7 million.<ref name="WyoFile2012">{{Cite web |author=Ben Gose |date=January 17, 2012 |title=Wyoming Philanthropist Foster Friess: Hates taxes, opens wallet wide to those in need |url=https://www.wyofile.com/foster-friess/ |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=WyoFile}}</ref> In addition he was the primary donor to a Classical Christian school, Jackson Hole Classical Academy in Jackson, Wyoming.
Friess won many awards for his religious work including the 2012 Horatio Alger Award from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans,<ref name="hora_Fost">{{Cite web |title=Foster Stephen Friess - 2012 Horatio Alger Award Recipient |author= |work=Horatio Alger Association |date= |access-date=May 28, 2021 |url= https://horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/foster-stephen-friess}}</ref> the Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.becketfund.org/dinner2002/|title=2002 Canterbury Medal Gala - Becket|author=|date=|work=BecketFund.org|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930233222/http://www.becketfund.org/dinner2002/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasusa.org/V2/main/page.php?page_id=87|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714095951/http://www.atlasusa.org/V2/main/page.php?page_id=87|url-status=dead|title=Atlas Economic Research Foundation :: ATLAS FREEDOM DINNER 2004|archivedate=July 14, 2007|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> the Adam Smith Award from Hillsdale College,<ref>{{cite web|author=Foster S. Friess |url=http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2004&month=02 |title=What Kind of Society is Good for Business and Investing? |publisher=Hillsdale.edu |date=May 11, 2002 |access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award from the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hoby.org/support/fundraisingevents.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607003925/http://hoby.org/support/fundraisingevents.html|url-status=dead|title=Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership | HOBY|archivedate=June 7, 2008|accessdate=November 14, 2019}}</ref> the David R. Jones Award for Leadership in Philanthropy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfas.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=266&srcid=448|title=The Fund for American Studies – Alumni<!-- Bot generated title -->|author=|date=|work=TFAS.org|access-date=April 27, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and a Medal of Distinction from the University of Delaware in Newark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://udconnection.com/Medals|title=Medals of Distinction / UDconnection<!-- Bot generated title -->|author=|date=|work=UDConnection.com|access-date=April 27, 2017}}</ref>
According to his website, Friess in 2016 began supporting Rachel's Challenge, a non-profit organization started in the name of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre, by matching all donations up to $100,000.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fosterfriess.com/2016/12/19/ill-match-every-dollar-you-contribute-to-rachels-challenge-up-to-100000/|title=I'll match every dollar you contribute to Rachel's Challenge up to $100,000 - Foster Friess|date=December 19, 2016|work=Foster Friess|access-date=August 3, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804014255/http://fosterfriess.com/2016/12/19/ill-match-every-dollar-you-contribute-to-rachels-challenge-up-to-100000/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the 2018 Parkland shooting, in a ''USA Today'' op-ed, Friess issued a $2.5 million challenge grant to groups like Sandy Hook Promise and Rachel's Challenge.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/03/09/foster-friess-match-your-donations-up-2-5-million-we-can-stop-school-shootings-foster-friess-column/393704002/|title=Foster Friess: We can stop school shootings. I'll match your donations up to $2.5 million|date=March 9, 2018|work=Foster Friess|access-date=May 19, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=April 20, 2018|title=GOP Moneybags Foster Friess to Run for Governor of Wyoming|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/04/big-gop-donor-friess-running-for-governor-of-wyoming.html|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us}}</ref>
Friess often joked about his wealth in public appearances, while at the same time drawing attention to his financial status.<ref name="WyoFile2012" /> In early 2020, he said on his website that his business was worth $15 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Foster's Listening Tour - Foster Friess |url=https://fosterfriess.com/wyoming/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212203243/https://fosterfriess.com/wyoming/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |work=FosterFriess.com |quote=Over 40 years of building and managing a $15 billion business, I never forgot who’s money I was investing}}</ref> although in 2012 he had told a reporter that he was not a billionaire.<ref name="medi_Mill">{{Cite web |author=Nando di Fino |date=February 8, 2012 |title=Millionaire Santorum Backer Foster Friess Tells Erin Burnett He's Not A Billionaire |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/millionaire-santorum-backer-foster-friess-tells-erin-burnett-hes-not-a-billionaire/ |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=Mediaite}}</ref> Estimates at that time placed his wealth in the hundreds of millions.<ref name="wsj._What">{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Robert |date=February 15, 2012 |title=What is Foster Friess Really Worth? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-WHB-5007 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=WSJ}}</ref>
== Personal life == At an event to celebrate Friess' 70th birthday, he gave $7.7 million to the guests' favorite charities.<ref name="WyoFile2012" /> He typically wore a cowboy hat in public. He embraced the Western image as part of moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1992. He said he made the move because Wyoming's lack of an income tax helped him avoid "increasingly onerous" taxes in Pennsylvania.<ref name="WyoFile2012" /> Progressive website ThinkProgress reported Friess was funding Islamophobic campaigns,<ref name="thin_WhoI">{{Cite web |author=Adam Peck |date=February 11, 2012 |title=Who Is Foster Friess? Seven Facts You Need To Know |url=https://thinkprogress.org/who-is-foster-friess-seven-facts-you-need-to-know-295e30685747/ |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=thinkprogress.org}}</ref> while he also made statements for moderate gay rights, citing them as an issue of religious liberty.<ref name="buzz_Repu">{{Cite web |last=Geidner |first=Chris |date=March 14, 2013 |title=Republican Mega-Donor Foster Friess Urges Moderate Path On Gay Rights |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chrisgeidner/republican-mega-donor-foster-friess-urges-moderate-path-on-g |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=BuzzFeed News}}</ref> During a media interview, when asked a question about birth control, he said women should simply put an aspirin between their knees rather than take birth control.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenfeld |first=Arno |date=May 21, 2018 |title=307 Politics: Why Foster Friess isn't Donald Trump |url=https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/politics-why-foster-friess-isn-t-donald-trump/article_d0c07995-9a1b-5238-84a6-dc2848df47a8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729055410/https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/politics-why-foster-friess-isn-t-donald-trump/article_d0c07995-9a1b-5238-84a6-dc2848df47a8.html |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |work=Star-Tribune}}</ref>
==Later life and death== Friess was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a bone marrow cancer, in September 2020.<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=GOP donor, investor, philanthropist Foster Friess dies at 81|url=https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-8482feb310e2d487afb293a32091070f|first=Mead|last=Gruver|date=May 27, 2021|access-date=May 28, 2021|work=Associated Press}}</ref> He died on May 27, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 81.<ref name=AP/><ref name="thec_GOPm">{{Cite web |title=GOP megadonor Foster Friess dies at 81 |first=Victoria |last=Eavis |work=The Cheyenne Post |date=May 27, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |url=https://www.thecheyennepost.com/news/state/gop-megadonor-foster-friess-dies-at-81/article_4bbc29df-4322-59aa-b4dd-75b9613d721b.html |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212153/https://www.thecheyennepost.com/news/state/gop-megadonor-foster-friess-dies-at-81/article_4bbc29df-4322-59aa-b4dd-75b9613d721b.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title=2018 Wyoming gubernatorial Republican primary<ref name="primaryresults">[http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/2018/Results/Primary/2018_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf Statewide Election Results]</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Mark Gordon |votes=38,951 |percentage=33.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Foster Friess |votes=29,842 |percentage=25.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Harriet Hageman |votes=25,052 |percentage=21.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Sam Galeotos |votes=14,554 |percentage=12.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Taylor Haynes |votes=6,511 |percentage=5.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=Bill Dahlin |votes=1,763 |percentage=1.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=n/a |candidate=''Under votes'' |votes=1,269 |percentage=1.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (United States) |candidate=''Write-ins'' |votes=113 |percentage=0.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=n/a |candidate=''Over votes'' |votes=46 |percentage=0.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes=118,101 |percentage=100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons}} * {{Official website|http://www.fosterfriess.com/}} * {{Ballotpedia|https://ballotpedia.org/Foster_Friess}} * [https://archive.today/20130130091255/http://www.nationalchristian.com/web/1/friess.asp?s=776&p National Christian Foundation Profile: Foster Friess] * {{YouTube|k9LNYIqUpFY|Foster Friess' introduction to the film Obsession}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080305214743/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/07/01/305205/index.htm ''Don't Fence Him In: Foster Friess explains his individualistic approach to managing the Brandywine fund.'' CNN Money, July 1, 2001] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080526094242/http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/FindHotStocks/SpotGrowthStocks.aspx ''Spot growth stocks – but at the right price'' MSN Money, accessed May 27, 2008]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Friess, Foster}} Category:1940 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:American Christians Category:American businesspeople in finance Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections Category:Intelligent design advocates Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin Category:People from Rice Lake, Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Republicans Category:Wisconsin School of Business alumni Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin