Michael Bloomberg moved into politics after gaining wealth and clout through Bloomberg LP, the world's leading financial news and information company. As mayor of New York, he led the city through tight budgets during the recession and pushed for controversial health policies, including banning large sodas. Bloomberg was a Republican candidate when he won the mayoral races in 2001 and 2005, but he switched to independent for his third term.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Michael Bloomberg moved into politics after gaining wealth and clout through Bloomberg LP, the world's leading financial news and information company. As mayor of New York, he led the city through tight budgets during the recession and pushed for controversial health policies, including banning large sodas. Bloomberg was a Republican candidate when he won the mayoral races in 2001 and 2005, but he switched to independent for his third term.
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Bloomberg, second from right, rides to City Hall on the R train in March 2002 after New York transit workers authorized union leaders to call a strike. Bloomberg, dealing with a $1 billion budget shortfall, had refused union demands for a 24% wage increase over three years. The strike was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Farticles.cnn.com%2F2002-12-16%2Ftravel%2Fnyc.transit.strike_1_transit-workers-union-president-roger-toussaint-nyc-transit-strike%3F_s%3DPM%3ATRAVEL">called off</a> in December 2002 after transit workers and their management worked out a deal.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg, second from right, rides to City Hall on the R train in March 2002 after New York transit workers authorized union leaders to call a strike. Bloomberg, dealing with a $1 billion budget shortfall, had refused union demands for a 24% wage increase over three years. The strike was called off in December 2002 after transit workers and their management worked out a deal.
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Bloomberg is sworn in by New York Judge Judith S. Kaye as Bloomberg's mother, Charlotte Bloomberg, holds the Bible on the steps of City Hall in January 2002.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg is sworn in by New York Judge Judith S. Kaye as Bloomberg's mother, Charlotte Bloomberg, holds the Bible on the steps of City Hall in January 2002.
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Bloomberg attends a New York Yankees pep rally at City Hall in October 2003.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg attends a New York Yankees pep rally at City Hall in October 2003.
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Yankees owner George Steinbrenner shares a laugh with Bloomberg during a news conference in June 2005 announcing plans for a new $800 million stadium.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner shares a laugh with Bloomberg during a news conference in June 2005 announcing plans for a new $800 million stadium.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Bloomberg sits in a Ford Escape hybrid taxicab donated by Yahoo after he announced in May 2007 that the city's taxi fleet would be fully hybrid by 2012. The plan fell through after judges ruled in 2008 that the city couldn't penalize taxi drivers who didn't use hybrid cars, according to The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcityroom.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F10%2F31%2Fjudge-blocks-hybrid-taxi-requirement%2F%3Fgwh%3D87B27602188FCD143F612C0D9B43B4CC" target="_blank" target="_blank">New York Times</a>.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg sits in a Ford Escape hybrid taxicab donated by Yahoo after he announced in May 2007 that the city's taxi fleet would be fully hybrid by 2012. The plan fell through after judges ruled in 2008 that the city couldn't penalize taxi drivers who didn't use hybrid cars, according to The New York Times.
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Bloomberg holds a news conference on gun control in July 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington, where he traveled to lobby against the Tiahrt Amendments, measures that regulate access to gun-tracing data.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg holds a news conference on gun control in July 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington, where he traveled to lobby against the Tiahrt Amendments, measures that regulate access to gun-tracing data.
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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Bloomberg take questions at a news conference announcing their charitable support for a new global anti-smoking initiative in July 2008. Gates and Bloomberg announced their combined contribution of half a billion dollars to combat global smoking. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F05%2F31%2Fhealth%2Fgallery%2Fbloomberg-health-initiatives" target="_blank">See more on Bloomberg's controversial health bans</a>
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Bloomberg take questions at a news conference announcing their charitable support for a new global anti-smoking initiative in July 2008. Gates and Bloomberg announced their combined contribution of half a billion dollars to combat global smoking. See more on Bloomberg's controversial health bans
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Bloomberg joins volunteers to bag apples for poor families as part of a Mandela Day event in July 2009. Mandela Day is a celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and legacy. It encourages good works and volunteerism around the world.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg joins volunteers to bag apples for poor families as part of a Mandela Day event in July 2009. Mandela Day is a celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and legacy. It encourages good works and volunteerism around the world.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Bloomberg celebrates winning a third term as mayor in November 2009.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg celebrates winning a third term as mayor in November 2009.
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Bloomberg inspects the large cavern being constructed for the 34th Street subway station on February 2010. The new station is part of a $2.1 billion expansion project, the first subway expansion in Manhattan for decades.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg inspects the large cavern being constructed for the 34th Street subway station on February 2010. The new station is part of a $2.1 billion expansion project, the first subway expansion in Manhattan for decades.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Bloomberg marches in the 249th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in March 2010.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg marches in the 249th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in March 2010.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
British Prime Minister David Cameron eats a hot dog with Bloomberg outside New York's Penn Station on July 21, 2010. Cameron met with Bloomberg and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to New York.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
British Prime Minister David Cameron eats a hot dog with Bloomberg outside New York's Penn Station on July 21, 2010. Cameron met with Bloomberg and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to New York.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Bloomberg announces the formation of the "Second Chance on Shoot First" campaign at the National Press Club in April 2012 in Washington. After the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida, Bloomberg was joined by leaders from the NAACP, the National Urban League and other organizations to launch the effort to reform and repeal "stand your ground" gun laws.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg announces the formation of the "Second Chance on Shoot First" campaign at the National Press Club in April 2012 in Washington. After the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida, Bloomberg was joined by leaders from the NAACP, the National Urban League and other organizations to launch the effort to reform and repeal "stand your ground" gun laws.
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Bloomberg and New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly look at the New York Memorial Wall during an unveiling in October 2012. The city added the names of 15 officers who died the previous year.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg and New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly look at the New York Memorial Wall during an unveiling in October 2012. The city added the names of 15 officers who died the previous year.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
In October 2012, Bloomberg views damage in the Breezy Point area of Queens, where a fire destroyed about 80 homes as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Sandy killed at least 113 people in the United States and heavily damaged New York's infrastructure.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
In October 2012, Bloomberg views damage in the Breezy Point area of Queens, where a fire destroyed about 80 homes as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Sandy killed at least 113 people in the United States and heavily damaged New York's infrastructure.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
Bloomberg kicks with the Rockettes in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2013.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg kicks with the Rockettes in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2013.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
From left, Bloomberg, New York Sen. Charles Schumer and Ben Fried, chief information officer for Google, cut Ethernet cables at a news event where it was announced that free Wi-Fi would be provided to the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea in January 2013.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
From left, Bloomberg, New York Sen. Charles Schumer and Ben Fried, chief information officer for Google, cut Ethernet cables at a news event where it was announced that free Wi-Fi would be provided to the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea in January 2013.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Bloomberg and Schumer shop in the newly reopened Fairway Market on the waterfront in Red Hook in March 2013. Fairway closed after severe flooding during Hurricane Sandy.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg and Schumer shop in the newly reopened Fairway Market on the waterfront in Red Hook in March 2013. Fairway closed after severe flooding during Hurricane Sandy.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Bloomberg holds a large cup as he speaks to the media about the health impacts of sugar in March 2013.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg holds a large cup as he speaks to the media about the health impacts of sugar in March 2013.
Allison Joyce/Getty Images
London Mayor Boris Johnson talks with Bloomberg on the balcony of London's City Hall after launching the Mayors Challenge in Europe. The Mayors Challenge is a competition, with prize money coming from Bloomberg's philanthropic foundation, that challenges cities to find innovative and creative ideas to solve problems faced by urban living.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
London Mayor Boris Johnson talks with Bloomberg on the balcony of London's City Hall after launching the Mayors Challenge in Europe. The Mayors Challenge is a competition, with prize money coming from Bloomberg's philanthropic foundation, that challenges cities to find innovative and creative ideas to solve problems faced by urban living.
Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
In October, on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Bloomberg, center, stands on a rig installing a new sea wall in the Rockaways.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
In October, on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Bloomberg, center, stands on a rig installing a new sea wall in the Rockaways.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Bloomberg shakes hands with Larry Silverstein, the developer who held the lease to the World Trade Center buildings in 2001, after cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of Four World Trade Center. It's the first tower to open at the original site of the World Trade Center.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg shakes hands with Larry Silverstein, the developer who held the lease to the World Trade Center buildings in 2001, after cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of Four World Trade Center. It's the first tower to open at the original site of the World Trade Center.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Talk show host Jimmy Fallon welcomes Bloomberg to join him in writing thank-you notes in December.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Talk show host Jimmy Fallon welcomes Bloomberg to join him in writing thank-you notes in December.
Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/RESTRICTED
Bloomberg speaks to the Economic Club of New York in December in his last major speech as mayor.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg speaks to the Economic Club of New York in December in his last major speech as mayor.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Bloomberg walks through the crowd outside City Hall as he leaves for the last time as mayor.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg walks through the crowd outside City Hall as he leaves for the last time as mayor.
CARLO ALLEGRI/reuters/LANDOV
Bloomberg, right, participates in a "Toward Universal Health Coverage for 2030" seminar in April during the IMF/World Bank's Spring Meetings in Washington.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg —
Bloomberg, right, participates in a "Toward Universal Health Coverage for 2030" seminar in April during the IMF/World Bank's Spring Meetings in Washington.
MIKE THEILER/REUTERS/LANDOV