KUALA LUMPUR – Former United States Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan has died at the age of 100 due to complications related to Parkinson’s disease, his wife, NBC journalist Andrea Mitchell, confirmed on Monday.
“Alan passed away at our home this morning at the age of 100 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was a giant of a man who helped shape the US economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes,” Mitchell said in a statement reported by NBC.
Mitchell, who is NBC News’ chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent, said her husband died peacefully at their home. The couple had been married for 29 years.
“To me he was my husband, who shaped my life from our very first date in 1984. He had ‘irrational exuberance’ for baseball, the Washington Commanders, tennis, golf and music, especially jazz,” she said. “He will be remembered for his brilliance and his kindness. Being his life partner was the joy of my life.”
Greenspan served five consecutive terms as Federal Reserve chair, working under four US presidents before retiring in 2006. During his tenure, he became one of the most influential figures in global economic policy, overseeing a long period of US economic expansion through the 1990s and early 2000s.
He was widely credited with shaping modern American capitalism, particularly during the post-Cold War economic boom and the early years of the digital economy. However, he also faced criticism after the 2007–08 global financial crisis, with some analysts arguing that earlier deregulation policies contributed to financial vulnerabilities.
The US Federal Reserve paid tribute, saying his “contributions to monetary policy and economic thought left a lasting mark on this institution, on the broader field of economics, and on the country.”
Born on March 6, 1926, in New York City, Greenspan showed an early aptitude for mathematics and music. He studied at New York University, later pursuing graduate work in economics at Columbia University under economist Arthur F. Burns, who would later become a Federal Reserve chair.
Before entering public service, he built a career in economic consulting and later moved into government roles, including chairing the Council of Economic Advisers under former president Gerald Ford.
He was also known for his association with writer Ayn Rand and her philosophy of objectivism, which influenced his early intellectual outlook.
Greenspan was appointed Federal Reserve chair in 1987 and became a defining figure in US monetary policy for nearly two decades. His swift response to the 1987 stock market crash helped stabilise financial markets, earning him both praise and criticism for what became known as the “Greenspan put”.
Over his tenure, he guided the US economy through major events including the dotcom boom and bust, as well as the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
He received numerous honours during his lifetime, including France’s Legion of Honour, an honorary knighthood from the United Kingdom, and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. – June 22, 2026