The World’s Richest Man

In the 1960s, Jerry Wolman was working hard to reshape Philadelphia into a major-league town. In 1963 he purchased the Philadelphia Eagles for a then-record of five and a half million dollars. In 1966 he founded the Philadelphia Flyers and built the Spectrum Arena. Wolman was the owner of the Connie Mack Stadium and the Yellow Cab Company; he was the driving force behind NFL Films and for the development for Philadelphia Veterans Stadium. Just as it seemed as though Wolman was on top of the world, construction problems with the John Hancock Center and betrayal by a close companion sunk his $100 million empire into bankruptcy, forcing him to give up everything, including his most venerated possession, the Philadelphia Eagles. Wolman disappeared from the public eye, leaving many Philadelphians to wonder what had happened to him. In his newly-released biography, “Jerry Wolman: The World’s Richest Man,” he finally gives Philadelphians an answer.

Jerry Wolman turned down offers to have a book written about his life for well over 35 or 40 years. So why did he finally decide to open up? About a year and a half ago, Wolman’s two children approached him: “Dad, you’ve never really told us about your life. You told us the good things, but not the bad things, and we think you owe it to use to tell us.” Wolman took his children’s request into consideration, but still was hesitant to tell his story. Next thing he knew, his grandchildren cornered him, entreating him of the same request. In his 80s, Wolman realized that if his children and grandchildren wanted to know about his life, he had an obligation to tell them the truth. So, with the help of writers Joseph and Richard Bockol, Wolman set to work, narrating his life story, beginning from his modest upbringing in Shenandoah, Pa., to his transformation into “The Boy Wonder” of real-estate by age 36, finishing with his quiet life in Washington D.C. after his financial downfall.

Jerry Wolman’s life is the quintessential story of the American dream. Unable to make ends meet with the little food store he owned, he and his wife Anne decided that to change their lives for the better, they needed to pick up and move elsewhere. After much debating, they decided on a very unconventional method in order to solve where they wanted to go. They decided that they would pick up a hitchhiker and wherever he was going, that was where they would go. They packed up everything they had in their car, leaving room for one person to sit. When they saw a young man seeking a ride, they asked him where he wanted to go. He said he was headed to Washington D.C. Thus, Wolman began his new life in the nation’s capital. Soon after, he became transfixed by watching the construction of new buildings, and realized that he wanted to enter the construction business. From that point on, he was unstoppable. He moved quickly through the real estate ranks, in large part due to the hard-working and loyal people that he surrounded himself with. By age 35, he was one of the most successful self-made young men in America.

As a kid, Wolman was a die-hard Eagles fan and he and his best friend would hitchhike down to Philly and sneak into the games at halftime. Once he heard that the Eagles might be for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to purchase them. Wolman was a successful bidder and he ended up purchasing the Eagles, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Wolman became deeply ingrained in Philadelphia life and pushed forward with numerous projects that helped to transform Philly into a major-league town, including the birth of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise and the Spectrum Arena.

Unfortunately, the Flyers assisted in Wolman’s demise. Stuck in debt, Wolman wound up losing everything, including the Eagles. He returned to Washington D.C., where he sunk back down to a quiet life and returned to real estate. Gradually he built his life back up and did well again, although never again matching his success of the 1960s. Although no longer deeply involved with Philadelphia, the city will always hold a special place in his heart. "Really, I like everything about Philly," says Wolman. "Even though I’ve been out of Pennsylvania for a long time, I still feel like I’m from Shenandoah. I love the people; I like the fans. I hear all of these stories about bad fans – that’s bologna, they’re great fans. I miss it a lot, I really do.”

Wolman has received an amazing reaction to his biography. He has already received well over 2000 letters, almost all of which have been favorable. But the most important and heartwarming reaction has been that of his children. Out of all of the things he has done in his life, Wolman’s family is still his greatest accomplishment. “I have two children, nine grandchildren, and I’m close with every one of them. I spend an awful lot of time with them…I am very happy with my life.”

Wolman contributed immensely to Philadelphia, helping to transform it into a big-league city. Not only is he remembered for his contributions to Philly, but for his generous and amiable nature. Yet, few know what happened to him after he sold the Eagles, or how he rose to the top. Jerry Wolman: The World’s Richest Man offers the chance to discover the inspirational story of a man born in a small Pennsylvania town who became one of the most influential people in Philadelphia sports history. Wolman’s advice to anyone trying to follow their dreams: “Work hard, you need a little bit of luck, keep the right people around you, and don’t give up your dream. There’s nothing wrong with failing. There’s something wrong with not trying.”

Jerry Wolman: The World’s Richest Man is available at www.jerrywolman.com. A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit the Miracle League of Northampton Township, which provides both mentally and physically disabled children the opportunity to play sports. Not only do kids get to play great games, but they also get to make new friends and build self-esteem. Funds will assist in building a special Miracle League Baseball Field, a Miracle League Football field, and its programs. Visit www.miracleleaguenhpa.org for more information.