Lee (Thomas) is born in Boston.

Thomas Lee graduates from Harvard University and founds Thomas H. Lee Partners in 1974. He specializes in the area of leveraged buyouts and becomes known as “Boston’s Buyout King,” making a fortune through such purchases as Dunkin’ Donuts and Snapple. He moves to New York City and founds the firm Lee Equity in 2006, subsequently becoming a philanthropist and donating some $22 million to Harvard University. Lee dies in his office in New York City on February 23, 2023.