Howard William Lutnick was born on July 14, 1961, in Long Island, New York, to Solomon and Jane Lutnick. His father was a history professor, and his mother was a sculpture and painter. The middle of three children, Lutnick was raised in Jericho, New York, in a Jewish household.

When Lutnick was in high school, his mother died of lymphoma. He enrolled at Haverford College in 1979. During his freshman year, his father passed away from cancer. In response, the president and dean of Haverford offered Lutnick a full scholarship to complete his education. This act of generosity left a lasting impression on him, and Lutnick was one of the school’s largest donors.

He graduated from Harverford in 1983 with a degree in economics. Though Lutnick initially considered following his father into academia, he was ultimately drawn to the fast-paced world of finance. After college, he joined Cantor Fitzgerald as a bond broker and quickly rose through the ranks. He was named president and CEO in 1991 and became chairman in 1996.

As chairman, Lutnick led Cantor Fitzgerald through a series of transformative moments that reshaped the firm. In 2004, he separated its voice brokerage business to form BGC Partners, which he expanded significantly in the years to follow. In 2008, Lutnick oversaw BGC’s merger with eSpeed. His leadership continued when BGC Partners acquired Newmark, a commercial real estate advisor, in 2011.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, irrevocably impacted Lutnick. That day, terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center, which housed Cantor Fitzgerald’s headquarters, killing 658 of the firm’s 960 New York-based employees. Lutnick lost his brother, Gary, and his best friend. In the face of overwhelming loss, he committed himself to rebuilding the company—not only to honor those who died, but to support their families and the survivors.

In the wake of 9/11, Lutnick launched the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which distributed more than $180 million to the families of those who died. The fund then expanded its mission, donating to victims of terrorism, natural disasters, and global emergencies. It became a vital source of aid to individuals and communities in crisis around the world. Lutnick also served on the board of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Politically, Lutnick transitioned from being a Democrat to a Republican and formed close ties with Donald Trump. In 2024, he co-chaired President Trump’s transition team, offering financial insight and support for key economic policies, including tariffs and domestic industry investment.

On November 19, 2024, President-elect Trump nominated Lutnick to be secretary of Commerce—placing him at the helm of a federal agency tasked with responsibilities ranging from economic data collection to trade enforcement, industrial funding, and climate monitoring. Lutnik was sworn in on February 21st, after the Senate confirmed him in a 51-45 vote.