James R. Cargill

RelativesMargaret Anne Cargill (sister)FamilyCargill family

James Ray Cargill (October 9, 1923 – March 26, 2006) was an American billionaire heir and businessman.

James Ray Cargill was born on October 9, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois.^[1] His father was Austen Cargill and his mother, Anne Ray Cargill. His grandfather, William Wallace Cargill, was the founder of Cargill, an agribusiness corporation.^[2]

He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota.^[1] He was educated at the Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois.^[1] He also worked at Cargill during the summers of 1939 through 1941.^[1] He served in the United States Army in Europe for three years during World War II.^[1] He graduated from the University of Minnesota.^[1]

In 1947, he started his career at Cargill, working in advertising.^[1] By 1989, he retired as senior vice president of Cargill.^[1] He served on its board of directors from 1963 to 1995.^[1] He was a major shareholder of Cargill.^[2]

In 1992, he acquired J. B. Hudson Jewelers, a retailer of jewelry, china and crystals.^[1][3]

He was worth US$1.8 billion in 2006.^[4]

He donated to his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, from which he was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.^[1] He established Dinnaken Properties, student residences which were affordable yet good quality, at UM.^[1]

He was a donor to Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited.^[1]

He married Mary Janet Cargill. They had three children:^[1]

• James R. Cargill II
• Austen S. Cargill II
• Marianne Cargill Liebmann

He died on March 26, 2006, in Edina, Minnesota.^[1]

Each of his children inherited a 1/18 share of Cargill.^[2]