John Farber Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Explore John Farber net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this profile of the chemist-turned-industrialist behind ICC Industries.
John Farber Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
John Farber is a Romanian-born American chemist-turned-industrialist renowned for building a global specialty chemicals and plastics empire.
Introduction
Born on August 23, 1925, the date that marks John Farber’s age/birthdate and birthday, he would later rise from war-torn Europe to become a billionaire industrialist. With an estimated net worth of US$1.4 billion, according to Forbes, Farber built his legacy around his firm ICC Industries, Inc. and led a private, committed family life—he was married to Maya Kleyman Farber and they had four children.
Early Ambitions in a Shifting Landscape
John Farber’s journey begins in Timișoara, Romania, where he was born. His father, Eugene Farber, had founded a paint-manufacturing business, and the young John exhibited a fascination with chemicals and materials.
After World War II, the family’s factory was nationalized. Farber first moved to Israel, working as a laboratory chemist, and then to the United States to pursue a doctorate in polymer chemistry.
Once in New York, he joined his father-in-law’s textiles export-import firm, developed its chemical-trading arm, and ultimately assumed control—renaming and transforming it into ICC Industries.
Defining moments in John Farber’s journey include:
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Emigration from Romania following the nationalization of the family business.
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Earning a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry and leveraging scientific expertise into business.
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Joining and then leading a textile-export firm to become a globally-oriented chemical trading conglomerate.
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Establishing Primex Plastics in 1965 and expanding into plastic extrusion and manufacturing.
The Core Pillars of John Farber’s Wealth
The core pillars of John Farber’s wealth include:
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Specialty Chemicals & Plastics Manufacturing – Through ICC Industries and related holdings, Farber built out supply chains for plastics, additives and bulk chemical trading.
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Global Trading & Distribution Networks – Farber leveraged logistics and material sourcing to supply European markets post-war, then expanded globally.
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Strategic Investments & Equity Stakes – Over time, the structure of his companies, board memberships and parent-holding strategies improved long-term value.
| Business Segment | Approximate Value* | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures (Chemicals/Plastics) | ≈ US$1.4 billion | Forbes |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | Not publicly broken out | — |
| Investments & Other Assets | Not publicly broken out | — |
*Rounded estimate based on latest available data.
Relationships & Personal Life
In his personal sphere, John Farber married Maya Kleyman (also from Timișoara) in 1953, blending familial and business roots. They had four children—Sandra, Claudia, Michael and Deborah—and kept their family life relatively private while being based in New York City.
Key insights into John Farber’s relationships and personal life:
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He married Maya Kleyman Farber, a longtime partner in both life and philanthropic interests.
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The couple had four children together, forming a close-knit family unit rooted in New York.
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Though renowned in industrial circles, Farber’s personal life remained low-profile and discreet.
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He maintained a strong sense of cultural identity: Romanian-born, Jewish heritage, multilingual background.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond the boardroom, John Farber led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:
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A keen interest in plastics, materials science and innovation in manufacturing—he founded Primex Plastics in 1965, starting from a single extruder in a garage.
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Philanthropic involvement: He received the lifetime-achievement award from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Division for his impact on global manufacturing and materials.
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Maintaining the family business heritage: His father’s original Romanian paint-factory legacy was integrated into ICC’s holdings later on.
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A private lifestyle centered in Manhattan, with less emphasis on ostentation than on industry influence and legacy building.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
While some sources vary, the most widely cited estimate for John Farber net worth is US$1.4 billion. Forbes reported this figure. A secondary source, CelebrityNetWorth, offered a higher figure (US$1.95 billion) but that appears dated.
How his net worth is evaluated:
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Forbes compiles publicly-reported holdings, company valuations and ownership stakes.
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The family-owned nature of ICC Industries means full transparency is limited.
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Occasional divestments or subsidiary sales (e.g., a major Israeli flavours company sale) may influence value.
Breakdown Table:
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures (chemicals) | ~US$1.4 billion | Forbes |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | Not separately listed | — |
| Investments & Assets | Not separately listed | — |
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
John Farber is widely regarded as a behind-the-scenes titan of the materials industry. Rarely featured in celebrity tabloids, his influence lies in engineering breakthroughs, global supply-chain orchestration and longevity.
In industry circles he is lauded for bridging chemistry and commerce—transforming scientific training into strategic business advantage.
His philanthropic footprint is understated but significant: he used his technical acumen and business leadership to mentor, award and contribute to professional societies.
As regards his legacy, Farber serves as an exemplar of post-war immigrant ambition: from displacement in Romania to building a New York-headquartered global manufacturing enterprise. His birthday and age/birthdate—August 23, 1925—anchor a timeline of personal and professional transformation.
Conclusion
John Farber’s story is one of resilience, vision and disciplined enterprise. Born on August 23 into a European family uprooted by war, he turned scientific training into a flourishing global empire, culminating in a net worth of around US$1.4 billion. His relationships—marked by a lifelong marriage to Maya Kleyman Farber—and four children reflect a grounded personal life behind the industrial clout. Today his birthday remains a quiet marker of a man who preferred creating value over seeking limelight. His legacy resounds in plastics, chemicals and the ripple effects of a business built with purpose.
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