Robert Martin Friedland is an American-Canadian billionaire financier in the mining industry. Since the early 1980s, he has specialized in securing funding for the exploration and development of mineral and energy resources and technology ventures. He is the founder and chairman of his private, family-owned firm, Ivanhoe Capital Corporation, which is active in capital markets, focused on emerging markets. He is the founder and co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian public company listed on the Toronto and OTCQX exchanges.

Early life

Friedland was born in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of three children born to immigrant parents Ilona (née Muller) and Albert Friedland. Friedland's father survived three years in Auschwitz while his mother worked as a forced laborer during the Holocaust.

LSD

Robert Friedland resigned from Bowdoin College in 1970 after being arrested by federal authorities for the possession of an estimated $100,000 worth of LSD. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison, but received early release on probation. The conviction was expunged in 1986.

He graduated in 1974 from Reed College, Oregon, with a political science degree. During his senior year at Reed, Friedland was student body president. and Jobs would come on the weekends and help with the apple orchard,

Friedland is currently the executive co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN: TSX, IVPAF: OTCQX), a Canadian mining company focused on advancing three joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: copper production from a major new mine at the Kamoa-Kakula Ivanhoe Capital has specialized in the provision of venture capital, project financing and related financial services for a roster of international business enterprises since its founding in 1987.. Mr. Friedland was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2016 and into the American Hall of Fame in 2021 for his outstanding lifetime achievements advancing the global mineral resources industry.

Friedland was CEO of the original Ivanhoe Mines (now named Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ: TSX & NYSE)), which he founded as Indochina Goldfields in 1994 and led to a successful initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1996. He was chairman, and later executive chairman, until 2011. Exploration by Ivanhoe Mines since 2000 discovered a chain of copper, gold and silver deposits at Oyu Tolgoi (Turquoise Hill) in Mongolia's South Gobi region. The first phase of what is independently projected to be one of the world's largest porphyry copper and gold mines (Oyu Tolgoi) began commercial production in 2013. The original Ivanhoe Mines was renamed Turquoise Hill Resources by Michael Sopko's INCO for its rich Voisey's Bay development. The deal earned Friedland a seat on the board of INCO, from which he benefited by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce's 2006 bid for INCO.

Friedland's other corporate leadership positions include or have included:

:* Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Capital Acquisition Corp. (IVAN: NYSE)

:* Co-Chairman, of SK Global / Ivanhoe Pictures

:* Chairman and CEO of High Power Exploration

:* Chairman, Gold X Mining Corp.(GLDX: CVE)

:* Co-Founder, Executive Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ivanhoe Energy Inc.

:* Chairman of Sunwing Holding Corporation.

:* Co-Chairman of Clean TeQ Holdings (CLQ: ASX & TSX)

:* Executive Chairman of Ivanplats Limited.

:* Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Ivanhoe Australia Ltd. (IVA: ASX & TSX).

:* Chairman, Potash One Inc.

:* Founder and Co-Chairman of Diamond Fields Resources Ltd.

:* Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Galactic Resources Ltd. American businessman and former close friend of Friedland, Daniel Kottke, said that when Steve Jobs and Kottke met Friedland, he was already a convicted felon.

Friedland, who was accused of the disaster, had fled the U.S. for Singapore, shortly before the company collapsed. He was heavily criticized for avoiding accountability in a scandal that cost over $200 million, which were eventually paid by the American taxpayers, while Friedman’s company has netted profits of approximately $100 million from the mine.

Personal life

Robert Friedland holds dual US and Canadian citizenship and is also a resident of Singapore.

He is married to Darlene Friedland, and they have three children.

References

Further reading

  • Founder's Business Profile - Robert Friedland (PDF)
  • Director Profile - Ivanhoe Mines