Alan Greenspan, former Fed chair and "Maestro" of global finance, dies at 100

Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve whose nearly two-decade tenure shaped global finance and earned him the moniker "Maestro," died on Monday at the age of 100, his wife confirmed. The announcement, reported across international media on 22 June 2026, marks the end of an era in central banking and economic policy.
Born in New York in March 1926, Greenspan led the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, guiding the U.S. economy through crises including the 1987 stock market crash and the dot-com bubble burst. His leadership during the 1990s boom earned him widespread acclaim as the architect of America’s longest peacetime expansion. Yet his legacy remains deeply contested. Critics, including many economists and policymakers, argue that his hands-off approach to financial regulation and prolonged low interest rates contributed to the conditions that precipitated the 2008 global financial crisis.
Greenspan’s influence extended far beyond Washington. As one of the most powerful figures in global finance, he was often described as an oracle whose words moved markets. His cryptic, sometimes rambling public statements—once likened to "dadaistic" prose—became legendary in financial circles. Yet his reputation as an infallible steward of the economy was irreparably damaged by the 2008 crisis, which unfolded just two years after he left office.
Tributes poured in following the news. International outlets described him variously as a "visionary," a "giant of finance," and a figure whose policies both fueled growth and sowed the seeds of instability. French newspaper *Le Monde* called him "the maestro of markets," while German broadsheet *Handelsblatt* noted his dual legacy: revered for steering the U.S. economy through the 1990s, yet later criticized for failing to act decisively against financial excess.
Greenspan’s later years were marked by declining health, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis. He remained a polarizing figure until the end, with some defending his belief in self-regulating markets and others condemning what they saw as a failure of oversight. His death closes a chapter in economic history, leaving behind a complex legacy of prosperity, crisis, and enduring debate over the role of central banks in modern capitalism.
- 5
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
3 further sources not geolocated





