Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the remarkable life of Glen Taylor — from humble farm roots to billionaire business leader and sports team owner. Delve into his journey, values, achievements, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Glen Albert Taylor (born April 20, 1941) is an American businessman, media owner, and former politician. He is best known as the founder and chairman of Taylor Corporation, one of North America’s largest graphic communications companies, and for his long stewardship of professional sports franchises in Minnesota. Taylor’s life story is emblematic of tenacity, strategic growth, and bridging business with civic and cultural influence.

Early Life and Family

Glen Taylor was born in Springfield, Minnesota, but spent much of his youth growing up on a farm in Comfrey, Minnesota.

From an early age, Taylor learned the value of hard work. As a youth, his family often lacked cash for farm equipment repairs, so they improvised and fixed machinery themselves. As Taylor later observed, “We didn’t really feel poor. You don’t know that as a kid, but we really didn’t have any cash. When machinery broke down, we didn’t have money for parts, so we did our best to fix it.”

He graduated from Comfrey High School in 1959.

Youth and Education

Taylor went on to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato (then known as Mankato State), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962, with concentrations in mathematics, physics, and social studies. Executive MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978.

While attending college, Taylor worked at Carlson Wedding Service, a printing shop in Mankato.

Career and Achievements

Founding Taylor Corporation

In 1975, Taylor purchased Carlson Wedding Service for $2 million, paying over time, and began transforming it into what would become Taylor Corporation.

Under his leadership, Taylor Corporation grew to employ thousands and operate numerous divisions across multiple countries.

Politics

Taylor also served in Minnesota state politics. He was a Republican Minnesota State Senator from 1981 until 1990. Minority Leader (1985–1987).

Sports & Media Ownership

Taylor is well known for his ownership of sports franchises:

• In 1994, he purchased the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA).

• In 1999, he acquired the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA).

Under his ownership, the Lynx became one of the strongest franchises in the WNBA, winning multiple championships.

In 2014, Taylor purchased the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s largest newspaper, for about $100 million.

In the early 2020s, Taylor agreed to a sale of the Timberwolves and Lynx to a group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez for an estimated $1.5 billion, while retaining a minority stake.

He also holds part ownership in Minnesota United FC (Major League Soccer).

Net Worth & Influence

As of 2025, Glen Taylor’s net worth is estimated at US$2.9 billion, making him the richest person in Minnesota.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Taylor’s growth of a small printing business into a major global communications firm reflects the shift in the late 20th century toward consolidation, scaling, and diversification in printing and marketing services.

• His entry into sports team ownership placed him among minority owners who combined business influence and local civic identity.

• His purchase of the Star Tribune is part of a broader trend of wealthy individuals acquiring news media, raising questions about independence, editorial direction, and public influence.

• The eventual sale of his sports teams in 2025 signaled a transition in the business of sports franchise ownership, with newer investor groups acquiring stakes.

Legacy and Influence

Glen Taylor’s legacy rests on several pillars:

• Self-made growth: He transformed modest beginnings into a global enterprise through acquisitions, innovation, and persistence.

• Local impact: His investments in Minnesota sports and media have had cultural and civic significance in his home state.

• Business model: Taylor embodied the role of a vertically integrated communications and marketing business, bridging traditional printing with modern branding and digital services.

• Blend of commerce and public life: His dual roles as businessman and politician suggest a belief in influencing both markets and civic institutions.

• Mentorship through example: For many entrepreneurs, his risk-taking, patience, and long-term orientation serve as a blueprint.

Personality and Talents

Character & Values

• Taylor often emphasizes humility and self-reflection. One of his quotes: “I don’t view my opinions as the right ones; they are just different.”

• He values internal decision-making: “I think it’s important to talk to your inner thing. The purpose is to go over the decisions that will affect my life and others. I pray that I don’t make my decisions based on ego.”

• He acknowledges risk: “For small businesses trying to figure out how to get big, I would say you are going to have to take some risks. And I think that is what shuts off most people. They are not willing to take the risk.”

• He blends analytical training and intuition: “I’m a mathematician by education, but I have this other thing. A gut instinct.”

Skills & Approach

• Operational discipline: His success in scaling Taylor Corporation suggests strength in operations, integration, and acquisitions.

• Strategic patience: Many of his moves unfolded over decades rather than overnight.

• Civic/business integration: He leveraged business success to exert influence in sports, media, and public institutions.

• Staying grounded: Despite high stakes, Taylor often returns to stories of his farm youth, a grounding narrative that shapes humility and sanity.

Famous Quotes of Glen Taylor

Below are several notable quotations that reveal his mindset:

“We didn’t really feel poor. You don’t know that as a kid, but we really didn’t have any cash. When machinery broke down, we didn’t have money for parts, so we did our best to fix it.”

“I don’t view my opinions as the right ones; they are just different.”

“I think it’s important to talk to your inner thing. The purpose is to go over the decisions that will affect my life and others. I pray that I don’t make my decisions based on ego.”

“For small businesses trying to figure out how to get big, I would say you are going to have to take some risks. And I think that is what shuts off most people. They are not willing to take the risk.”

“I’m a mathematician by education, but I have this other thing. A gut instinct.”

These quotations reflect humility, introspection, risk-tolerance, and a blending of rational and instinctive decision-making.

Lessons from Glen Taylor

From Taylor’s life and career, we can draw several broader lessons:

1. Build from what you know
   He started in printing—a field he understood—and used that foundation to expand outward.

2. Be willing to take gradual but bold risks
   His acquisitions and expansions were often incremental, yet cumulatively transformative.

3. Don’t let ego drive decisions
   His quoted prayer about ego shows his awareness of the pitfalls of pride and image in leadership.

4. Maintain internal alignment
   His emphasis on talking with his “inner thing” suggests leaders should self-check, reflect, and stay grounded.

5. Leverage success for civic influence
   Taylor shows that business success can be a lever for cultural and civic engagement, such as media ownership and sports franchises.

6. Finish what you start
   His long-term commitment to growth, even when success wasn’t instant, underscores persistence over quick wins.

Conclusion

Glen Taylor’s journey—from a farm in rural Minnesota to billionaire, media proprietor, and sports franchise owner—is a compelling narrative of tenacity, vision, and principled leadership. His balancing of commercial success, civic influence, humility, and internal reflection makes him a distinctive figure in American business. If you like, I can provide a more in-depth timeline of Taylor Corporation’s acquisitions, or compare his path with other business magnates of his era.