Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, died Monday, June 22, 2026 [1], [2], [3].
Greenspan served as the most influential central banker in U.S. history, steering the American economy through periods of immense growth and volatility. His tenure defined the intersection of monetary policy and global finance for a generation.
He was 100 years old at the time of his death [1]. According to reports, he died from complications of Parkinson's disease [4], [5].
Greenspan led the Federal Reserve for nearly two decades, serving from 1987 to 2006 [1]. During this period, he navigated the U.S. economy under four different presidents [1]. His approach to interest rates and inflation management became the gold standard for central banking during the late 20th century, a strategy often credited with fostering the long economic expansion of the 1990s.
His death was announced by his wife of 29 years, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell [6]. While some reports initially did not specify a cause, later accounts confirmed the role of Parkinson's disease in his death [4], [5].
As a public intellectual and economist, Greenspan's influence extended beyond the Federal Reserve. He remained a frequent commentator on fiscal policy and government spending long after his retirement from the central bank. His legacy remains a subject of study for economists analyzing the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis.
“Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, died Monday.”
Greenspan's death marks the end of an era in central banking. His nearly 20-year tenure established the Federal Reserve as a dominant force in global markets, though his legacy is balanced between the prosperity of the 1990s and the systemic risks that preceded the Great Recession.
