Alan Greenspan, economist and longtime head of the Federal reserve, dies at 100

BREAKING NEWSJun. 22, 2026, 11:03 AM UTCObituariesObituariesAlan Greenspan, economist and longtime head of the Federal reserve, dies at 100The influential economist died Monday from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, said his wife of 29 years, Andrea Mitchell, the chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News.Alan Greenspan in 1974.AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Daniel ArkinAlan Greenspan, the influential economist who steered U.S. monetary policy during his five terms as chairman of the Federal Reserve under four presidents, died Monday, his wife said in a statement. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.He was 100.Greenspan helped shape modern American capitalism from the final years of the Cold War era through the dawn of the digital age. He presided over the Fed during one of the longest economic expansions in U.S. history, a boom stretching from 1991 to 2001. But he was also faulted for decisions that critics say created the conditions for the global financial crisis of 2007-08, such as advocating for deregulation of the financial sector.He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Andrea Mitchell, the chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News.“Alan passed away at our home this morning at the age of 100 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease,” Mitchell said in a statement. “He was a giant of a man who helped shape the U.S. economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes,” she said.“To me he was my husband, who shaped my life from our very first date in 1984. He had ‘irrational exuberance’ for baseball, the Washington Commanders, tennis, golf and music, especially jazz,” Mitchell added. “He will be remembered for his brilliance and his kindness. Being his life partner was the joy of my life.”Alan Greenspan and his wife Andrea Mitchell outside the The Inn in...