Richard A. 'Dick' Grasso (born July 26, 1946, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York) is an American financial executive who served as chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from 1995 to 2003. Raised in a working-class Italian-American family, Grasso graduated from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in 1964 and joined the NYSE as a floor clerk in 1968 at age 22. He rose through the ranks over decades, becoming chairman of the NYSE's Market Performance Committee by 1988 before ascending to chairman and CEO in 1995. During his tenure, the NYSE experienced significant growth and modernization, including handling major crises like the 1987 stock market crash and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. However, his leadership became mired in controversy in 2003 when details emerged of his compensation package exceeding $140 million in deferred pay and benefits, leading to accusations of excessive self-enrichment. Under pressure from regulators, Grasso resigned on September 17, 2003, and agreed to return much of the disputed compensation, though legal battles continued for years. The scandal prompted major governance changes at the NYSE, including separation of chairman and CEO roles. Grasso's career exemplifies both rising from humble beginnings and the pitfalls of unchecked executive compensation in finance.