US Business Tycoon J Michael Cline Dies After Falling From Hotel’s 20th Floor

James Michael Cline, aged 64, passed away under tragic circumstances.

On Tuesday morning in Manhattan, James Michael Cline, the finance executive who launched Fandango, died by suicide. He jumped from the 20th floor of the Kimberly Hotel, as reported by Variety.

The New York Police Department issued a statement saying they arrived at the hotel at 10:19 am, finding “an unconscious and unresponsive male with injuries indicative of a fall from an elevated position.” The investigation is still ongoing.

TMZ reported that a suicide note was found in his room.

After leaving Fandango, which NBC Universal and Warner Bros now own, in 2011, Mr. Cline went on to found Acumen, Insureon, and Accolade through his company, Accretive, which had also invested in Fandango. He was involved with several tech companies and venture capital firms, including the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.

As the executive chairman of Juxtapose, a company incubator, he helped establish firms like Orchard, Tend, Earned, Great Jones, and Nectar. He was also a passionate advocate for animal protection and served as the chairman of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Mr. Cline earned his MBA from Harvard Business School after graduating from Cornell University.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela B. Cline, and their six children. In late 2020, they purchased a 5-bedroom lakefront Palm Beach house for over $20 million.