The widow of Bernie Cantor, the founder of the securities firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Iris Cantor heads up the foundation that bears the family name and supports arts, educational and medical causes.

Brooklyn-born Cantor skipped college and pursued a career as a model during her younger years. After marrying and divorcing twice, she started working as a stockbroker. That's where she met her third husband to-be, Bernard, the founder of the bond trading firm Cantor Fitzgerald. In 1977, the couple tied the knot in the south of France; the pair founded the philanthropic Cantor Foundation in 1978. In the mid-1990s, Bernie developed advanced kidney disease and passed away in 1996. But Iris continues to be a major donor to cultural and medical institutions across the U.S. While Cantor's husband was busy making money on Wall Street, she was busy figuring out how to give it away. The Cantor Foundation supports a slew of organizations, including the Metropolitan Museum, NYU's Tisch School, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and UCLA. Her philanthropy has earned her countless awards, medals, and honorary degrees. [Image via Getty]