Bloomberg on wealth and Soros - 2013 interview
[Chris Smith] You have other advantages now.
[Mike Bloomberg] It’s probably easier for me to raise private money for philanthropy. Partially because I can say, “Chris, I just gave $5 million; I’d like you to give $5 million.”
[Chris Smith] Would you have been as successful as mayor without your personal wealth?
[Mike Bloomberg] Yeah. I actually think so. Of course, there’s some things you couldn’t have done. I couldn’t have given $30 million and got $30 million out of George Soros and then have $60 million for this Young Men’s Initiative to help young minority males, which is where most of the crime is.
In Conversation: Michael Bloomberg (New York Magazine by Chris Smith Sept. 6, 2013)
https://nymag.com/news/politics/bloomberg/in-conversation-2013-9/