Billionaire found dead

Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

SEATTLE -- Keith McCaw, a billionaire whose family helped create a cellular-phone empire, was found dead Sunday in a hottub in his lakeside Seattle mansion. He was 49.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

McCaw made his fortune as a stockholder in McCaw Cellular Communications, which AT&T bought in 1994 for $11.5 billion. His brother Craig McCaw leads the family business operations.

Keith McCaw served in various management positions at his family's company, but wasn't a major player. He ended his role as an employee in 1986, but continued as a director until 1991.

Forbes Magazine listed McCaw as the 445th-richest man in the world this year, tied with brothers Bruce and John. His brother, Craig, was listed as the world's 168th richest person, worth $2.4 billion.

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