Metropolitan Owner Biography
Max Hollein is the current Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, often called The Met. He has led the museum since 2018. Many people search “who is metropolitan owner” and expect to find one rich person who owns the museum like a private company. That is not true. The Met is a non-profit institution that belongs to the public. Still, the director plays the biggest day-to-day role in running it. Max Hollein is the person who makes the big decisions about exhibitions, new art purchases, staff, and the visitor experience. This article explains who he is, where he came from, and how he reached one of the top jobs in the art world.
Metropolitan Owner Early Life
Max Hollein was born on June 11, 1969, in Vienna, Austria. He grew up in a city famous for art, music, and history. His father, Hans Hollein, was a well-known architect and designer who won the Pritzker Prize in 1985 (often called the Nobel Prize of architecture). His mother, Helene Hollein, worked in fashion and design. From a young age, Max spent time in museums, galleries, and construction sites. This family background gave him a natural love for art and culture.
Metropolitan Owner Education
Hollein studied in two countries. He first went to the University of Vienna, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1994. At the same time, he took art history classes because he wanted to understand both the creative and the business sides of museums. Later, he moved to the United States and completed a Master of Arts in art history at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He finished his studies in the late 1990s. This mix of business training and deep art knowledge would help him later when he had to manage large museum budgets.
Metropolitan Owner Career
Hollein started working in museums right after university. 1995–2001: He worked at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, first in the director’s office and later on exhibitions. 2001–2016: At age 32, he became the director of three museums in Frankfurt, Germany (Schirn Kunsthalle, Liebieghaus sculpture museum, and Städel Museum). He was one of the youngest people ever to lead major European museums. During his 15 years there, visitor numbers doubled, and he organized popular shows about modern and old art. 2016–2018: He moved to San Francisco to direct the Fine Arts Museums (which include the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor). He modernized the buildings and brought in younger visitors. April 2018: The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that Max Hollein would become its new director. He started the job in August 2018. 2022: The museum gave him the additional title of Chief Executive Officer, making him fully responsible for both artistic choices and money matters.
Metropolitan Owner Personal Life
Max Hollein is married to Nina Hollein, a fashion designer. They have two children. The family lives in New York City. Hollein keeps his private life quiet and rarely speaks about it in interviews. He has said that walking through the museum galleries early in the morning, before visitors arrive, is one of his favorite moments of the day.
Metropolitan Owner Controversies
Every museum director faces difficult decisions. Here are the main discussions that happened during Hollein’s time at The Met, all based on public facts:
2019–2020: The museum returned some ancient objects to countries that said they had been taken illegally many years ago. Some collectors and visitors asked if the museum was giving away too much. Hollein explained that returning items with unclear history is the right thing to do.
2020–2021: During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Met had to close for months and lost a lot of money. The museum reduced staff salaries and laid off some workers. Many people in the art world talked about these choices. Hollein said the steps were needed to protect the museum for the future. By 2023, most jobs came back as visitors returned.
2022–2023: The museum raised the admission price for non-New York residents from $25 to $30. Some people felt this made the museum less welcoming. Hollein answered that ticket money helps keep the collection free for children, students, and New York State residents. None of these events involved personal wrongdoing by Hollein. They are normal challenges for leaders of large public museums.
Conclusion
Max Hollein is not the “owner” of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, but he is the person trusted to guide it today. With his background in both art history and business, he works to keep a 150-year-old museum exciting for new generations. He believes museums should show art from every culture and be open to everyone. Whether you visit The Met in person or online, the experience you have now is shaped in large part by Max Hollein and his team.
FAQs
Who really owns The Metropolitan Museum of Art?
The Met is a non-profit organization. The art collection is held in trust for the public. The building and land belong to the City of New York.
Is Max Hollein the owner?
No. He is the Director and CEO, the highest employee, hired by the Board of Trustees.
How long will Max Hollein stay at The Met?
There is no fixed end date. Directors usually stay 10–20 years. He started in 2018.
Where is Max Hollein from?
He was born and raised in Vienna, Austria.
Does Max Hollein decide what art to buy?
He makes the final choice together with curators and with approval from the Board of Trustees.
How much does the director of The Met earn?
The museum’s public tax documents for 2023 show the CEO earned about $1.3 million per year, including salary and benefits.
Can I meet Max Hollein when I visit the museum?
He sometimes gives talks or walks through galleries, but he has a busy schedule and does not meet visitors every day.
What is Max Hollein’s biggest goal for The Met?
He wants the museum to feel modern and welcoming while protecting its historic collection for the next 150 years.