James E. "Jimmy" Cayne (February 14, 1934 – December 28, 2021) was an American businessman and CEO of Bear Stearns.

[3][4] Cayne attended Purdue University, but left before graduating to join the United States Army.

Cayne has been the subject of various press reports since the Bear collapse, including the fact that he sold his stake in the company for $61 million after its crash.

Just days later, Bear Stearns came to an agreement with competitor JP Morgan for a full buyout at only $2 per share,[10] roughly $236 million for the entire firm.

It is estimated that the value of Cayne's holdings had dropped to less than $15 million as a result, effectively removing him from the list of the wealthiest individuals in the country.

[17][18] Cayne, himself a sound bridge player,[19][17] recruited international-class professionals to form teams that have won more than a dozen North American championships.