Thomas George Stemberg (January 18, 1949 – October 23, 2015) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist.

[7] In 1973, Stemberg graduated from the Harvard Business School receiving his M.B.A. as a George F. Baker Scholar.

[10] In 1986, Stemberg started Staples with backing from private equity firms, including Hambro International Ventures, Harvard Management, Bessemer Ventures, Adler & Company, and Bain Capital;[11] Bain co-founder Mitt Romney served on the company's board of directors for the next 15 years.

[12] By 1999, Staples had worldwide sales of over US$7 billion, with more than one thousand superstores, mail order catalogs, e-commerce outlets, and a contract business.

[13] Stemberg had an estimated net worth of $202 million, he was a philanthropist who donated funds in areas pertaining to education.