India, Nov. 20 -- Tom Steyer, 68, a billionaire investor turned climate crusader, launched his campaign for California governor on November 19. He pledged to tackle affordability and rebalance corporate power in Sacramento.

Steyer struck a populist tone in his campaign announcement when he said, "Californians deserve a life they can afford . the Californians who make this state run are being run over by the cost of living."

Tom Steyer was born in New York City in 1957 and earned a B.A. from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford.

He made his fortune by founding Farallon Capital Management, a San Francisco-based hedge fund, and stepped away from active management in 2012 to focus on philanthropy and political activism.

After his exit...