The businessman most likely referred to is Ross Perot , the Texas billionaire who ran for U.S. president in 1992 and 1996 as an independent and later Reform Party candidate.

Quick scoop

Ross Perot was one of the best-known businessman-candidates in modern U.S. politics, and his 1992 run in particular made a major impact on the election. He was the founder of Electronic Data Systems and later Perot Systems.

Why this fits

  • He was widely described as a businessman first, then a presidential candidate.
  • He ran as an independent in 1992 and again in 1996 under the Reform Party banner.
  • His campaigns are among the most famous examples of a business leader entering the presidential race.

Other possibilities

If you meant a different businessman, names that sometimes come up include Michael Bloomberg , Mitt Romney , Steve Forbes , Herman Cain , and Howard Schultz. Among them, Ross Perot is the clearest match for the phrase “the businessman that ran for president”.