https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64753081
In a statement, Thomas H Lee's family said they were "extremely saddened" by the 78-year-old's death.
The New York Post reports that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Manhattan office.
The NYPD told the BBC an unnamed 78-year-old man had been found dead on Thursday morning at 767 Fifth Avenue.
The address is where the offices of Thomas H Lee Capital LLC are listed.
According to Forbes, Mr Lee was worth $2bn (£1.6bn) at his time of death.
Alongside his pioneering of the leveraged buyout, Mr Lee was also known for acquiring beverage company Snapple in 1992 and selling it two years later to Quaker Oats for $1.7bn - 32 times what he bought it for.
Mr Lee was also celebrated for his philanthropy, and had served as a trustee for prominent New York City art organisations like the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Modern Art.
In 1996, he donated $22m to his alma mater Harvard University, part of which has been used to provide financial aid for students.
"I've been lucky to make some money. I'm more than happy to give some of it back," he said at the time.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Tenenbaum, and his five children.
In a statement, Thomas H Lee's family said they were "extremely saddened" by the 78-year-old's death.
The New York Post reports that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Manhattan office.
The NYPD told the BBC an unnamed 78-year-old man had been found dead on Thursday morning at 767 Fifth Avenue.
The address is where the offices of Thomas H Lee Capital LLC are listed.
According to Forbes, Mr Lee was worth $2bn (£1.6bn) at his time of death.
Alongside his pioneering of the leveraged buyout, Mr Lee was also known for acquiring beverage company Snapple in 1992 and selling it two years later to Quaker Oats for $1.7bn - 32 times what he bought it for.
Mr Lee was also celebrated for his philanthropy, and had served as a trustee for prominent New York City art organisations like the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Modern Art.
In 1996, he donated $22m to his alma mater Harvard University, part of which has been used to provide financial aid for students.
"I've been lucky to make some money. I'm more than happy to give some of it back," he said at the time.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Tenenbaum, and his five children.
