Charles Wang Charles B . Wang ( in Chinese : 王嘉廉 , " Wáng Jiālián " ) ( born August 19 , 1944 in Shanghai , China ) is the co - founder of Computer Associates International , Inc . ( now CA , Inc . ) and owner of the New York Islanders . Although born in Shanghai , he moved to Queens , New York , when he was eight years old . He attended the elite Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene , Brooklyn . He earned a bachelor ' s degree in mathematics from Queens College in New York , and began working at Columbia University . In 1976 , Wang started Computer Associates on credit cards at the age of 31 . He has since authored two books to help executives master technology : " Techno Vision " ( 1994 , McGraw - Hill ) and " Techno Vision II " ( 1997 , McGraw - Hill ) . Wang retired from Computer Associates in 2002 . He is currently the majority owner of the New York Islanders hockey franchise , which he became a part - owner in 2000 . He later bought out the share of business partner Sanjay Kumar in 2004 , and acquired the New York Dragons Arena football franchise . He is the master developer of the Lighthouse , the transformation of the Nassau Coliseum and surrounding 150 acre . The project will include a five - star hotel ; condominiums ; an Athletic Complex featuring four ice rinks , a basketball facility and state - of - the - art health club that will serve as the Islanders ’ practice facility and also be open to the public ; a Sports Technology Center ; open air plaza ; and conference center . He is also founder of Plainview Properties , a real estate firm which recently announced a major development in Plainview , New York : Old Plainview - a traditional village combining townhouses , apartments , offices , restaurants , a Hyatt hotel and recreation space using “ smart growth ” concepts . Residents of Plainview , headed by the group Concerned Citizens of Plainview - Old Bethpage , have resisted the project from the start . Charles Wang and ice hockey . New York Islanders . Wang has received praise for his willingness to spend money with the goal of making the Islanders competitive ; previous ownership groups had not . He also has a reputation for making decisions that go against conventional wisdom . Occasionally these unorthodox decisions , such as hiring Ted Nolan as coach , receive praise . Others inspire criticism that Wang is being contrarian for its own sake and not following logic or reason . After hiring Neil Smith as the general manager for the New York Islanders during the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals , Wang fired him 40 days later and gave the job to Garth Snow , who retired from his position as the team ' s backup goalie to take the job . Wang said that " philosophical differences " were the basis for firing Smith . This series of personnel moves inspired a critical and incredulous reaction from hockey journalists . On September 12 , 2006 , Wang and GM Snow signed goaltender Rick DiPietro to a 15 - year , $ 67 . 5 million contract . The length of the deal , as well as Wang ' s signing of Alexei Yashin to a 10 - year contract a few years before , have added to controversy . A Forbes article investigated why certain NHL franchises could remain profitable despite poor attendance and overall league unprofitability . They found that several league owners underreported their cable broadcast revenue ; they specifically accused Wang of excluding half of the $ 17 million paid to the Islanders for the 2003 cable broadcast season . Wang has threatened to move the Islanders if the redevelopment plan for the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum ( titled the " Lighthouse Project " ) is not approved by Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead . Project Hope . Wang created in 2006 the Charles B . Wang Ice Hockey Project Hope , a project aiming at the development of ice hockey in China . Focused in and around the Heilongjiang province , especially cities of Harbin and Qiqihar , Wang and the New York Islanders invest in the development of ice hockey in a region where the sport already has some foothold , with , as ultimate goal , providing young Chinese athletes with access to educational opportunities and cultural exchanges . Enrolled athletes in the program will play in youth hockey programs affiliated to the New York Islanders and will be required to study English as part of the regular curriculum . English exams will be underwent by students on a regular basis , and the project aims at making them perfectly fluent English speakers and writers . This fluency is required in order for the students to be eligible for scholarships allowing them to continue their education in the United States .