Early Life
Jahm Najafi was born in Iran in March 1963. In 1975, at the age of 12, he and his older brother Francis immigrated to the United States. He showed a strong aptitude for learning, mastering English by watching the NBA finals. Najafi pursued higher education in the US, earning a Bachelor of Arts/Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in business economics from Harvard University in 1986.
Rise to Success
Najafi's career started at Salomon Brothers, a Wall Street firm that is now part of Citigroup. He then became CEO of Pivotal Private Equity and later partner and COO of The Pivotal Group. In 2002, Najafi established The Najafi Companies, a private equity firm, using his own capital to invest across various sectors. A notable early success was the acquisition of Network Solutions in 2003 for $20 million, which he sold for $800 million in 2007.
Key Business Strategies
Najafi's business strategy revolves around identifying and investing in underserved sectors or those undergoing rapid transformation. His firm, The Najafi Companies, focuses on long-term, value-driven investments and acquiring businesses. His investments span across various industries, including consumer, media, sports, travel, e-commerce, retail, and technology.
Philanthropy
Najafi is committed to philanthropy, as demonstrated by his pledge to give away at least half of his wealth through The Giving Pledge. He and his wife, Cheryl, have been involved in supporting education, the arts, social justice, and equity. Their philanthropic efforts have included substantial contributions to the NBA Foundation, focusing on economic empowerment for Black communities.
