Early Life and Education
John William Henry II was born on September 13, 1949, in Quincy, Illinois. His parents were soybean farmers. Due to asthma, his family moved to California when he was 15. He attended several colleges but did not graduate, choosing instead to pursue his interest in music.
Rise to Success
Henry started his career by trading corn and soybean futures to learn about hedging price risk. He founded John W. Henry & Company, a commodity trading firm, in 1981. He developed a mechanical trend-following method for managing futures trading accounts, which was successful. However, the firm later faced difficulties.
Key Business Strategies
Henry's key business strategy involved recognizing opportunities in sports and building a diverse portfolio. In 2001, he co-founded New England Sports Ventures (later Fenway Sports Group) to purchase the Boston Red Sox. He has since expanded FSG to include Liverpool F.C., the Pittsburgh Penguins, and other sports-related properties. He is known for his innovative approach to sports management and his commitment to data-driven decision-making.
Philanthropy
Henry and his partners created the Red Sox Foundation, which has committed over $68 million to non-profit programs focused on health, education, recreation, and social service programs. He also serves as a director of the John W. Henry Family Foundation.
