Early Life and Education
Joshua Jordan Harris was born on December 29, 1964, in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He graduated from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 with a degree in economics and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990.
Rise to Success
Harris began his career as a mergers and acquisitions analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert. In 1990, he co-founded Apollo Global Management with Leon Black and Marc Rowan. Apollo Global Management became a significant player in the private equity and alternative investment sectors. Under his leadership, Apollo acquired numerous companies and achieved substantial returns, including the LyondellBasell transaction in 2008. In 2022, Harris stepped down from Apollo to focus on his own ventures, founding 26North.
Key Business Strategies
Harris's business strategies have been centered on private equity investments, with a focus on acquiring and restructuring companies to increase their value. He has also been involved in numerous leveraged buyouts. His success at Apollo contributed to the firm's growth into a major global investment manager. His acquisition of the Washington Commanders in 2023 for $6.05 billion highlights his interest in sports franchises.
Philanthropy
Harris and his wife, Marjorie, founded Harris Philanthropies in 2014. The foundation focuses on youth and community development through investments in sports, wellness, and education. The Harris Philanthropies are one of the largest supporters of after-school sports programs, helping approximately 15,000 youth annually within Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York, and approximately 100,000 youth annually across the country. In 2022, he donated $5 million to Harvard Business School to establish the Harris Family Fund for Sports Management and Alternative Investments.
