Early Life and Education
Scott Louis Shleifer was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1977. His upbringing in suburban Portland was marked by his family's involvement in the furniture trade. Shleifer's father, Stuart Shleifer, owned and operated Shleifer Furniture, a business founded in 1936. Scott graduated from Beaverton High School in 1995. He then pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School in 1999.
Career and Rise to Success
After graduating from Wharton, Shleifer began his career at The Blackstone Group, where he worked for three years. In 2002, he joined Tiger Global Management, and in 2003, co-founded the firm's private equity arm with Chase Coleman. Under his leadership, Tiger Global expanded its investments into venture capital, focusing on technology and consumer sectors, particularly in China. This strategic focus led to substantial growth, with the firm managing approximately $50 billion in assets by 2024. Shleifer stepped down as head of private investments in late 2023 and transitioned to a senior advisor role in early 2024.
Key Business Strategies
Shleifer spearheaded Tiger Global's aggressive “spray and pray” investment approach in venture capital. This involved rapid deployments across numerous tech startups to capitalize on high-growth opportunities. The firm executed over 100 investments, primarily in scalable technology platforms in the consumer and internet sectors. He made lucrative bets on several Chinese tech companies such as JD.com, Didi Chuxing, and Meituan.
Philanthropy
Shleifer and his wife, Elena, are actively involved in philanthropy. In January 2022, they donated $18 million to the University of Pennsylvania to support the Penn First Plus program, which aids first-generation and low-income undergraduates. They have also contributed to educational initiatives, including a $1.8 million donation to Beaverton High School in 2021. In March 2026, the Shleifers committed an additional $10 million to Palm Beach Day Academy, bringing their total support to $28 million.