26North

Josh Harris
Born	(1964-12-29) December 29, 1964 Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Investor, sports team owner
Known for	Co-founder of Apollo Global Management; managing partner of Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Commanders; co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

Joshua Jordan Harris (born December 29, 1964) is a prominent American investor and owner of multiple sports team franchises. He is a co-founder of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management and serves as managing partner for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and the NFL's Washington Commanders. Additionally, Harris holds a general partnership in English football club Crystal Palace and maintains a minority interest in Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2022, he departed from Apollo to dedicate his efforts to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, a sports-focused holding company he established with David Blitzer in 2017 to manage their shared athletic investments.

Harris completed his undergraduate studies in economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, followed by an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990. Soon after graduating, he co-founded Apollo alongside Leon Black and Marc Rowan. He has led ownership groups acquiring the Philadelphia 76ers (2011), New Jersey Devils (2013), and Washington Commanders (2023). Beyond sports, Harris founded Harris Philanthropies in 2014 and launched alternative investment firm 26North in 2022. His net worth is estimated at billion .

Early life

Born on December 29, 1964, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Harris attributes much of his strong work ethic to his involvement in youth sports, particularly wrestling. He completed high school at The Field School in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1982. Initially enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences, he transferred as a freshman to Wharton to pursue economics, earning his Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude in 1986. During his college years, Harris competed as a wrestler for the Penn Quakers, wrestling at the 118-pound weight class against future Olympic gold medalist Bobby Weaver. In the summers of 1983 and 1984, he operated lemonade stands at notable Washington landmarks. He is affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Private equity and finance

In 1986, Harris relocated to New York City to begin his career as a mergers and acquisitions analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Two years later, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School (HBS), where he was recognized as a Baker Loeb Scholar, an honor awarded to the top 5% of students. That same year, Drexel filed for bankruptcy amid controversies involving illegal junk bond activities. Following a brief tenure at Blackstone, Harris partnered with former Drexel colleagues Leon Black and Marc Rowan to establish Apollo Global Management.

In 2008, Harris orchestrated a $1 billion investment in chemical manufacturer LyondellBasell, which was sold five years later for $12.7 billion—marking one of private equity’s most significant returns. In April 2009, he agreed to pay $30 million to settle with Huntsman Corporation after Apollo withdrew from a planned merger.

Harris provided counsel to Jared Kushner on infrastructure matters in 2017 and helped secure a $184 million loan from Apollo to Kushner Companies. By May 2021, following internal disputes related to his sports holdings and being passed over for CEO in favor of Marc Rowan, Harris reduced his involvement in Apollo’s daily operations. He officially resigned as senior managing director in January 2022 and exited the board by October that year. In 2022, Leon Black filed a lawsuit against Harris accusing him of conspiring to harm Black’s reputation amid Epstein-related allegations; however, the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, with dismissal upheld upon appeal.

September 2022 saw Harris launch alternative asset management firm 26North, recruiting leadership from firms like Brookfield Asset Management, Lehman Brothers, and Goldman Sachs. The company specializes in direct lending with investments focused on private equity, credit, and insurance sectors, managing assets totaling $25 billion as of January 2025.

Harris holds board positions with Mount Sinai Health System, Wharton School, Harvard Business School, and participates as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His previous roles include serving on the Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets for the New York Federal Reserve, acting as vice president and treasurer of Allen-Stevenson School, and sitting on the board of the United States Olympic Committee.

His family office, HRS Management, was once the largest stakeholder in political publication The Hill before selling it to Nexstar Media Group in August 2021. In 2022, Harris invested $10 million into Philadelphia-based real estate firm Mosaic Development Partners and formed a joint venture with Canvas Property Group through HMS Management targeting acquisitions exceeding $1 billion in property assets. In 2023, he joined other investors including Mark Penn and James Tisch contributing $50 million toward The Messenger, an American news platform that ceased operations within its first year.

Sports ownership

Harris's interest in sports investments was sparked following a meeting with Blackstone executive David Blitzer in London in 2008. This connection resulted in the creation of an investment consortium that purchased the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in October 2011 for million.<ref> During his tenure, Harris managed the contentious "The Process" phase, which involved deliberate underperformance to enhance draft lottery positioning. Despite resistance from league officials worried about financial repercussions, Harris appointed former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo as chairman in 2015, with general manager Sam Hinkie stepping down the following year.<ref> Notable acquisitions during this era include Joel Embiid, who earned the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2022–23 season.<ref> By 2024, the 76ers' valuation had reached billion.<ref>

In August 2013, Harris and Blitzer acquired the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) for million, a deal that included operational control of the Prudential Center, one of the highest-revenue arenas worldwide. The Devils were valued at billion by 2024.<ref> December 2015 saw Harris purchase an 18% ownership share in English Premier League club Crystal Palace F.C., collaborating with Blitzer, John Textor, and chairman Steve Parish.<ref><ref> Within esports, Harris and Blitzer consolidated Dignitas and Apex Gaming under the Dignitas name in 2016.<ref>

To unify their sports ventures, they established Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) in September 2017.<ref> By 2024, HBSE was valued at billion,<ref> encompassing ownership of the 76ers, Devils, Delaware Blue Coats (NBA G League), and Utica Comets (American Hockey League).<ref> In June 2020, they acquired a combined investment of million in the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref> Harris spearheaded a prominent bid for Premier League club Chelsea F.C. in 2022 alongside partners such as Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton; however, Chelsea was ultimately sold to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for billion.<ref><ref> He also sought to acquire Major League Baseball's New York Mets prior to their $2.4 billion transaction with Steve Cohen.<ref><ref> In 2023, Harris and Blitzer considered purchasing stakes in Manchester United.<ref>

HBSE expanded further in June 2023 by acquiring a minority interest in Joe Gibbs Racing.<ref> The subsequent month, Harris led a consortium including Mitchell Rales, Magic Johnson, and Mark Ein to buy the NFL's Washington Commanders and their stadium for $6.05 billion—the highest amount ever paid for a sports franchise.<ref><ref><ref> Previously, Harris had submitted a bid for the NFL's Denver Broncos alongside Johnson before its sale to Walmart executives.<ref><ref> Early in 2024, they divested their Steelers stake due to NFL ownership regulations.<ref> Broadening into youth athletics, Harris and Blitzer launched Unrivaled Sports as a parent entity supported by The Chernin Group in March 2024.<ref><ref> In June 2025, HBSE secured a $250 million franchise fee to establish a new Philadelphia WNBA team slated to begin play by 2030.<ref><ref>

Management style and initiatives

Harris delegates operational responsibilities of his teams and venues to appointed general managers. He prioritizes integrating sports science and data analytics into team management, with Daryl Morey—76ers president of basketball operations—serving as a significant proponent. During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns of NBA and NHL activities in March 2020, Harris and Blitzer committed to compensating Prudential Center staff despite event cancellations. Initially proposing a 20% salary cut for HBSE employees earning above $100,000—including those at the 76ers and Devils—Harris reversed this decision following public backlash and support from player Joel Embiid.

In July 2022, Harris revealed plans for a billion-dollar arena project named 76 Place at Market East, intended as a new home for the 76ers located in Philadelphia's Center City. The development faced opposition from nearby residents of Chinatown concerned about potential economic consequences. Although initially approved, these plans were abandoned in January 2025 after reaching an agreement with Comcast Spectacor to construct and manage the New South Philadelphia Arena within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. This venue is anticipated to open by 2031 as home to both the 76ers and NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.

In April 2025, Harris joined D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser to announce a comprehensive billion-dollar redevelopment initiative for the former site of RFK Stadium. Pending approval, this project will feature a billion-dollar facility—the New Commanders Stadium—scheduled to open in 2030 as the team's new home venue.

Franchises

Portfolio of sports teams owned

Team	League	Year Acquired	Details
Philadelphia 76ers	National Basketball Association (NBA)	2011	Serving as managing partner alongside David Blitzer through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). Ownership includes the Delaware Blue Coats competing in the NBA G League.
New Jersey Devils	National Hockey Association (NHL)	2013	Co-managing partner role within HBSE. Also owns the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
Crystal Palace F.C.	Premier League	2015	Holds an 18% stake as a general partner with Steve Parish, John Textor, and Blitzer.
Washington Commanders	National Football League (NFL)	2023	Functions as managing partner; ownership includes Northwest Stadium.
Philadelphia WNBA team	Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)	2025	Managing partner under HBSE; official team name to be announced.

Personal life

Harris descends from grandparents who emigrated from Russian regions in the early 1900s. His father, Jacob, practiced orthodontics while his mother, Sylvia, was a schoolteacher; he has a younger sibling named Gabe. Identifying as Jewish and following Reform Judaism, Harris celebrated his bar mitzvah in 1977 at the Washington Hebrew Congregation. During high school, he spent three weeks working on a Reform kibbutz in Israel. In 1995, he wed Marjorie Harris (née Rubin), whom he met at Harvard; together they have five children: Hannah, Stuart, Thomas, Pierce, and Bridget. Harris shares a longstanding friendship with businessman Mark Ein, dating back to elementary school; both later attended Wharton and Harvard and owned beach homes on Long Island during their Wall Street careers.

A devoted supporter of Washington, D.C.’s sports franchises, Harris grew up attending Redskins games at RFK Stadium and Bullets basketball matches at the Capital Centre with family. He was honored with the Outstanding American Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013. An avid endurance athlete, Harris has completed marathons and triathlons, including finishing the 2010 New York City Marathon in 3:53:41 and the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon in 3:48:12. In September 2023, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals game.

In June 2025, Harris acquired a unique trading card of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels for $500,000 to display at Northwest Stadium. He also took part in the "Command the Room" discussion panel alongside Daniels at Fanatics Fest NYC.

Harris was inducted into the Wall Street fraternity Kappa Beta Phi in 2011. In November 2017, he purchased the Dommerich Mansion—a 21,000-square-foot townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side—for $52 million. Later, in July 2021, he bought a 9,100-square-foot mansion in Miami Beach from SoftBank executive Marcelo Claure for $32 million. Known for frequently using private helicopters to attend sporting events, his helicopter landing once led to the cancellation of a youth soccer game at Newark’s St. Benedict's Preparatory School due to helipad use.

As of June 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $9.8 billion while the Bloomberg Billionaires Index values it at $11.7 billion. By mid-2023, he held Apollo shares worth approximately $2.54 billion.

Philanthropy

In 2014, Harris and his spouse launched Harris Philanthropies, a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City. The following year, he created the Harris Center for Precision Wellness at the Icahn Genomics Institute in New York, backed by a $5 million endowment. From 2015 through 2020, Harris contributed $3.5 million to the Philadelphia Police Athletic League, along with $648,000 to the Republican Party and $190,000 to the Democratic Party. Since 2016, he has collaborated with After-School All-Stars by providing a $1 million grant benefiting schools located in Newark, Philadelphia, and Camden. His philanthropy also extends to the University of Pennsylvania, where he has donated $1 million to support the Penn Quakers wrestling team, established an endowed scholarship for students from the D.C. area, and funded a $10 million Harris Family Alternative Investments initiative. Additionally, Harris has engaged in discussions at events organized by the Milken Institute, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, and the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.

On an international scale, Harris has supported social development efforts in Israel by founding the youth basketball league known as the 48ers and financing programs aimed at integrating Ethiopian Jewish communities. During the COVID-19 crisis, he provided over $7 million worth of food and medical supplies to various organizations in Philadelphia. Through his company HBSE, Harris committed $20 million toward addressing racial injustice following the George Floyd protests in 2020 and allocated $2 million to The Bridgespan Group to assist nonprofit growth in Philadelphia and Camden. In 2022, he established a $5 million Harris Family Fund focused on Sports Management and Alternative Investments at Harvard Business School and made contributions to the Reform Alliance, local homeless shelters, and mobile cancer treatment clinics affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

That same year saw Harris donate $1 million to Fund for Health—a health equity project spearheaded by Penn Med and Wharton—and an additional $1 million to Penn Med aimed at enhancing diversity within clinical medicine and biomedical research fields. Looking ahead to 2025, he pledged $5 million toward constructing an athletic training facility at The Field School, where he completed his education.