Jason Levien
Jason M. Levien | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973 Metropolitan New York area, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Executive, investor, adjunct professor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | CEO and Co-Chairman of D.C. United; Chairman of Brisbane Bullets; former CEO of Memphis Grizzlies; founder of Neivel Capital and 82nd Street Partners |
Jason M. Levien (born 1973) is an American executive and investor in the sports industry. He holds the positions of CEO and Co-Chairman at Major League Soccer team D.C. United and serves as Chairman of the Brisbane Bullets, a professional basketball franchise in Australia.
Previously, Levien was the CEO and Managing Partner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He is the founder of investment firms Neivel Capital and 82nd Street Partners and also works as an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School. His personal wealth is estimated to exceed $290 million.
Early life
Levien was born into a Jewish family in the Metropolitan New York area and marked his bar mitzvah ceremony in Israel. His father practiced law and was involved in sports business, representing athletes such as Hector "Macho" Camacho, while his mother worked as an educator. Levien played collegiate basketball at Pomona College, earning his degree in 1993, and subsequently obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan School of Law, where he contributed as a law review editor.
Legal practice, sports representation, academic roles
After becoming a licensed attorney in 1998, Levien began his career at Washington, D.C.’s Williams & Connolly law firm, where he represented professional athletes. He later transitioned to executive roles within the NBA organizations Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies. Additionally, he held a position as an adjunct professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law, focusing on sports law education.
In 2005, he successfully negotiated a $33 million contract for Udonis Haslem with the Miami Heat. Two years later, Levien secured a $55 million agreement for leading scorer Kevin Martin with the Sacramento Kings. On July 31, 2008, he brokered what was then the largest contract in Chicago Bulls history: a six-year deal worth $80 million for client Luol Deng. His clientele also included prominent NBA athletes such as Omri Casspi, Yotam Halperin, Ukrainian center Kyrylo Fesenko, Courtney Lee, Hedo Türkoğlu, and Earnest Graham. His expertise with international players was featured in an October 2006 issue of The New York Times Play Magazine.
Philadelphia 76ers involvement
In 2011, Levien became part of an investment consortium alongside Josh Harris, David Blitzer, Michael Rubin, and actor Will Smith to acquire ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Leadership at D.C. United
In 2012, Levien partnered with fellow Sixers minority stakeholder Erick Thohir to assume majority ownership of the MLS franchise D.C. United, prioritizing efforts to develop a new stadium for soccer.
Levien divested his interest in the Sixers to join Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera’s ownership group as CEO. The partnership roster included Justin Timberlake, Peyton and Ashley Manning, Harold Ford Jr., and Penny Hardaway. Between 2012 and June 2014, Levien oversaw basketball operations and business management, appointing head coach Dave Joerger and VP of Basketball Operations John Hollinger. During this period, the team posted a combined regular-season record of 106–58 across two seasons and reached its inaugural Western Conference Finals appearance. In 2013, ESPN The Magazine recognized the Grizzlies as North America’s top sports franchise. Levien’s tenure as CEO concluded in May 2014.
In 2014, Levien spearheaded a public-private collaboration with the District of Columbia government to facilitate construction of a new stadium for D.C. United. MLS Commissioner Don Garber commended his role in forging agreements that advanced interests for the district, franchise ownership, and American soccer as a whole. This initiative earned the 2019 D.C. Chamber of Commerce Economic Impact Award.
Despite these accomplishments under Levien’s leadership, D.C. United has encountered considerable difficulties; analysts have described the team’s performance as a "disaster," while supporters have urged for new ownership committed to competitive success.
Swansea City
In April 2016, Levien and Steve Kaplan initiated discussions to obtain a majority stake in Swansea City, a club competing in the Premier League. During their tenure as owners, the team faced relegation following the conclusion of the 2017–18 season. By November 2024, Levien and Kaplan revealed their intention to divest their ownership shares in the club.
Brisbane Bullets
Levien became part of a group acquiring a 75% ownership interest in the Brisbane Bullets, an Australian National Basketball League (NBL) franchise, in September 2019. He holds the position of Chairman alongside partners such as NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin and NBA Champion Khris Middleton.
Beyond sports, Levien's portfolio includes investments across media, hospitality, real estate, and technology industries.
Personal life
Levien has experience as a Democratic strategist and political consultant, notably credited with drafting Harold Ford Jr.'s keynote address at the 2000 Democratic National Convention. He also co-wrote a policy paper on campaign finance reform that was published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation.
Until 2006, he frequently appeared as a commentator on WFOR-TV Miami and has contributed insights on professional sports business and the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement through appearances on ESPN, ESPNews, and NPR. Levien is divorced from Meredith Kopit Levien, with whom he has one child.