John Fisher (businessman)

John Joseph Fisher
Born	(1961-06-01) June 1, 1961 United States
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, sports team owner
Known for	Principal proprietor of the Oakland Athletics, San Jose Earthquakes, Texas Rattlers
Notable work	Owner of Oakland Athletics (MLB), San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), Texas Rattlers (PBR)

John Joseph Fisher (born June 1, 1961) is an American entrepreneur and the principal proprietor of the Athletics franchise in Major League Baseball, the San Jose Earthquakes team in Major League Soccer, as well as the Texas Rattlers competing in the Professional Bull Riders league.

Son of Gap founders Donald Fisher and Doris F. Fisher, Fisher inherited substantial wealth, with his net worth estimated at $3 billion. Together with his father, he became a part-owner of the San Francisco Giants in 1992 by joining a consortium that successfully blocked the franchise’s relocation to the Tampa Bay area. In 2005, Fisher divested his interest in the Giants to purchase ownership of the Oakland Athletics. His tenure as owner has attracted significant criticism, including accusations that he intentionally weakened the team’s competitiveness to reduce fan engagement in Oakland and promote a move to Las Vegas. The Athletics are planning a move to the Las Vegas metropolitan region following an agreement in which Nevada pledged $380 million in public funds for constructing a new stadium.

Family and early life

Fisher is the son of Doris Feigenbaum Fisher and Don Fisher, who co-founded Gap, from whom he inherited his wealth. His family is Jewish and includes two siblings: Robert J. Fisher and William S. Fisher. John is married to Laura Meier Fisher.

He completed his secondary education at Phillips Exeter Academy and earned an A.B. degree in history from Princeton University in 1983, where his senior thesis was titled "Echoes of the Holocaust: Survivors in America Speak Out." He subsequently obtained an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Career

Following graduate school, Fisher initially worked at a real estate company affiliated with his parents' enterprises but later transitioned to serve as president of Pisces, the investment management firm owned by the Fisher family.

In 1992, together with his father, he acquired a share in the San Francisco Giants as part of a local investor group that prevented relocating the team to Tampa Bay. This initiative preserved the franchise’s presence in San Francisco and facilitated the development of a new stadium in 2000 (currently known as Oracle Park). Fisher retained a minority stake until 2005, when he sold it to take control of the Oakland Athletics.

In partnership with Lewis Wolff, Fisher purchased several Fairmont hotels located in San Francisco, which laid groundwork for his investment in the Athletics. Additionally, he holds ownership interests in the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and Scottish Premiership side Celtic.

Athletics ownership

Fisher assumed majority ownership and managing general partnership of the Oakland Athletics after completing a joint acquisition with Wolff in 2005. In November 2016, he bought out Wolff’s 10% share, becoming sole owner of the franchise.

In April 2023, the Athletics revealed plans to construct a new ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip near Interstate 15, thereby ending ongoing negotiations with Oakland city officials. Subsequently, on June 13, during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, an attendance of 27,759 fans participated in a "reverse boycott," wearing green shirts emblazoned with “Sell” and chanting slogans opposing Fisher’s relocation plans.

At Oakland’s final Athletics game on September 26, 2024, supporters collectively voiced their disapproval toward Fisher—who was absent and had not attended Coliseum games for nearly two seasons. Former owner Wally Haas publicly condemned Fisher’s decision to relocate as "unforgivable."

Political views

Following his graduation, Fisher began his career working in the mailroom at the Republican National Committee and later took on fundraising roles for President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.

In 2019, Fisher and his family contributed close to $9 million to a political action committee that opposed Barack Obama during the 2012 presidential race. He has also made donations to Ohio Representative Mike Carey, who is known for his coal industry lobbying and backing of President Donald Trump. In 2023, Fisher supported Republican candidate Doug Burgum in the 2024 U.S. presidential election by providing the maximum allowable campaign contribution.