José E. Feliciano

José E. Feliciano
Born	Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Alma mater	Princeton University (B.S. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 1994) Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, investor
Years active	1990s–present
Known for	Co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital

José E. Feliciano is an American entrepreneur and investor of Puerto Rican origin, who co-established and currently serves as managing partner at the investment company Clearlake Capital. As of April 2025, Forbes values his fortune at approximately $4.4 billion. Feliciano made his debut on the Forbes 400 and Billionaires rankings in 2020.

Early life and education

Originating from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Feliciano completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University in 1994, earning a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He further advanced his education by obtaining an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Career

Feliciano launched his professional journey in investment banking, focusing on mergers and acquisitions as well as corporate finance at Goldman Sachs. He subsequently took on the role of CFO at govWorks and was a Partner at Tennenbaum Capital, a firm specializing in alternative investments. In 2006, he co-founded Clearlake Capital alongside Behdad Eghbali.

Currently, Clearlake Capital stands as the world’s 12^th largest private equity firm, overseeing assets exceeding $45 billion. The firm’s portfolio features leading companies including Alteryx, Dun & Bradstreet, and ModMed.

In May 2022, Clearlake led a consortium that purchased Chelsea Football Club for over £4.25 billion. Feliciano holds board memberships with multiple Clearlake portfolio entities such as Chelsea FC and WellPet. His passion for sports has shaped Clearlake’s investment approach, emphasizing the similarities between athletic teamwork and business execution.

The Los Angeles Business Journal listed Feliciano among the wealthiest individuals in Los Angeles for both 2022 and 2023.

By 2025, Clearlake’s assets under management had grown beyond $90 billion, fueled by the introduction of Clearlake Credit aimed at expanding investments in private and liquid credit markets.

Personal life & Philanthropy

Feliciano is married to Kwanza Jones, an artist and fellow Princeton graduate. Together, they established the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Supercharged Initiative, a philanthropic organization dedicated to grant-making.

Following Hurricane Maria in 2017, Clearlake Capital and the Initiative pledged to match donations up to $500,000 for relief efforts in Puerto Rico, acting as lead sponsors for recovery projects on the island.

In 2019, Feliciano and Jones contributed $1 million to Bennett College, marking one of its most significant donations ever received. The following year, they announced a $20 million gift to Princeton University aimed at enhancing access and diversity. Between 2017 and 2025, their combined donations have exceeded $200 million across various institutions, including Stanford Graduate School of Business, where Feliciano is a Trustee.

In July 2021, Feliciano was honored as one of four recipients of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.

In May 2023, Princeton University named two residence halls after Feliciano and Jones, representing the first campus buildings named in honor of Black and Latino benefactors.

Feliciano also holds board roles with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Robert Toigo Foundation, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the J. Paul Getty Trust, Stanford University, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for LA28, which manages preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.