Joseph Bae
Joseph Bae | |
|---|---|
| Born | South Korea |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, business executive |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Co-chief executive officer of KKR & Co. Inc. |
| Notable work | Co-leadership of KKR, establishment of The Asian American Foundation |
Joseph Yong Bum Bae is an American entrepreneur currently serving as co-chief executive officer of KKR & Co. Inc, sharing leadership duties with Scott Nuttall. They took over the CEO roles from KKR's original founders, Henry Kravis and George Roberts, in the autumn of 2021.
Early life and education
Originally from South Korea, Bae's family immigrated to the United States during the 1970s. He completed his secondary education at Phillips Academy and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard College in 1994.
Career
After a short period at Goldman Sachs, Bae joined KKR in 1996. He was instrumental in driving KKR's growth throughout Asia and became the first Korean-American to attain a senior executive role within private equity. In 2021, he helped establish The Asian American Foundation. By 2025, his net worth was estimated by Forbes to be approximately US$2.4 billion.
Personal life
Bae married fellow Harvard alumna Janice Y. K. Lee in 1996. The pair are prominent benefactors of Harvard University, with Bae holding a position on the Harvard Corporation. In 2021, they jointly donated $45 million to support Harvard’s Asian American studies initiative. The couple has four children and resides in New York.