Josh Harris (businessman)

Joshua Jordan Harris
Born	(1964-12-29) December 29, 1964 Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, sports franchise proprietor
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 an American businessman and sports franchise proprietor. He co-established the private equity firm Apollo Global Management and currently serves as managing partner for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, and the Washington Commanders of the NFL. Additionally, Harris holds a general partnership stake in English football club Crystal Palace and possesses a minority interest in Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2022, he departed Apollo to concentrate on Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, a sports asset holding company he created alongside David Blitzer in 2017.

Harris graduated with a degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990. Following his education, he co-founded Apollo with Leon Black and Marc Rowan. His leadership has been pivotal in acquiring the 76ers in 2011, the Devils in 2013, and the Commanders in 2023. He also launched Harris Philanthropies in 2014 and established alternative investment firm 26North in 2022. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated to be in the billions.

Early life

Born on December 29, 1964, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Harris attributes much of his strong work ethic to participation in youth sports, particularly wrestling. He completed his secondary education at The Field School in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1982. Initially enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences, he transferred during his freshman year to Wharton to pursue economics, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986. While at Penn, he competed as a wrestler for the Penn Quakers at 118 pounds and faced future Olympic gold medalist Bobby Weaver. During summers of 1983 and 1984, Harris operated lemonade stands around Washington, D.C. He is affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Private equity and finance

In 1986, Harris relocated to New York City to work as a mergers and acquisitions analyst at investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert. After two years there, he pursued an MBA at Harvard Business School, where he was recognized as a Baker Loeb Scholar upon graduating in 1990. That same year Drexel declared bankruptcy amid controversies surrounding illegal junk bond practices. Briefly employed by Blackstone thereafter, Harris soon co-founded Apollo Global Management with former colleagues Leon Black and Marc Rowan from Drexel. In 2008, he orchestrated a $1 billion investment into chemical producer LyondellBasell, which was sold five years later yielding a $9 billion profit—one of private equity’s most significant returns.

In 2009, Harris agreed to a $75 million settlement after Apollo withdrew from a merger deal with Huntsman Corporation.

By 2017, Harris provided counsel to Jared Kushner on infrastructure matters and extended a $184 million loan to Kushner Companies through Apollo. In May 2021, after being overlooked for Apollo’s CEO position in favor of Marc Rowan—a vacancy created following Leon Black’s resignation due to disclosures about payments to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—Harris stepped back from daily operations amid disagreements concerning his emphasis on sports investments. He officially left his senior managing director role at Apollo in January 2022 but remained on the board until October that year. Later in 2022, Black filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against Harris alleging defamation conspiracies; however, the case was dismissed for insufficient evidence and that dismissal was upheld upon appeal.

September 2022 saw Harris establish alternative asset management firm 26North by recruiting executives from Brookfield Asset Management, Lehman Brothers, and Goldman Sachs. The company specializes in direct lending along with private equity, credit, and insurance investments and managed assets totaling $5 billion as of January 2025.

Harris holds board positions with Mount Sinai Health System, Wharton School, and Harvard Business School. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His prior roles include service on the Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets for the New York Federal Reserve as well as leadership positions at Allen-Stevenson School and the United States Olympic Committee. His family office, HRS Management, was once the largest investor in political publication The Hill before its acquisition by Nexstar Media Group in August 2021. In 2022, Harris invested $100 million into Philadelphia-based real estate firm Mosaic Development Partners and formed a joint venture with Canvas Property Group through HMS Management to acquire properties valued above $1 billion. In 2023, alongside investors such as Mark Penn, James Tisch, and Thomas Peterffy, he contributed to a $50 million startup fund for news outlet The Messenger; however, this venture ceased operations within one year.

Sports ownership

Harris's interest in sports investments began after his 2008 encounter with Blackstone executive David Blitzer. This connection led to the creation of an investment consortium that purchased the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in October 2011 for million. Under Harris's leadership, the team adopted "The Process," a contentious strategy involving deliberate losing to increase draft lottery chances. This tactic attracted criticism from fellow owners and league officials who were worried about its effects on revenue. To address these concerns, Harris appointed former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo as chairman in December 2015, and General Manager Sam Hinkie resigned in April 2016. Key players selected during this period include Joel Embiid, who earned the title of 2022–23 NBA Most Valuable Player. By 2024, the 76ers' valuation had reached billion.

In August 2013, Harris and Blitzer expanded their portfolio by acquiring the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) for million, which included control over the Prudential Center—one of the most lucrative arenas worldwide. The Devils were appraised at billion in 2024. Additionally, Harris acquired an 18% ownership share in English football club Crystal Palace F.C. in December 2015, collaborating with Blitzer, John Textor, and chairman Steve Parish. Their esports interests grew through the 2016 acquisition and merger of Dignitas and Apex Gaming, operating under the Dignitas brand.

In September 2017, Harris and Blitzer launched Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) to unify their sports-related enterprises. HBSE was valued at billion by 2024 and held ownership not only of the 76ers and Devils but also of the Delaware Blue Coats (NBA G League) and Utica Comets (American Hockey League). In June 2020, they secured a combined $140 million stake in the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2022, Harris spearheaded a consortium including Blitzer, Martin Broughton, Sebastian Coe, Serena Williams, and Lewis Hamilton in an attempt to acquire Premier League club Chelsea F.C., which was ultimately sold to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for €4.25 billion (US$4.5 billion). He also showed interest in purchasing Major League Baseball's New York Mets prior to their $2.4 billion acquisition by Steve Cohen. By 2023, Harris and Blitzer were exploring investment opportunities with English football club Manchester United.

HBSE further diversified in June 2023 by obtaining a minority stake in Joe Gibbs Racing. The following month, Harris led a group of twenty investors—including Mitchell Rales of Danaher, Magic Johnson, and Mark Ein—to acquire the NFL's Washington Commanders along with their stadium for $6.05 billion, marking a record-setting transaction in sports team sales history. Previously, Harris had partnered with Johnson in a bid for the Denver Broncos before their purchase by Walmart executives. Early in 2024, NFL regulations required Harris and Blitzer to divest their Steelers shares. Their commitment to youth sports is demonstrated through investments in Unrivaled Sports, launched with funding from The Chernin Group in March 2024. Looking ahead, HBSE secured a $250 million franchise fee in June 2025 for a Philadelphia-based WNBA team scheduled to commence play in 2030.

Leadership approach and key initiatives

Harris delegates daily operations of his teams and venues to appointed general managers. Emphasizing the importance of sports science and data analytics, he counts 76ers president Daryl Morey among the main proponents of this strategy. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown that halted NBA and NHL activities in March 2020, Harris and Blitzer pledged to compensate Prudential Center employees despite event cancellations. Initially, Harris proposed a 20% pay cut for HBSE, 76ers, and Devils staff earning above $100,000; however, following public criticism—including backing from 76ers player Joel Embiid—he rescinded the salary reduction.

In July 2022, Harris unveiled plans for a $1 billion arena development named 76 Place at Market East located in Philadelphia’s Center City for the 76ers. The proposal encountered resistance from local communities, particularly residents of nearby Chinatown, who expressed concerns over potential economic repercussions. Although initially approved, Harris abandoned this project in January 2025 after securing an agreement with Comcast Spectacor to construct and manage the New South Philadelphia Arena at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. This new venue is scheduled to open by 2031 and will serve both the 76ers and NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. In April 2025, Harris joined D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser to announce a $2 billion redevelopment initiative for the former RFK Stadium site. This includes the construction of the $1.7 billion New Commanders Stadium, anticipated to become the team’s home by 2030.

Owned franchises

Sports teams under ownership

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

Personal background

Harris descends from grandparents who emigrated from Russian regions during the early twentieth century. His father, Jacob, practiced orthodontics while his mother, Sylvia, was a schoolteacher. He has a younger brother named Gabe. Identifying as Jewish and following Reform Judaism, Harris celebrated his bar mitzvah in 1977 at Washington Hebrew Congregation. During high school, he spent time working on a Reform kibbutz in Israel. In 1995, he married Marjorie Rubin, whom he met at Harvard; together they have five children: Hannah, Stuart, Thomas, Pierce, and Bridget. Long-term friendships with business figures such as Mark Ein stem from shared educational and social connections at Wharton and Harvard.

A devoted supporter of Washington sports teams since childhood, Harris regularly attended Redskins and Bullets games growing up. He was honored with the Outstanding American Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013. Additionally, he participates in endurance events including marathons and triathlons, completing both the New York City Marathon in 2010 and Philadelphia Marathon in 2011. In September 2023, he had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals game. By June 2025, he acquired a rare trading card featuring Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels for $500,000 to exhibit at Northwest Stadium and took part in an associated panel discussion.

Inducted into the Wall Street fraternity Kappa Beta Phi in 2011, Harris has made notable real estate acquisitions such as a $52 million townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side (2017) and a $32 million mansion in Miami Beach (2021). He frequently travels via private helicopter to attend games; on one occasion this led to cancellation of a youth soccer match due to helipad scheduling conflicts.

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

Philanthropy

In 2014, Harris and his spouse launched Harris Philanthropies, a nonprofit organization based 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, alongside donations of $648,000 to the Republican Party and $190,000 to the Democratic Party. Since 2016, he has provided a $1 million grant to After-School All-Stars, supporting educational programs in Newark, Philadelphia, and Camden. His philanthropic efforts also extend to the University of Pennsylvania, where he has donated $1 million to the Penn Quakers wrestling team, funded an endowed scholarship for students from the D.C. area, and established a $10 million Harris Family Alternative Investments initiative.

Harris has also been involved in social and economic projects in Israel, founding a youth basketball league known as the 48ers and sponsoring initiatives aimed at integrating Ethiopian Jewish communities. During the COVID-19 crisis, he contributed more than $7 million worth of food and medical supplies to organizations operating in Philadelphia. Through his company HBSE, he pledged $20 million towards addressing racial inequality following the 2020 George Floyd protests and allocated $2 million to The Bridgespan Group to enhance nonprofit services in Philadelphia and Camden.

In 2022, Harris set up a $5 million Harris Family Fund dedicated to Sports Management and Alternative Investments at Harvard Business School. That year also saw his support extend to the Reform Alliance, local homeless shelters, and mobile cancer treatment units affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Additionally, he donated $1 million to Fund for Health—a health equity initiative by Penn Med and Wharton—and another $1 million to Penn Med aimed at increasing diversity among students in clinical medicine and biomedical research. In 2025, Harris provided $5 million toward building an athletic training facility at his alma mater, The Field School.