Josh Harris headed an ownership group that bought the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder in 2023. We take a closer look at how the 60-year-old billionaire accumulated his massive wealth.
What Is Josh Harris’ Net Worth?
According to his Forbes profile, Harris’ net worth stands at $11.1 billion as of Jan. 18, 2025. Their measures indicate that Harris is 205th on the list of richest persons in the world.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, on the other hand, ranks him at No. 194 on their list. They tally his current net worth at $12.6 billion at the time of writing.
The Commanders are one of three investments that Harris currently holds in American major league sports. Their acquisition cost was a whopping $6.05 billion, the highest amount ever paid for any sports franchise.
Before leading this consortium bidding for the Commanders, Harris held a $140 million stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers. He owns an NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, whose current valuation stands at $1.17 billion. Harris is also the managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, having bought the marquee NBA team in 2011.
Where Did Harris’ Wealth Come From?
Harris holds a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He ventured into investment banking after graduation, joining Drexel Burnham Lambert as a financial analyst. Harris returned to university and obtained his MBA from Harvard Business School after two years of work.
The then-26-year-old opened his own private equity firm, now known as Apollo Global Management, in 1990. Along with founders Leon Black and Marc Rowan, Harris raised his firm’s profile to become one of the world’s leading private equity firms.
By the time Harris stepped away from day-to-day operations in 2021, he was worth well over $10 billion through investments made via his firm.
A significant chunk of his wealth is tied to his investments in Crystal Palace (part of the Premier League), Commanders, Devils, and 76ers. Harris also has real estate holdings and a stock portfolio — however, the details of these investments are not in the public domain.
The Commanders are expected to be a successful long-term investment for the former investment professional. NFL teams generate between $450 million-$1.2 billion yearly and consistently generate profit via sponsorship deals, matchday revenue, and streaming and broadcasting deals.
Harris invested $320 million into the Devils in 2013 and has seen a three-times increase in their net worth during the 12 years since then. His $280 million investment in the 76ers in 2011 has grown a whopping 15 times since, with the increased global popularity of the team and broadcasting revenue increase for the NBA, which has tripled since the 2011 lockout.
Harris is also a philanthropist, focusing mainly on youth development and community programs through his foundation.