Josh Harris

Josh Harris
Born	Joshua J. Harris
Nationality	American
Occupation	Private equity executive, sports team owner
Employer	26North Partners
Known for	Co-founding Apollo Global Management, ownership of the Washington Commanders, co-ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers

Joshua J. Harris is an American billionaire businessman, private equity executive, and sports team owner. He is best known as a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, one of the world's largest alternative asset management firms, and as the owner of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Harris is also a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), holding these interests through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), a sports and entertainment company he co-founded. After departing Apollo Global Management, Harris established 26North Partners, a private investment firm through which he continues to operate in the alternative asset management space. Throughout his career, Harris has been a prominent figure in both the finance and professional sports industries, and his activities have drawn significant public attention, including his commentary on emerging risks in private equity markets and his connections to public controversies.

Career

Apollo Global Management

Josh Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management, a global alternative investment firm that grew to become one of the largest of its kind in the world. Apollo specializes in private equity, credit, and real estate investments, managing hundreds of billions of dollars in assets. Harris played a central role in the firm's development and expansion over several decades, helping to establish it as a major force in the financial industry. He eventually departed from Apollo, a move that preceded his founding of a new investment venture.

26North Partners

Following his departure from Apollo Global Management, Harris founded 26North Partners, a private investment firm. Under the banner of 26North, Harris has continued to be active in the alternative asset management industry and has spoken publicly on issues affecting the sector.

In February 2026, Harris made headlines in the financial press for his comments regarding the growing trend of selling private markets investments to retail investors. Speaking publicly, Harris warned that mixing unaccredited investor capital with wealth capital through vehicles with differing levels of regulation could lead to significant problems. He characterized the trend as a "recipe for problems," cautioning that the rush to bring private markets investments to everyday savers was risky and could have negative consequences for other investors as well. His remarks were widely covered in financial media, with Private Equity International reporting on his specific concern that a backlash against the private equity industry could result from poorly regulated retail capital vehicles.

Harris's statements positioned him as a notable voice of caution within the private equity industry at a time when many firms were pursuing retail investor capital as a growth strategy. His willingness to publicly critique industry trends reflected his stature as a senior figure in the alternative asset management space and drew attention to ongoing debates about investor protection and regulatory oversight in private markets.

Sports Ownership

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

Josh Harris co-founded Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) alongside David Blitzer. Through HBSE, Harris became the managing partner and co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. The organization expanded beyond team ownership to encompass broader sports and entertainment ventures. Harris's role as managing partner of the 76ers has kept him in the public eye in the Philadelphia sports market and beyond.

Washington Commanders

Harris led a consortium that purchased the Washington Commanders, an NFL franchise based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The acquisition made Harris one of the most prominent sports team owners in the United States, given the NFL's status as the highest-revenue professional sports league in the country. The purchase of the Commanders added a major professional football franchise to Harris's sports portfolio, which already included teams in the NBA and NHL.

Personal Life

Jeffrey Epstein Connections

In January 2026, the United States Department of Justice opened approximately three million documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the public. Josh Harris's name appeared in multiple documents within the release, drawing significant media attention and public scrutiny.

Reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer detailed that the documents showed years of email exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and Harris, revealing an ongoing business relationship that included numerous phone calls and at least one in-person meeting. The investigative journalism outlet TrueHoop also covered the story, describing Harris as "a sports billionaire in the Epstein files."

Following the public release of the documents and the subsequent media coverage, Harris issued a public statement addressing the matter. According to Yahoo Sports, Harris released the statement after his name resurfaced in the newly disclosed Epstein files. The revelations generated considerable discussion in sports media, financial media, and the broader public sphere, given Harris's high profile as the owner of multiple major professional sports franchises and his prominence in the financial industry.

Recognition

Josh Harris's career in private equity and sports ownership has made him one of the most recognized figures in American finance and professional sports. His co-founding of Apollo Global Management established his reputation as a leading figure in the alternative investment industry. His subsequent founding of 26North Partners continued to place him among the most influential executives in private equity.

In the sports world, Harris's ownership of the Washington Commanders, combined with his managing partnership of the Philadelphia 76ers and ownership stake in the New Jersey Devils, has given him an unusually broad presence across multiple major professional sports leagues in the United States. Few individuals hold ownership positions in franchises across the NFL, NBA, and NHL simultaneously, making Harris's sports portfolio distinctive.

Harris has also gained recognition for his public commentary on the state of the private equity industry. His February 2026 warnings about the risks of selling private market investments to retail investors were covered by major financial news outlets including Reuters and Private Equity International, reflecting his standing as a credible and influential voice on matters of financial regulation and investor protection.

Legacy

Josh Harris's legacy is defined primarily by two domains: alternative asset management and professional sports ownership. As a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, Harris helped build one of the largest and most influential alternative investment firms in the world. Apollo's growth under its founding partners transformed the landscape of private equity, credit investing, and real estate investment on a global scale. Harris's subsequent establishment of 26North Partners continued his involvement in the industry, and his public remarks on issues such as retail investor access to private markets have contributed to ongoing policy and regulatory discussions.

In the realm of professional sports, Harris's ownership of franchises across three of the four major North American professional sports leagues represents a significant footprint. His acquisition of the Washington Commanders was among the largest sports franchise transactions in history, and his stewardship of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils through Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment has shaped the business operations of those organizations.

However, Harris's public profile has also been affected by controversy, particularly following the release of documents in January 2026 linking him to Jeffrey Epstein through years of email exchanges and business interactions. The extent to which these revelations may affect his long-term reputation and business interests remains a subject of ongoing public attention.

Harris's cautionary stance on retail access to private markets, articulated publicly in early 2026, may also form a part of his legacy within the financial industry, particularly if the trends he warned about lead to the regulatory consequences he predicted.