Tom Gores

Tom Gores
Born	Tewfiq Georgious 31 7, 1964
Birthplace	Nazareth, Israel
Nationality	American
Occupation	Chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity; Owner of Detroit Pistons
Known for	Founding Platinum Equity; ownership of the Detroit Pistons
Education	Michigan State University (BS)
Spouse(s)	Holly Gores
Children	3
Website	[http://www.tomgores.com/ Official site]

Tom Gores (born Tewfiq Georgious, Template:Lang-ar; July 31, 1964) is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and sports executive. He is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Platinum Equity, a private equity firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, that specializes in mergers, acquisitions, and the operations of companies across a range of industries. In 2011, Gores and Platinum Equity purchased the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, along with Palace Sports and Entertainment, and Gores became sole owner of the franchise in 2015. Born in Nazareth, Israel, to a family of Palestinian Christian and Greek heritage, Gores immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Genesee County, Michigan. He built Platinum Equity from a single office into a global firm managing billions of dollars in assets, and his ownership of the Pistons has become closely associated with the revitalization of professional sports in Detroit. In early 2026, Sports Illustrated profiled Gores and the Pistons' resurgence, noting that the team had risen to lead the NBA just two years after one of its lowest periods. Gores was named a Crain's Detroit Newsmaker of the Year for 2025, alongside Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem.

Early Life

Tom Gores was born Tewfiq Georgious on July 31, 1964, in Nazareth, Israel. He is of Palestinian Christian and Greek descent. His family immigrated to the United States when Gores was a young child, settling in the Flint, Michigan, area in Genesee County. Gores grew up in Michigan alongside his brothers, Alec Gores and Sam Gores, both of whom went on to build significant careers in business and entertainment management, respectively.

The Gores family's experience as immigrants in the American Midwest shaped Tom Gores's outlook and work ethic. Growing up in the Flint area during a period when the region's automotive industry was both a source of prosperity and increasing economic uncertainty, Gores developed an early awareness of business and community. His connection to Michigan would remain a defining element of his personal and professional identity, influencing his later decision to purchase the Detroit Pistons and invest in the city of Detroit.

Alec Gores, Tom's older brother, founded The Gores Group, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. Sam Gores became a prominent talent agent and the chairman of Paradigm Talent Agency. The three brothers have been profiled collectively as an example of immigrant entrepreneurship in the United States.

Education

Gores attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His time at Michigan State connected him to the state's business and alumni networks, which would later prove relevant to his career as an investor and his involvement with Michigan-based sports franchises.

Career

Early Business Career

Before founding Platinum Equity, Tom Gores gained experience in business and deal-making during the late 1980s and 1990s. Details of his earliest career positions are not extensively documented, but by the mid-1990s, Gores had developed expertise in acquiring and operating businesses, particularly those undergoing transitions such as divestitures from larger corporations.

Founding of Platinum Equity

In 1995, Gores founded Platinum Equity, a private equity firm based in Beverly Hills, California. The firm was established with a business model centered on acquiring companies and operating divisions, often from larger corporations looking to divest non-core assets. Platinum Equity's approach combined the acquisition of businesses with an operational focus — the firm sought not only to buy companies but also to manage and improve their operations over time.

Under Gores's leadership, Platinum Equity grew from a single-office operation into one of the larger private equity firms in the United States. The firm completed transactions across a wide range of industries, including technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, distribution, and media. A 2002 profile in The Wall Street Journal examined Gores's dealmaking approach and the firm's expanding portfolio.

By 2009, Gores appeared on the Forbes list of the world's billionaires, a reflection of the value generated by Platinum Equity's portfolio of companies. The firm continued to expand throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, completing deals valued at billions of dollars.

A 2025 report in Sports Business Journal examined how the private equity model championed by Gores and Platinum Equity was facing increased scrutiny, noting that the loyalty of the firm's backers was being tested amid broader industry-wide examination of private equity practices.

Ownership of the Detroit Pistons

In June 2011, Gores and Platinum Equity completed the purchase of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), along with Palace Sports and Entertainment, which operated The Palace of Auburn Hills, the team's arena at the time. The acquisition was widely covered in national and regional media. The Seattle Times reported on the sale, identifying Gores as a billionaire buyer with roots in Michigan. Hour Detroit profiled Gores as the franchise's new owner in a November 2011 feature titled "Aiming High."

In a 2011 interview, Gores discussed the balance between his family life, business responsibilities, and the demands of owning an NBA franchise.

Gores became the sole owner of the Pistons in 2015, consolidating his control over the franchise and its associated operations.

Move to Downtown Detroit

One of the most significant decisions during Gores's tenure as Pistons owner was the relocation of the team from The Palace of Auburn Hills, a suburban arena in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. The move, completed in 2017, was part of a broader effort to integrate the Pistons into Detroit's urban core and align the franchise with the city's ongoing revitalization efforts. The Pistons became co-tenants of the arena alongside the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, in a venue developed by the Ilitch family's organization. The Detroit News reported on the fan experience as the team acclimated to its new arena in October 2017.

The value of the franchise increased substantially during Gores's ownership. In 2018, Forbes estimated that the Pistons were worth $1.1 billion, as reported by Crain's Detroit Business.

Pistons' Revival

After several difficult seasons, the Pistons experienced a significant turnaround under Gores's ownership. In February 2026, Sports Illustrated published a feature profiling Gores and the team's resurgence, noting that just two years after one of the franchise's lowest points, the Pistons had risen to lead the NBA and were considered a legitimate title contender. Gores told the publication that hitting bottom had been part of a broader plan and that the franchise's revival was rooted in patience and strategic decision-making.

At the 2026 NBA All-Star break, Gores delivered a message to players Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and head coach J. B. Bickerstaff, exhorting the team with the phrase "Let's go get it!" The team's rapid improvement contributed to Gores and vice chairman Arn Tellem being named Crain's Detroit Newsmakers of the Year for 2025.

Interest in Soccer

In addition to basketball, Gores has expressed interest in professional soccer. In 2016, the Detroit Free Press reported that Gores considered soccer to be a part of his life and was involved in discussions about bringing a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team to Detroit. Gores was reported to have partnered with Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans founder, in exploring the possibility of an MLS team and a new soccer-specific stadium in Detroit. A 2018 Detroit Free Press article further examined the MLS expansion bid discussions, including the potential use of Ford Field as a venue.

Media Ventures

In February 2026, Gores and former NBA player and sports analyst Jalen Rose announced the launch of Same Page Entertainment, a Detroit-based multimedia production company. The venture was reported by multiple outlets, including Deadline, Yahoo Sports, and National Today. Platinum Equity noted that Gores and Rose had developed a long-time partnership focused on benefiting Detroit's educational landscape before expanding into media production.

Personal Life

Tom Gores is married to Holly Gores. The couple has three children. The family has resided in the Los Angeles area, and Gores has also maintained a connection to Michigan. In 2016, a listing for a luxury penthouse in Birmingham, Michigan, was linked to the Gores family, as reported by Hometown Life.

Gores's brothers, Alec Gores and Sam Gores, are also prominent businessmen. Alec Gores is the founder and chairman of The Gores Group, a private equity firm in Beverly Hills, while Sam Gores is a talent agent and the former chairman of Paradigm Talent Agency.

Gores has been involved in philanthropic efforts connected to the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. In 2016, amid the Flint water crisis, Gores announced efforts to raise $10 million for Flint, Michigan, drawing on his personal connection to the Genesee County area where he grew up. Gores and his wife Holly have also supported educational initiatives in Detroit, including through their partnership with Jalen Rose.

Recognition

Gores has appeared on the Forbes list of the world's billionaires. He was first listed in 2009, with the ranking reflecting the value of his holdings in Platinum Equity and its portfolio companies. He has also appeared on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans.

In 2025, Gores and Detroit Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem were jointly named Crain's Detroit Business Newsmakers of the Year, in recognition of the Pistons' turnaround and the franchise's impact on the city of Detroit.

The Sports Illustrated feature published in February 2026 highlighted Gores's role in the Pistons' resurgence, framing the team's rise to the top of the NBA standings as a validation of the owner's long-term strategy.

Legacy

Tom Gores's career spans the interconnected worlds of private equity, professional sports, and civic engagement. Through Platinum Equity, he built one of the more prominent private equity firms in the United States, completing hundreds of transactions across multiple industries since the firm's founding in 1995. His acquisition and stewardship of the Detroit Pistons placed him at the center of the city's professional sports landscape during a period of broader urban revitalization.

The decision to move the Pistons from suburban Auburn Hills to downtown Detroit in 2017 was a significant moment for the franchise and the city, aligning the team with other major sports and entertainment investments in Detroit's urban core. The team's subsequent transformation from one of the NBA's worst-performing franchises to a leading title contender by the 2025–26 season attracted national attention and reinforced the narrative of Detroit's comeback.

Gores's efforts to raise funds during the Flint water crisis, his educational partnerships in Detroit, and the launch of Same Page Entertainment with Jalen Rose reflect an engagement with Michigan's communities that extends beyond his business and sports interests. As an immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child and built a career in American business, Gores has been cited alongside his brothers Alec and Sam as an example of entrepreneurial achievement rooted in the immigrant experience.