Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jesse Itzler’s Net Worth?
Jesse Itzler, a multifaceted American entrepreneur, rapper, and producer, boasts a substantial net worth of $200 million. This impressive figure reflects his success across various ventures, including music, business co-founding, sports team ownership, and authoring.
Early Life and Education
Born on August 22, 1968, in Roslyn, New York, Jesse Itzler is the son of Elese Itzler, who served as the president of the Roslyn Board of Education, and Daniel Itzler, an inventor. His upbringing in Roslyn provided a foundation for his future endeavors. He pursued higher education at American University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Justice, Law, and Society in the early 1990s. This academic background likely contributed to his strategic thinking and business acumen.
Music Career: From “Frat-Rap” to Sports Anthems
Jesse Itzler embarked on his music career under the alias Jesse Jaymes, releasing his debut album, “Thirty Footer in Your Face,” in 1992 through Delicious Vinyl. His musical style, often described as “frat-rap,” gained traction, leading to collaborations with other artists, including Tone-Loc. While his initial song, “College Girls (Are Easy),” didn’t chart on “Billboard,” it became a popular club anthem. His second single, “Shake It Like a White Girl,” achieved more significant success, reaching #74 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 and later featuring on the soundtrack of the movie “White Chicks” in 2004. However, it was his song for the New York Knicks, “Go NY Go,” that catapulted him to widespread recognition. This success led to writing songs for approximately 50 other professional sports teams. Notably, he won an Emmy Award for his song for the NBA, titled “I Love This Game.” Itzler also produced the theme song for “Inside the NBA” and contributed music to campaigns for major brands like Coca-Cola and Foot Locker.
Beyond his individual releases, Itzler’s partnership with Dana Mozie, whom he met in Washington D.C. in 1987, significantly shaped his musical trajectory, although specific details of their collaborations and financial arrangements remain less publicly documented. The commercial success of “Shake It Like a White Girl,” while modest in terms of chart position, generated revenue through radio airplay, digital downloads, and its inclusion in the “White Chicks” soundtrack. The exact figures for these revenue streams are not publicly available. His Emmy Award for “I Love This Game” enhanced his reputation and likely led to more lucrative opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries. Details regarding the financial terms of his contracts with Coca-Cola and Foot Locker are also not publicly disclosed.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: Building Businesses and Brands
Beyond his musical pursuits, Jesse Itzler has demonstrated considerable entrepreneurial prowess. He co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records alongside Kenny Dichter, CEO of Wheels Up. Alphabet City specialized in setting highlights of historical play-by-play calls for pro sports teams to classic arena sports jams. They secured contracts with prominent teams such as the Lakers and the Mavericks. In 1998, they sold the company to SFX, though the specific financial details of the sale remain undisclosed.
In 2001, Itzler co-founded Marquis Jet, a pioneering private jet company. He served as the company’s vice chairman until 2009, when Berkshire Hathaway, the parent company of NetJets, acquired Marquis Jet. While the exact terms of the acquisition were not publicly released, it’s widely understood that Itzler realized a substantial profit from this deal.
In 2009, Itzler established the 100 Mile Group, a brand incubator and accelerator. The 100 Mile Group partnered with ZICO Coconut Water and Coca-Cola, culminating in Coca-Cola’s acquisition of ZICO in 2012. The financial details of this partnership and subsequent acquisition are not publicly accessible. Itzler’s first book, “Living With a Seal: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet,” was released in November 2015. It achieved significant commercial success, topping the “LA Times” book list and becoming a “New York Times” Best Seller. While specific sales figures are not publicly available, the book’s success generated substantial income for Itzler.
Sports Team Ownership: Joining the Atlanta Hawks
In 2015, Jesse Itzler, along with his wife Sara Blakely and a group of investors including Rick Schnall, Steven Price, and Grant Hill, acquired the Atlanta Hawks from Bruce Levenson for $850 million. While the specific ownership stake held by Itzler and Blakely is not publicly disclosed, their involvement in this high-profile acquisition underscores their financial strength and business acumen. The value of the Atlanta Hawks franchise has likely appreciated since the acquisition, potentially adding to Itzler’s net worth.
Real Estate
Jesse Itzler and his wife Sara Blakely own a number of properties. One of the notable properties is their mansion in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2017, they purchased this home for $8 million. The property is approximately 13,300 square feet, and includes 7 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms.
Personal Life and Marriage to Sara Blakely
Jesse Itzler is married to Sara Blakely, the billionaire founder of Spanx. They tied the knot in 2008 at the Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande, Florida. They have four children and live in Georgia. Itzler is an avid runner and completed the USA National Ultra Marathon Championship in Grapevine, Texas, in 2006. He completed a 100-mile run in under 24 hours.
The exact details of Jesse Itzler’s financial arrangements with his wife Sara Blakely are not publicly known. Given Blakely’s billionaire status as the founder of Spanx, it’s plausible that their marriage has had an indirect impact on his overall financial standing, even if their assets are held separately. The couple’s philanthropic activities through the Sara Blakely Foundation and other charitable endeavors are also noteworthy, though the specific financial contributions made by Itzler are not publicly itemized.
Income & Earnings
Details regarding Jesse Itzler’s specific income from speaking engagements remain private, but keynote speakers of his caliber often command fees ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 or more per engagement, depending on the event’s size and prestige.
Marquis Jet
Marquis Jet was co-founded by Jesse Itzler and offered a unique “jet card” that provided access to private jet travel without the responsibilities of full or fractional ownership. The company grew rapidly, eventually being acquired by NetJets (a Berkshire Hathaway company) in 2009. While the exact terms of the acquisition remain confidential, industry experts estimated the deal to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, leading to a significant payout for Itzler and other key stakeholders.
Alphabet City Sports Records
Itzler’s first major entrepreneurial success came with Alphabet City Sports Records, a company that specialized in creating custom sports music and highlight packages for professional sports teams. The company achieved significant traction in the late 1990s, securing partnerships with major teams across the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Alphabet City was eventually acquired by SFX Entertainment in 1998, netting Itzler a substantial profit.
“Living with a Seal” Book Sales
Itzler’s book “Living with a Seal” became a New York Times bestseller and generated substantial income through royalties, speaking engagements, and associated merchandise. The exact sales figures are not publicly available, but given its bestseller status, the book likely generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.
Investment in the Atlanta Hawks
In 2015, Itzler joined a group of investors, including his wife Sara Blakely, to purchase the Atlanta Hawks NBA team for approximately $850 million. While the exact size of Itzler’s investment is not publicly known, it is estimated to be a significant amount given the overall purchase price of the team.
Additional Ventures and Investments
In addition to his major ventures, Itzler has been involved in various smaller business ventures and investments over the years. These include investments in startup companies, real estate, and other entrepreneurial endeavors. The specific details of these investments are not publicly available, but they likely contribute to his overall net worth.
