Leon Black

Born 1951 · Age 74

American private equity investor and art collector. Co‑founder of Apollo Global Management (1990). Former CEO and chairman of Apollo until 2021. Dartmouth AB (1973), Harvard MBA (1975). Resigned in 2021 amid scrutiny over payments to Jeffrey Epstein.

Total Events

Career Span

70 years

Peak Net Worth

$8,800,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1951Age 0

Born in July 1951

Leon David Black is born on July 31, 1951.

7/31/1951Source

Confidence

100%

1973Age 22

Graduated Dartmouth College (AB)

Received an AB in philosophy and history from Dartmouth College.

1/1/1973Source

Confidence

98%

1975Age 24

Graduated Harvard Business School (MBA)

Earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

1/1/1975Source

Confidence

98%

1975Age 24

Began career in investment banking (post-MBA)

After his MBA, Black entered investment banking/finance, the start of his professional rise (text references subsequent rise through leveraged buyouts and distressed investing). Year is the MBA graduation year; exact hire date not specified.

1/1/1975Net Worth: $5,000Source

Confidence

60%

1980Age 29

Led Drexel Burnham Lambert M&A team (approx.)

The text states Black previously led Drexel Burnham Lambert's mergers & acquisitions team; no precise year given. Placed here as an approximate 1980s career milestone when Drexel was active in M&A/leveraged-buyout activity.

1/1/1980Net Worth: $2,000,000Source

Confidence

35%

1980Age 29

Rose to prominence via leveraged buyouts/distressed investing (approx.)

Black gained prominence through leveraged buyouts and distressed-asset investing, activities tied to his time at Drexel and subsequent deals (text does not give specific dates).

1/1/1980Net Worth: $5,000,000Source

Confidence

40%

1990Age 39

Co‑founded Apollo Global Management

Co‑founded Apollo Global Management with Marc Rowan and Josh Harris.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $100,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1990Age 39

Became CEO of Apollo Global Management

Assumed the role of CEO at Apollo (text indicates he served as CEO and chairman while building the firm). Exact start date inferred as at founding.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $150,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

1990Age 39

Became Chairman of Apollo Global Management

Assumed the role of chairman at Apollo (text indicates he served as CEO and chairman until 2021). Start inferred at or shortly after founding.

1/1/1990Net Worth: $150,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

2000Age 49

Built Apollo into major alternative asset manager (milestone, approximate)

Over the 1990s–2000s Apollo grew to become one of the world's largest alternative asset managers; the text summarizes this achievement without precise year markers. This event marks the maturation into a global leader (approx. milestone by 2000s).

1/1/2000Net Worth: $2,000,000,000Source

Confidence

60%

2018Age 67

Named Chairman of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Appointed chairman of MoMA, reflecting his role as an art collector and patron.

1/1/2018Net Worth: $7,000,000,000Source

Confidence

70%

2021Age 70

Resigned as CEO/chair of Apollo Global Management

Resigned from Apollo, ending his tenure as CEO and chairman amid scrutiny tied to payments to Jeffrey Epstein and related allegations.

1/1/2021Net Worth: $8,800,000,000Source

Confidence

60%

2021Age 70

Resigned as Chairman of the Museum of Modern Art

Resigned from his role as MoMA chairman; served from 2018 to 2021.

1/1/2021Net Worth: $8,700,000,000Source

Confidence

70%

2021Age 70

Payments to Jeffrey Epstein reported ($158M) and public scrutiny

Reports and scrutiny arose over $158 million in payments to Jeffrey Epstein; this scrutiny was linked to his resignations and public controversies.