Wes Edens is an investor with an affinity for the underdog. He’s made a career out of taking on projects that others have deemed too risky or unprofitable, and making them successful. It’s this willingness to take on challenges and Edens’ track record of success that has made him one of the most successful private equity investors in the world.
Wes Edens was born in 1961 in Oregon. He attended Oregon State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance. After graduation, Edens began his career as a financial analyst at Lehman Brothers. He soon left Lehman Brothers to join BlackRock, where he worked as a managing director.
In 1993, Wes Edens and his business partner, Rob Kauffman, founded Fortress Investment Group. Fortress is a global investment firm that specializes in alternative investments. The company has invested in a wide range of assets, including private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and credit funds.
Fortress has been incredibly successful under Edens’ leadership. The company went public in 2007, and Edens has been credited with helping to grow the business into the global powerhouse it is today. In 2018, Fortress was acquired by SoftBank for $3.3 billion.
Edens is also the co-founder of New Fortress Energy, a clean energy company that is working to transform the way the world produces and uses energy. New Fortress is working to develop and deploy clean, efficient, and affordable energy solutions that will help to meet the growing demand for energy around the world.
In addition to his work in the private equity and clean energy industries, Edens is also a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. He purchased the NBA team in 2014, and has been instrumental in turning the franchise around. Under Edens’ leadership, the Bucks have become one of the most successful teams in the league, and are currently one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship.