Marc Jeffrey Rowan (born August 19, 1962) is an American investor who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Apollo Global Management. He co-founded the firm in 1990 with Josh Harris and Leon Black and has served as its CEO since 2021.[ U.S. Public Records Index, Vols. 1 & 2 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.] , Forbes estimated his net worth at $8.8 billion.
Early life and education
Rowan was born in 1962 to a Jewish family.
[ Jewish Enrichment Center: Marc Rowan Guest Speaker May 19, 2009 - minute 57:40| "I go to the non-Israel part of the Middle East around six times a year..it is evident to all that I am Jewish...and my Palestinian friends all know that I am Jewish and a supporter of Israel"] He was raised on Long Island, New York.
He moved with his family to Hollywood, Florida where he attended high school, traveling between New York.
His father worked in auto-leasing.
His mother Barbara was a teacher and a trained concert pianist.
[ Miami Herald: "Barbara J. Rowan Obituary June 20, 2014] He has one sister, Andrea.
[ New York Times: "BARBARA ROWAN Obituary" June 22, 2014] His grandfather, Emanuel Stein, was an economics professor at New York University.
Many of his wider family worked as public interest lawyers.
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Rowan studied at the University of Pennsylvania. When his father passed away and the family could not afford to pay tuition, the university allowed Rowan to complete his studies and pay whenever he was able.
Career
Rowan joined the mergers and acquisitions department of Drexel Burnham Lambert where he worked in New York City and Los Angeles.[ Jewish Enrichment Center: Marc Rowan Guest Speaker May 19, 2009 - minute 55:30 | "I worked directly for Dennis Levine, who went to jail...and then went to work for Marty Siegel who also went to jail...I then moved out to California to work for Mike Milken who also went to jail.. There are so many ethical dilemmas you are presented with over your career...the choices you make just determine who you are over time...I read these stories...the Morgan Stanley analysts who did this...did they not understand they are destroying their lives."]
In July 2020 Rowan took a "semi-sabbatical" from Apollo, but remained involved in strategy and on boards, until taking over as CEO in March 2021.
Philanthropy
Rowan is Chair of the Board of UJA-Federation of New York.
University of Pennsylvania
Rowan has had various involvements with the University of Pennsylvania since his graduation. He is Chair of the Board of Advisors of the Wharton School of Business.[ Apollo Global Management website: Our Team - Marc Rowan retrieved July 7, 2013] In October 2018, he donated $50 million to the Wharton School, to fund leading academics and with a focus on the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
As a result of the 2023 Palestine Writes conference held at University of Pennsylvania, Rowan attempted to organize a boycott of donors and signed a letter urging a response to alleged antisemitism at the festival.
Politics
In December 2023, Rowan hosted a fundraiser for Republican politician and House Education Committee Chair Virginia Foxx.
U.S. Treasury secretary nomination
In November 2024, following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Rowan was interviewed for the U.S. Treasury Secretary nomination by President Trump.
Personal life
Rowan is married to fashion designer Carolyn Pleva who he met on a blind date.[ New York Observer: "A Brutal Buy: Billionaire Marc Rowan Pays $26 M. for Brutalist Masterpiece at 927 Fifth" By Kim Velsey January 2, 2013][ New York Times: "Paid Notice: Deaths PLEVA, EUGENE May 17, 2011]
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