Early Life
Antony P. Ressler was born on October 12, 1960, in Washington, D.C., to a Jewish family. His father was a World War II veteran and an attorney. Ressler attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, earning a BSFS degree, and later received an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Rise to Success
Ressler began his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he rose to Senior Vice President in the high-yield bond department. Following Drexel's collapse, Ressler co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990 with Leon Black and others. In 1997, he co-founded Ares Management Corporation. Ares Management has grown into a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $596 billion in assets under management as of November 2025. In 2015, Ressler led a group to purchase the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.
Key Business Strategies
Ressler's success is attributed to his strategic investments and ability to identify undervalued assets, manage risk, and foster growth in the financial sector. Key strategies include private equity investments through Apollo and Ares, along with significant ownership of Ares Management, which went public in 2014. His sports ownership, particularly the Atlanta Hawks, has also contributed significantly to his wealth.
Philanthropy
Antony Ressler, alongside his wife, actress Jami Gertz, is involved in philanthropy, notably through the Gertz-Ressler High Academy, part of the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools. They are also involved with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Painted Turtle Camp for chronically ill children, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Ressler-Gertz Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes.