Early Life
Behdad Eghbali was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Rise to Success
Eghbali began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, focusing on technology. He later joined TPG Capital, where he focused on buyouts and turnarounds. In 2006, he co-founded Clearlake Capital with José E. Feliciano and Steven Chang. The firm quickly grew, becoming a major player in private equity, and by 2020, both Eghbali and Feliciano had become billionaires. In May 2022, Clearlake Capital, under Eghbali's leadership, led a consortium that acquired Chelsea Football Club.
Key Business Strategies
Clearlake Capital employs a sector-focused approach, targeting technology, industrials, and consumer sectors. The firm focuses on control investments, including buyouts and recapitalizations, to drive value through operational improvements. Clearlake has consistently gained year over year, and its reactive strategy has paid off.
Philanthropy
Eghbali serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including his family's foundation, The Noor Foundation, and the International Society of Children with Cancer.