Early Life and Education
Justin Ishbia was born in 1977 or 1978 in Birmingham, Michigan, into a Jewish family. He graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2004, also earning a certificate from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management.
Rise to Success
After completing his law degree, Ishbia worked as an attorney before co-founding Shore Capital Partners in Chicago with his brother Mat. Shore Capital has become one of the most active private equity firms in the world, closing over 1,000 control deals in the last 10 years. His leadership has led Shore Capital to manage over $13 billion in assets. In December 2022, Ishbia, along with his brother Mat, agreed to purchase the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury for $4.0 billion, a deal approved by the NBA in February 2023. He is also a minority owner of the Nashville SC and, as of June 2025, has an agreement to become the controlling owner of the Chicago White Sox.
Key Business Strategies
Ishbia's approach has been centered around acquiring and growing microcap and small-cap companies, often in niche sectors such as healthcare and food and beverage. Shore Capital focuses on operational improvements and strategic partnerships with founder-owned businesses. He has acquired over 1,000 mom-and-pop shops.
Philanthropy
Ishbia is actively involved in philanthropy. In October 2021, he donated $10 million to Vanderbilt Law School, and has donated over $10 million to each of his alma maters, Michigan State University and Vanderbilt University Law School. He also matched his brother's $1 million donation to the V Foundation for cancer research in January 2022.