Early Life
Leslie Lee Alexander was born in New York City in 1943. He graduated from New York University with a degree in economics in 1965. He later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law (formerly Western State University College of Law).
Rise to Success
Alexander began his career trading options and bonds at Lawrence Kotkin Associates. In 1980, he founded The Alexander Group, an investment company. Alexander's business ventures included an 18.5% stake in First Marblehead, a private student loan company. His most notable achievement was purchasing the Houston Rockets in 1993 for $85 million.
Key Business Strategies
Alexander's ownership of the Houston Rockets was marked by success, including back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, led by Hakeem Olajuwon. He was named the NBA's best owner by Forbes in 2008. In 2017, Alexander sold the Rockets for a record $2.2 billion.
Philanthropy
Alexander is known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly through the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation, which has supported numerous Houston-area causes, including education, health, and animal welfare.