Early Life and Education
Patrick Drahi was born in Casablanca, Morocco, on August 20, 1963, to Jewish parents who were mathematics teachers. At the age of 15, his family moved to France. Drahi excelled academically, earning an engineering degree from École Polytechnique and a postgraduate degree in optics and electronics from Télécom ParisTech in 1986.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Drahi worked as a fiber optics researcher at Philips. In 1994, he founded Sud Câble Services in France. Drahi later founded Altice in 2001. Over the years, Drahi made numerous acquisitions of cable and mobile operators, including SFR in France and Suddenlink Communications and Cablevision in the United States. In 2019, he acquired Sotheby's.
Key Business Strategies
Drahi's business strategy has focused on acquiring underperforming telecom and cable companies and implementing cost-cutting measures. He has been known for leveraging debt to finance acquisitions and expand Altice's global footprint.
Philanthropy
Drahi and his wife, Lina, established the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation in 2014. The foundation supports various causes, including education, science, and the arts, with a focus on programs in Israel, Switzerland, and France.