Early Life
Patrick Drahi was born on August 20, 1963, in Casablanca, Morocco, to a Jewish family. His parents were mathematics teachers. At age 15, his family moved to France, where he later pursued higher education.
Rise to Success
Drahi's career began in the telecommunications industry after earning degrees from École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris. He started Altice in 2001, expanding it through strategic acquisitions. Key acquisitions include SFR in France, and Suddenlink and Cablevision in the United States, which were later consolidated into Altice USA.
Key Business Strategies
Drahi is known for using leveraged acquisitions to buy undervalued assets and aggressively cut costs. His strategies have significantly expanded Altice's global presence. He is also recognized for his keen eye for opportunity, as demonstrated by the purchase of Sotheby's in 2019.
Philanthropy
Drahi and his wife, Lina, established the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation in 2014. The Foundation supports a variety of causes, particularly in education, science, and the arts.