Leon Black
Leon David Black is an American private equity investor, billionaire businessman, and art collector.
Leon Black is an American private equity billionaire and co-founder of Apollo Global Management. He stepped down from his roles in 2021 after scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Who is Leon Black?
Leon David Black (born July 31, 1951) is a private equity investor, businessman, and art collector. He co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990 and built it into one of the world's largest alternative asset managers. Bloomberg’s 2026 Billionaires Index estimated his net worth at about US$13.8 billion.
Apollo Global Management
Black co-founded Apollo with Marc Rowan and Josh Harris in 1990. The firm grew to manage assets across private equity, credit, real estate, and insurance. Black served as CEO until 2021, when he resigned amid revelations about his financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Controversy and resignation
In 2021, Black resigned from Apollo and the Museum of Modern Art after public scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy involved payments and business dealings that drew legal and media attention. He has since faced further scrutiny related to those connections.
In short
- Co-founded Apollo Global Management in 1990.
- Resigned as CEO in 2021 over Epstein ties.
- Net worth estimated at US$13.8 billion (2026).
- Married to Debra Black with four children.
Leon Black is relevant to Canadian readers through global private equity and asset-management markets, where Apollo Global Management has major international investment activity. His business dealings and controversies have also been covered in Canadian business media because they affected a prominent global financier.
Quick questions
Who is Leon Black?
What is Leon Black's net worth?
Why did Leon Black resign from Apollo?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_BlackSupports: Birth date, career summary, Apollo co-founding, resignation, and net worth estimate.
- Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/leon-d-black/Supports: Net worth estimate, Apollo co-founding, and ownership stake information.
- Jewish Lives — https://www.jewishlives.org/about-leon-blackSupports: Biography, Apollo founding, and role in alternative asset management.
- Melanoma Research Alliance — https://curemelanoma.org/mra-overview/board-of-directors/leon-blackSupports: Marriage to Debra Black, philanthropy, Apollo role, and board/service information.
- Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/person/leon-black/umc.cpc.4ic66oanyskd66k6z87ix2li9Supports: Basic biography, Apollo co-founding, and resignation from Apollo and MoMA.
- The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/may/06/jeffrey-epstein-leon-blackSupports: 2026 age reference, Epstein-related scrutiny, and resignation context.