Suhail Rizvi Explained

Suhail R. Rizvi
Birth Place:India
Nationality:Indian American
Alma Mater:Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S.)
Occupation:Venture Capitalist
Employer:Chief Investment Officer at Rizvi Traverse Management LLC
Spouse:Patti Blanchard Rizvi

Suhail R. Rizvi is an Indian-American businessman and co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Rizvi Traverse Management LLC.[1] He has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and sits on the Wharton Undergraduate Executive Board.[2] A venture capitalist, his investments include Twitter, Facebook, Flipboard and Square.[3] Due to his large stake in Twitter, both personally and for other investors, he was the subject of media scrutiny at the time of Twitter's IPO; he is notoriously private.[4]

Along with social media, Rizvi has invested in telecommunications and entertainment.[5] In April 2007, Rizvi Traverse acquired an equity ownership stake in Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the successful “Twilight” series. In January 2012, Lions Gate announced that it had acquired Summit Entertainment for $412.5 million.[6] In 2005, his firm acquired controlling interest in International Creative Management,[7] but sold its stake.[8] After management problems with the Hollywood talent agency, Rizvi Traverse Management exchanged its equity, "for a combination of cash, preferred non-voting shares and an ongoing interest in certain assets of the company."[9] The firm also helped Hugh Hefner buy back Playboy Enterprises in 2011.[10] In November 2015, the company announced the acquisition of 3D cinema technology firm RealD for $551 million.[11] [12] His father Syied Humayoun Raza Rizvi, who died in July 2016, was a professor of psychology at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.[13]

His brother, Ashraf, is a hedge fund manager.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Suhail Rizvi – Rizvi Traverse Management LLC. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004231243/http://www.rizvitraverse.com/team-Suhail-Rizvi.html. 2013-10-04.
  2. Web site: Undergraduate Executive Board – The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505013605/http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/about/undergraduate-executive-board.cfm. 2012-05-05.
  3. Web site: Suhail Rizvi: Twitter's secret investor with 15% stake of more than $1 billion - Reuters.
  4. News: At Twitter, Working Behind the Scenes Toward a Billion-Dollar Payday. The New York Times . 8 November 2013 . Stevenson . Alexandra . Perlroth . Nicole .
  5. Web site: Company Overview of Rizvi Traverse Management LLC – Bloomberg Businessweek. https://web.archive.org/web/20131021034806/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1709411&privcapId=32427911. dead. October 21, 2013.
  6. Web site: Lions Gate Acquires Summit Entertainment for $412.5 Million - Bloomberg News. .
  7. Web site: $100-Million Infusion Puts Talent Firm in Position to Deal - LA Times. . 2 November 2005 .
  8. Web site: ICM agents complete buyout of agency from Berg and Rizvi Traverse – LA Times Reporter. . 23 May 2012 .
  9. News: At Twitter, Working Behind the Scenes Toward a Billion-Dollar Payday. 11 December 2013. The New York Times . 8 November 2013 . Stevenson . Alexandra . Perlroth . Nicole .
  10. Web site: Hugh Hefner reaches deal to take Playboy private – LA Times. . 11 January 2011 .
  11. Web site: RealD to Go Private in $551 Million Deal With Private-Equity Firm Rizvi Traverse. Variety. 2016-02-18. en-US. Todd. Spangler. 9 November 2015 .
  12. News: Rizvi Traverse to Buy RealD in $551 Million Deal. Wall Street Journal. 2016-02-18. 0099-9660. Ezequiel. Minaya.
  13. Web site: Suhail Rizvi, the newly-minted Twitter billionaire from India. https://web.archive.org/web/20131110144041/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-11-09/internet/43853740_1_puerto-rico-phone-company-suhail-rizvi-jack-dorsey. dead. 2013-11-10. The Times of India.