David J. Blitzer (also known as Dave Blitzer) is an American billionaire businessman, investor, and sports executive born on September 7, 1969, in Scarsdale, New York. Raised in an affluent Ashkenazi Jewish family in the suburbs of New York City, he developed an early interest in finance and business. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1995. His career began at The Blackstone Group in 1995 as an associate in the mergers and acquisitions group, where he rose to Senior Managing Director and co-founded and leads the firm's Tactical Opportunities investment group, focusing on distressed investments, real estate, and special situations, with additional private equity investments in sectors like technology and media. Blitzer's prominence expanded through his partnership with Josh Harris, co-founding Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) in 2011 (the entity was formally rebranded from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment to HBSE in 2017). He serves as Senior Executive Vice President of HBSE. Through HBSE, they acquired majority stakes in the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers (acquired in 2011, where Blitzer serves as co-managing partner and alternate governor) and the NHL's New Jersey Devils (acquired in 2013, where he is co-owner and alternate governor), while operating venues including the Prudential Center and Wells Fargo Center. Blitzer holds minority ownership stakes in other franchises including the NFL's Washington Commanders (acquired in 2023 alongside Magic Johnson and others, with a reported 5% stake for $875 million) and English Premier League club Crystal Palace F.C. (acquired an 18% stake in 2015, later increased to approximately 40% in 2021). He also has investments in Major League Soccer, including a minority stake in Real Salt Lake (acquired in 2022) and was part of an investment group that acquired D.C. United in 2023. He co-founded Unrivaled Sports with investments in esports and media ventures. Additionally, Blitzer serves on the board of directors for Check Point Software Technologies (since 2002) and the University of Pennsylvania's Board of Trustees. Beyond business, he is involved in philanthropy through the Blitzer Family Foundation, supporting Jewish causes, education, and health initiatives, with donations to institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Mount Sinai Hospital. He maintains a low public profile but wields significant influence in sports governance, serving on NBA and NHL committees, and is known for his close professional ties to Blackstone co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman and business partner Josh Harris, as well as collaborations with figures like Michael Rubin and Steve Parish in sports investments. His influence extends to media appearances on CNBC and quotes in The Wall Street Journal, highlighting his expertise in business and sports management. Married to Allison Ross Blitzer since 2008 with three children, Blitzer resides primarily in New York City and Philadelphia. His net worth, derived from Blackstone equity and sports investments, is estimated at $2.7 billion as of 2023–2024. He is also a member of the board of directors for the National Basketball Association's Board of Governors and the National Hockey League's Executive Committee. Blitzer was a key figure in the 2021 acquisition of the Prudential Center's operating rights by HBSE. In 2022, he joined the ownership group of the Cleveland Guardians MLB team, acquiring a minority stake. He is a founding partner of the sports investment firm 76ers Innovation Lab.