Jeffrey Vinik
Jeffrey N. Vinik (born March 22, 1959) is the current owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) and a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox (MLB).[1] He served on the board of directors for Liverpool Football Club of the Premier League from 2010–2013.[2]
Jeffrey N. Vinik | |
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Jeffrey Vinik in 2017 | |
Born | Deal, New Jersey, U.S. | March 22, 1959
Nationality | United States |
Alma mater | Duke University (B.S., Civil Engineering, 1981) Harvard Business School (MBA, 1985) |
Occupation | Businessman, philanthropist |
Known for | Owner of professional sports teams |
Spouse(s) | Penny Vinik |
Early life
Vinik was born to a Jewish family[3] in Deal, New Jersey.[4] He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University in 1981 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering.[5] He also obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1985.
Career
Vinik managed the Fidelity Magellan Fund from 1992 to 1996, where he averaged 17% annual returns.[6] After leaving Fidelity, he started hedge fund Vinik Asset Management, with partners including Michael Gordon (now President of Fenway Sports Group). He made investors 93.8% in his first 11 months and approximately 50% a year for the next three years. At the end of 2000, Vinik returned investors $4.2 billion and focused on managing his own portfolio.[4] Vinik and his partners closed down the fund in December 2013, and distributed $9 billion in assets.
In 2010, he purchased the Tampa Bay Lightning from Oren Koules and Len Barrie for $170 million.[7] In January 2011, he purchased the Tampa Bay Storm.[8] The Storm folded in December 2017.[9]
Philanthropy
In 1998, Vinik and his wife, Penny, donated $1.25 million to endow a professorship at Duke's engineering school. The next year, they donated $5 million towards facilities at the engineering school.[10] In 2012, they donated $10 million to create a challenge fund to endow associate and full professorships dedicated to addressing complex societal challenges.[11] He donated $1.5 million to build a new Jewish Community Center in South Tampa.[3][12][13] With his wife, he also donated to Vanderbilt University in 2016-2017.[14]
References
- "Jeff Vinik Agrees to Purchase Tampa Bay Lightning". Tampa Bay Lightning. February 5, 2010.
- "Liverpool confirm 5 new directors". Anfield Online. November 13, 2010.
- St. Louis Jewish Light: "As Lightning vies for Stanley Cup, the team’s Jewish owner chats with JTA" Jun 8, 2015.
- Times Staff (February 5, 2010). "Who is Jeff Vinik?". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
- "Stock Picker Vinik Turns to ETFs After Beating Market". Bloomberg Business. December 17, 2010.
- "Corporate Leadership in a Globalising Equity Market" Useem, Michael (1998) in Academy of Management Executive
- ESPN: "Vinik agrees to buy Lightning" by Pierre LeBrun February 5, 2010
- "Lightning (NHL) Owner, Vinik, Purchases Storm". Arena Football League. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2011.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Smith, Joe (December 21, 2017). "Tampa Bay Storm suspending operations". Tampa Bay Times.
- Greg Pessin (January 11, 2000). "Investor donates to Pratt facilities". The Chronicle (Duke University).
- Times Staff (May 8, 2012). "Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik gives $10 million to Duke University". Tampa Bay Times.
- Jewish Tampa: "New JCC Project Garnering Significant Support" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine retrieved July 12, 2014 | "Jeff Vinik added, "We're excited to be a part of the creation of an additional JCC presence in Tampa, and we know this will be transformative for so many members of our community."
- Jewish Press of Pinellas County: "Bucs, Lightning owners lead donors for south Tampa Jewish Community Campus" January 17, 2014
- "2016-2017 Donors: Vanderbilt University, General". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved March 4, 2018.