Harold 'Irv' Irving Grousbeck is an American entrepreneur, professor, and billionaire co-owner of the Boston Celtics (NBA). His wealth is rooted in the early cable television industry and private equity. Born in 1934, he graduated from Amherst College (1956) and holds an MBA from Harvard University (1960).

Grousbeck's career is defined by two major pivots: Founding Cable TV and Academia. In 1964, he co-founded Continental Cablevision (later Media One) with his college roommate, pioneering the U.S. cable market. He left the company in the mid-1980s to pursue an academic career, becoming a renowned Lecturer and Consulting Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he co-founded the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES).

• Continental Cablevision (Co-founder & Former Chairman): The core wealth generator, a pioneering U.S. cable television company founded in 1964.
• Stanford GSB (Consulting Professor): He co-founded the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and teaches courses on entrepreneurship.
• Boston Celtics (Principal Owner): He co-led the acquisition of the NBA franchise in 2003.
• Financial Innovation: He is credited with originating the concept of a search fund to make private equity investments in 1984.

Irving Grousbeck's strategic genius was his early move into cable television, recognizing the structural growth of the media sector. He served as President (1964–1980) and Chairman (1980–1985) of Continental Cablevision. His focus then shifted to education, where he wrote the textbook, New Business Ventures and the Entrepreneur.

His most public venture is his ownership of the Boston Celtics. In 2003, Grousbeck, along with his son Wyc Grousbeck and other partners, acquired the Boston Celtics for $360 million through Boston Basketball Partners LLC. His investment ensures the long-term competitive success of the franchise. His career provides a rare narrative of a founder who successfully transitioned to become a thought leader in entrepreneurship (at Harvard and Stanford) and a major figure in professional sports ownership.

Irving Grousbeck's social impact is massive and multi-faceted. His structural contributions include pioneering the cable television industry and developing the search fund concept in finance. His philanthropic efforts support the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, Children's Hospital Boston, and the New England Eye Bank.

His structural contribution to education is profound: he teaches his popular course, Conversations in Management, challenging students to deal with difficult managerial issues through assessment, prescription, and execution (including role-plays).

Irving Grousbeck maintains the professional, academic style of an entrepreneur-professor. His attire is often formal but approachable, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects his stability, his mastery of high finance, and his passion for teaching the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Residing in California and the Boston area, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to entrepreneurial education, asset management, and professional sports governance.