Jamshid 'Jahm' Najafi is an Iranian-American businessman, the self-made billionaire Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Founder of The Najafi Companies (Najafi Cos.), a private equity firm. Born in the Imperial State of Iran in 1963, his family immigrated to the U.S. in 1975.

Najafi holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Business Economics from Harvard University in 1986. His career began with a brief stint on Wall Street before he launched his own firm, recognizing the immense opportunity in special situations and undervalued assets.

• The Najafi Companies (Founder & Head): The core private asset, a private equity firm that invests only his own capital across consumer, media, sports, travel, and technology.
• Phoenix Suns (NBA) (Vice Chairman & Minority Owner): He acquired a 10 percent stake in 2009 (now worth $400 million).
• McLaren Racing (F1) (Minority Stake): He acquired a stake in the British Formula 1 team in 2020.
• Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in contrarian, leveraged investment and opportunistic buyouts in special situations.

Jahm Najafi founded The Najafi Companies in 2002, adopting a unique model of investing only his own capital (avoiding reliance on external LPs). His strategic genius was his ability to execute lucrative turnaround investments: a $100 million bet in 2003 on domain registrar Network Solutions yielded an $800 million return in 2007—a massive financial apex that secured his fortune.

His diversification into sports is highly visible: he acquired a 10 percent stake in the Phoenix Suns (NBA) in 2009 and a minority stake in McLaren Racing (Formula 1) in 2020 (via MSP Sports Capital). He also led the $600 million acquisition of Grindr in 2020. His wealth is tied to the long-term appreciation of his sports franchises and his successful private equity exits.

Jahm Najafi's social impact is structural, stemming from his investment in the Phoenix Suns, providing a major civic asset for the Arizona community. His acquisition of Grindr was tied to U.S. government concerns over foreign ownership and data security (CFIUS), highlighting his role in high-stakes, politically sensitive deals. His personal philanthropy is channeled through Social Venture Partners, investing in emerging non-profit organizations.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful monetization and turnaround of distressed tech assets and his focus on community development in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Jahm Najafi maintains the professional, composed style of a private equity executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects his stability and confident authority, befitting a multi-billionaire sports owner and investor.

Residing in Paradise Valley, Arizona, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to strategic investment, sports ownership, and the long-term management of his diversified asset portfolio.