Antonio Gracias

{{Short description|American billionaire private equity investor}}

{{Infobox person

| citizenship = United States

| education = Georgetown University (BSFS, MSFS)

University of Chicago (JD)

| occupation = Private equity investor

| years_active = 1995 to present

| boards = Tesla, Inc. (2007-2021)
SpaceX

| website = https://www.valorep.com/team/antonio-gracias

}}

Antonio Gracias is an American billionaire private equity investor and corporate executive who founded Valor Equity Partners. He has served on the boards of directors for several companies in which Valor has invested, including Tesla, Inc.and SpaceX.{{Cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |last2=Conger |first2=Kate |last3=Mac |first3=Ryan |date=2025-03-14 |title=A Close Elon Musk Friend Joins His Effort on Social Security |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/elon-musk-antonio-gracias-social-security-administration.html |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} A longtime ally of Elon Musk, Gracias has received media attention for his participation in the Department of Government Efficiency.

Forbes estimates his net worth to be $2.2 billion as of April 2025.{{Cite web |title=Antonio Gracias |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/antonio-gracias/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Education

Gracias attended Georgetown University where he pursued a joint degree program in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, graduating with a B.S.F.S and M.S.F.S. with a concentration in international economics in 1993.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=Antonio Gracias |url=https://www.valorep.com/team/antonio-gracias |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Valor |language=en-US}} He also studied abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, later returning to that city for a fellowship with Nikko Securities. He later attended the University of Chicago Law School, graduating with a J.D. in 1998.{{Cite web |title=University Trustees {{!}} Board of Trustees |url=https://trustees.uchicago.edu/university-trustees/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=trustees.uchicago.edu}}

As of 2025, Gracias is a member of the board of advisors for the Walsh School of Foreign Service, as well as the University of Chicago board of trustees.{{Cite web |title=Board of Advisors |url=https://sfs.georgetown.edu/people/board-of-advisors/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University |language=en-US}}

Investing career

While in law school, Gracias founded MG Capital, a private equity firm whose core team formed the basis for the founding of Valor Equity Partners in 1995. In addition to Tesla and SpaceX, Valor's portfolio companies include Anduril Industries, Neuralink, Reddit, Eight Sleep, and Zipline (drone delivery company).{{Cite web |title=Growth Investments |url=https://www.valorep.com/growth-investments |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Valor |language=en-US}}

Department of Government Efficiency

In the second presidency of Donald Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency has been led by Elon Musk since its establishment by executive order on Inauguration Day. Following earlier part time involvement with DOGE, in March 2025, Gracias took on a role at the Social Security Administration to focus on DOGE cost-cutting efforts in the Social Security program.

References