Jonathan M. Nelson

{{short description|American businessman and investor (born 1956)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jonathan Nelson

| image = 2010 WEF Jonathan M. Nelson.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Jonathan Milton Nelson

| birth_date = {{bya|1956}}

| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Founder of Providence Equity Partners

| education = Brown University
Harvard Business School

}}

Jonathan Milton Nelson (born 1956) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the founder of Providence Equity Partners, a global private equity firm based in Providence, Rhode Island, which manages funds with over US$45 billion in commitments.{{cite web|author=Alistair Smith|title=Ambassador Theatre Group confirms sale to Providence Equity|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/business/2013/10/ambassador-theatre-group-confirms-sale-providence-equity|publisher=The Stage|date=October 21, 2013}}
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-09/providence-s-china-head-said-to-leave-in-latest-asia-exit.html|title=Providence's China Head Said to Leave in Latest Asia Exit|author=Devin Banerjee and Meghan Morris|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=July 9, 2014}}{{Cite web|title=Onex Corp. to Buy Tes Global From Providence Equity Partners|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/onex-corp-to-buy-tes-global-from-providence-equity-partners-271638874599|access-date=2022-01-27|website=MarketWatch|language=EN-US}} As of September 2023, Nelson's net worth is estimated by Forbes at $3.4 billion.{{Cite web|title=Jonathan Nelson|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jonathan-nelson/|access-date=September 6, 2023|website=Forbes|language=en}}

Early life and education

Nelson grew up in Providence. He graduated from Brown University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. After graduation, he managed the Chinese division of Wellman, Inc.{{cite web|last=Mehta|first=Stephanie|title=Inside a record-breaking $51 billion buyout|url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/05/13/magazines/fortune/mehta_biggest_deal_ever.fortune/|publisher=CNN Money|accessdate=September 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101113043/http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/13/magazines/fortune/mehta_biggest_deal_ever.fortune/|archive-date=November 1, 2012}} On returning to the United States, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1983.{{Cite web|title=Jonathan M. Nelson, MBA 1983 - Alumni - Harvard Business School|url=https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=3990|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.alumni.hbs.edu| date=25 August 2014 }}

Career history

In 1983, Nelson joined Narragansett Capital, a private equity firm, where he was a managing director. At Narragansett, he specialized in the broadcasting, cable television and publishing sectors.{{cite web|title=Speaker Profile: Jonathan Nelson|url=http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/gcprogram.taf?function=bio&EventID=gc12&SPID=7569|publisher=Miliken Institute|accessdate=September 27, 2012|archive-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625213020/http://www.milkeninstitute.org/events/gcprogram.taf?function=bio&EventID=gc12&SPID=7569|url-status=dead}}

In 1989, he founded Providence Equity Partners, a pioneering sector-focused private equity firm. It is the world's leading private equity investment firm focused on media, communications, education, and information investments.{{cite web|title=Members - PEGCC|date=13 June 2012 |url=http://www.pegcc.org/about/members|publisher=Private Equity Growth Capital Council|accessdate=September 27, 2012}} He was dubbed the "stealth mogul" by The New York Times for keeping a low profile despite his firm's substantial media holdings.{{cite news|last=Sorkin|first=Andrew Ross|title=They're Just a Bunch of Regular Media Moguls|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/14/business/they-re-just-a-bunch-of-regular-media-moguls.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|work=The New York Times |date=14 September 2003 |accessdate=September 27, 2012}}

In 2008, Nelson and other Providence principals launched Providence's credit investment arm with Thomas Gahan of Deutsche Bank.{{Cite news|url=http://www.leveragedfinancenews.com/news/providence_expands_capital-markets_arm-202069-1.html|title=Providence Expands Capital Markets Arm|author=Ken MacFadyen|publisher=Leveraged Finance News|date=June 21, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310145638/http://www.leveragedfinancenews.com/news/providence_expands_capital-markets_arm-202069-1.html|url-status=dead}} The unit is called Benefit Street Partners, which has US$9.16 billion (inflation-adjusted) under management.{{Cite news|url=http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3399592/banking-and-capital-markets-corporations/tommy-gahan-wants-to-capitalize-on-volatility.html#.VGN7wdoo7t4|title=Tommy Gahan Wants to Capitalize on Volatility|author=Julie Segal|work=Institutional Investor|date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-date=September 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929194823/http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3399592/banking-and-capital-markets-corporations/tommy-gahan-wants-to-capitalize-on-volatility.html#.VGN7wdoo7t4|url-status=dead}}

Nelson is on the boards of the Chernin Group, MLS Media, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, Television Broadcasts Ltd and Univision Communications. he has also been a director of Eircom Plc, Hulu, Language Line, MetroNet (now AT&T Canada), VoiceStream Wireless (now Deutsche Telekom), Warner Music Group, (now Alltel Wireless) and Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network.{{cite web|title=Executive Profile: Jonathan Nelson|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=71770&privcapId=22559&previousCapId=107534&previous|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140828034542/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=71770&privcapId=22559&previousCapId=107534&previous|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2014|website=businessweek.com|accessdate=November 19, 2013}}

Philanthropy and other activities

= Educational philanthropy =

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Nelson Fitness Center (Brown).jpg

| image2 = Nelson Center for Enterpreneurship at Brown University.jpg

| total_width = 250

| footer = The Nelson Fitness Center and Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University

| direction = vertical

| footer_align = center

}}

As of March 2019, Nelson is listed as a Fellow of Brown University, and has previously been a trustee.{{cite web|title=Brown Corporation elects one fellow, seven trustees|url=http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/05/corporation|publisher=Brown University|accessdate=September 27, 2012}} He has donated at least $36 million to the university, contributing to the construction of the Nelson Fitness Center{{cite web|title=Providence Equity's Jonathan Nelson Named to Fortune 400|url=http://www.golocalprov.com/business/new-providence-equitys-jonathan-nelson-named-to-fortune-400/|publisher=GoLocalProv|accessdate=September 27, 2012}} and establishment of the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship and endowment of two professorships.{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Jennifer|title=New U. fund supports interdisciplinary efforts|url=http://www.browndailyherald.com/new-u-fund-supports-interdisciplinary-efforts-1.2766411#.UGO_xhjfLfI|work=Brown Daily Herald|accessdate=September 27, 2012|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020061046/http://www.browndailyherald.com/new-u-fund-supports-interdisciplinary-efforts-1.2766411#.UGO_xhjfLfI|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Buchsbaum|first=Shira|date=2016-02-01|title=Nelson '77 seeds entrepreneurship center|url=https://www.browndailyherald.com/2016/02/01/nelson-77-seeds-entrepreneurship-center/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Brown Daily Herald|language=en-US}} As of January 2025, these professorships are held by the mathematician Brendan Hassett{{Cite web |title=Brendan's Home Page |url=https://www.math.brown.edu/bhassett/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.math.brown.edu}} and the philosopher Paul Guyer.{{Cite web |title=Paul Guyer {{!}} Philosophy {{!}} Brown University |url=https://philosophy.brown.edu/people/paul-guyer |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=philosophy.brown.edu |language=en}} In 2013, The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art named Nelson the winner of the Arthur Ross Award for Excellence In The Classical Tradition (Patronage) for his guidance of the design and construction of the Nelson Fitness Center.{{cite web|title=The Classicist|url=http://blog.classicist.org/?p=6200|accessdate=September 27, 2012|archive-date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113220027/http://blog.classicist.org/?p=6200|url-status=dead}} In 2018, Following a $25 million gift from Nelson, Brown established the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship. Nelson is a trustee of Rockefeller University.{{Cite web|title=Jonathan Nelson|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jonathan-nelson/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Forbes|language=en}} In August 2014, Harvard Business School gave Nelson an Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the school on its graduates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/video.aspx?v=1_iykequ5r|title=2014 Alumni Achievement Awards|publisher=Harvard University|date=August 25, 2014}}

Nelson has committed to the Giving Pledge, a campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to encourage the wealthiest people in the United States to make a commitment to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.{{cite web|last=Sweet|first=Ken|title=Two Private Equity Billionaires Sign Buffett's and Gates' Giving Pledge|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/privateequity/2012/09/18/two-private-equity-billionaires-sign-buffett-and-gates-giving-pledge|work=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=September 27, 2012}} He is on the board of the Newport Festivals Foundation. He is an avid sailor and big mountain skier.