Paul Wachter

Wachter is a graduate of Riverdale Country School in The Bronx, New York. In 1978, he graduated magna cum laude and Beta Gamma Sigma from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1981, he earned his juris doctor from Columbia University Law School, where he was a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.{{cite news|title=Liza Beth Atkins Is the Bride of Paul D. Wachter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/01/style/liza-beth-atkins-is-the-bride-of-paul-d-wachter.html|access-date=December 8, 2017|work=New York Times|date=June 1, 1987|location=Style}}

Wachter is founder and CEO of financial and asset management advisory firm Main Street Advisors.{{cite web|title=Regent Paul D. Wachter|url=http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/about/members-and-advisors/bios/paul-wachter.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001114245/http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/about/members-and-advisors/bios/paul-wachter.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2013|website=University of California|access-date=27 May 2015|ref=University of California}} The company was founded in 1997. Previously, Wachter was an investment banker for Schroder & Co. Incorporated, Kidder, Peabody & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Company.{{cite news|last1=Farrell|first1=Maureen|title=Why Time Warner Might Sell: A Board with Lots of Mega-Deal Makers|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/07/18/why-time-warner-might-sell-a-board-with-lots-of-mega-deal-makers/|access-date=27 May 2015|work=MoneyBeat|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=18 July 2014|ref=The Wall Street Journal}}

In 2002, Wachter advised John W. Henry and Tom Werner on the New England Sports Ventures' acquisition of the Boston Red Sox. Henry was principal owner and Werner was executive chairman. In 2001, New England Sports Ventures changed its name to Fenway Sports Group.{{cite news|title=NESV becomes Fenway Sports Group|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/03/nesv_becomes_fe.html|access-date=27 May 2015|work=Boston.com|publisher=Boston.com|date=22 March 2011|ref=Boston.com}}

Wachter has been LeBron James' financial advisor since 2004. He "routinely connects James with business heavyweights" such as Warren Buffett and has helped James "ink various investment and partnership deals". He negotiated James' notable lifetime Nike deal in 2015, which has been reported to reach a lifetime total of over $1 billion.{{cite news|title=LeBron James's Nike deal may be worth more than $1 billion|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2016/05/17/lebron-james-nike-deal-contract-one-billion|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=17 May 2016}}{{cite news|title=LeBron James signs lifetime Nike deal|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/14314807/lebron-james-signs-life-deal-nike|author=Darren Rovell|publisher=ESPN|date=8 December 2015}}{{cite news|title=The man behind LeBron's lifetime deal with Nike|url=http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14318531|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820171642/http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14318531|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 20, 2016|publisher=ESPN|date=8 December 2015}}{{cite news|author=Scott Davis|title=We're getting a better idea of how much LeBron James' new deal with Nike is worth, and it sounds like a monster|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/lebron-james-nike-deal-sounds-like-a-monster-2015-12|publisher=Business Insider|date= December 9, 2015}} Wachter conceived of a deal between James and Fenway Sports Group, which gave James a minority interest in the FSG-owned soccer club Liverpool.

In 2004, then-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Wachter to the University of California Board of Regents where he remained until 2016.{{cite web |title=Daily Californian: UC investment office faces high staff turnover, emails suggest |date=13 September 2018 |url=http://www.dailycal.org/2018/09/12/uc-investment-office-faces-high-staff-turnover-emails-suggest/}}{{cite web |title=UC: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MEETING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE |url=https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/minutes/2016/cw120.pdf}} Wachter has known Schwarzenegger since the late 1970s and has managed his investments.{{cite news|last1=Cieply|first1=Michael|last2=Cohn|first2=Gary|last3=Eller|first3=Claudia|last4=Vincent|first4=Roger|title=Schwarzenegger Built a Vast Business Empire|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-10-me-arnoldbiz10-story.html|access-date=27 May 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=10 August 2003|ref=Los Angeles Times}} He acted as an advisor and strategist to Schwarzenegger's 2003 and 2006 campaigns and transition teams. Wachter was also the trustee for Schwarzenegger's blind trust during Schwarzenegger's time as Governor and is a senior financial advisor for the former Governor.{{cite news|author=Peter Byrne|title=The truth about Arnold|url=http://www.salon.com/2005/02/15/arnold_16/|work=Salon|date= February 15, 2005}}

Wachter is also associated with other investments such as Kate Farm, Dave's Hot Chicken, Zwift, the TPG Growth fund, the Beverly Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Blaze Pizza, and other properties.{{cite news|last1=de la Merced|first1=Michael J.|title=At TPG, a Low-Profile Fund's Diversity Thrives|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/business/dealbook/at-tpg-a-low-profile-funds-diversity-thrives.html?_r=0|access-date=27 May 2015|work=DealBook|publisher=The New York Times|date=26 April 2015|ref=The New York Times}}{{cite news|author=Darren Rovell|title=LeBron James leaving McDonald's, investing in pizza franchise Blaze|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13835715/lebron-james-invest-endorse-fast-casual-pizza-franchise-blaze|publisher=ESPN|date=October 10, 2015}} Through Main Street Advisors, he is also a founding investor of Ladder, a company founded with LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cindy Crawford and Lindsey Vonn in 2018, NTWRK, a digital e-commerce company co-founded with Jimmy Iovine and Warner Bros. Studios, and 88Rising, a music entertainment and mass media company with a focus on Asian and Asian American artists.{{cite web |title=LeBron James, Other Celebrities Team Up to Start Wellness Brand 'Ladder'|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lebron-james-other-celebrities-team-up-to-start-wellness-brand-ladder-1543320001|work=Wall Street Journal |date=November 27, 2018 }}{{cite web |title=Agenda Founder Levant Unveils New Project|url=https://www.apparelnews.net/news/2018/jun/07/agenda-founder-levant-unveils-new-project/|work=California Apparel News|date=June 7, 2018 }}

Wachter was executive producer of the Starz scripted series, Survivor's Remorse, and HBO’s What’s My Name, a documentary on Muhammad Ali, winner of the 2020 PGA Award for Outstanding Sports Program and the 2020 Sports Emmy.{{cite web|title=PGA Awards: '1917' Wins Best Picture; 'Fleabag', 'Succession' Top TV |url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/producers-guild-awards-2020-winners-list-pga-1202830210/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 18, 2020}} He co-founded Lobos 1707 with Diego Osorio, LeBron James and Maverick Carter in 2020.{{cite web|title=LeBron James Is Toasting the Tequila Market|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lebron-james-is-toasting-the-tequila-market-11605713497|website=Wall Street Journal|date=November 18, 2020}}

In March 2021, Wachter led negotiations for himself, LeBron James and Maverick Carter to become partners in the Fenway Sports Group alongside RedBird Capital Partners, in exchange for their minority stake in Liverpool Football Club.{{cite web|title=Boston Red Sox owner valued at $7.35 billion on investment from LeBron James and RedBird |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lebron-redbird-fenway-investment/boston-red-sox-owner-valued-at-735-bln-on-investment-from-lebron-james-and-redbird-idUSL4N2LT4O3|website=Reuters|date=March 31, 2021}} In 2021, Wachter executive produced the animated streaming series Superhero Kindergarten, based on the comic book series of the same name by Stan Lee.{{cite web |first=Aaron |last=Couch |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Lending Voice to Stan Lee's 'Superhero Kindergarten' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/arnold-schwarzenegger-voice-star-stan-lees-superhero-kindergarten-1214061 |date=May 29, 2019 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Valence Media |access-date=May 14, 2021}} Wachter is the Executive Producer of Netflix's Arnold, a documentary on Arnold Schwarzenegger.{{cite web |title=Netflix Releases Arnold Schwarzenegger Documentary Trailer|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-arnold-schwarzenegger-documentary-trailer-1235483315/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 10, 2023}}

Wachter served on Time Warner's board of directors from 2010 until its acquisition by AT&T in 2018, and was on the board of Beats Electronics since the inception of the company until its purchase by Apple in 2014. He also served on the board of Beats Music.{{cite web|title=Beats wins in case that accused Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine of double-crossing investor |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-beats-apple-lawsuit-20160830-snap-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date= August 30, 2016}} He served on the American Skiing Company's board from 1996 to 2008 and also serves on the Board of Councilors of the [https://iovine-young.usc.edu/ Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy] at USC.{{cite magazine|title=Can Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre Save the Music Industry? |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/can-jimmy-iovine-dr-dre-save-music-industry/|magazine=Wired|date=August 1, 2015}}

Wachter has also served on the boards of Virgin America until its acquisition by Alaska Airlines in 2016, ATTN:, Ladder, Haworth Marketing and Media Company and Content Partners, LLC.{{cite web|title=VIRGIN AMERICA EXPANDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH APPOINTMENT OF JENNIFER VOGEL AND PAUL WACHTER|url=https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/about-our-airline/press/2015/virgin-america-expands-board-of-directors-with-appointment-of-jennifer-vogel-and-paul-wachter|publisher=Virgin America|access-date=14 August 2015}}{{cite web|title=Paul D. Wachter|url=http://www.timewarner.com/company/management/board-of-directors/paul-d-wachter|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=8 August 2016}}{{cite web |title=L.A. digital media firm Attn: expands from bite-sized videos to TV specials|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-attn-expansion-20180529-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 29, 2018}} He serves on the board of LeBron James’ and Maverick Carter's SpringHill Entertainment, a video production company, and Uninterrupted, a digital platform for athletes.{{cite web|title=LeBron: The Sequel |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/18686205/the-second-chapter-lebron-james-career|website=ESPN|date=February 15, 2017}} He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Berklee College and as Chairman of After-School All-Stars, a national non-profit that partners with schools to expand the learning day for at risk children.{{cite web|title=Paul D. Wachter|url=https://www.berklee.edu/trustees|website=After School All-Stars|access-date=27 May 2015}}{{cite web|title=Paul D. Wachter|url=http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/paul-wachter/|website=Berklee|publisher=Board of Trustees|access-date=11 June 2021}} He is now Chairman of the Board of United Talent Agency (UTA).{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/uta-board-chairman-paul-wachter-ceci-kurzman-1235510576/|title=UTA Adds Paul Wachter and Ceci Kurzman to Board, Wachter to Serve as Chairman as Jim Berkus Steps Down|website=Variety|date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-02}}

On May 31, 1987, Wachter married Liza Atkins in a Jewish ceremony at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Los Angeles.

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Category:1956 births

Category:American financiers

Category:American investors

Category:American money managers

Category:American television producers

Category:Columbia Law School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people

Category:Wharton School alumni

Category:Riverdale Country School alumni

Category:Fenway Sports Group people

Category:Bear Stearns people