Stephen Deckoff Wikipedia: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family & BIO of Black Diamond Capital Management Founder
Stephen Deckoff is a billionaire entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who is best known for founding Black Diamond Capital Management, a private equity firm that manages over $9 billion in assets. He has been in the investment industry for more than 20 years, and has a remarkable track record of success in distressed debt, special situations, and alternative investments.
He is also a generous donor to various community organizations, especially in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he resides with his family. In this article, we will explore the life, career, and achievements of Stephen Deckoff, as well as his recent purchase of two islands that belonged to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Stephen Deckoff Wiki/Bio
| Name | Stephen Deckoff |
|---|---|
| Birth year | 1966 |
| Birth place | New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Education | Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration/Management from Cornell University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Net worth | $3.2 billion (as of 2023) |
| Spouse | Gertrude Jobe |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Known for | Founding Black Diamond Capital Management, a private equity firm that manages over $9 billion in assets |
| Recent purchase | Two islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands that belonged to the late Jeffrey Epstein |
| Links | Linkedin- @stephen-deckoff-739b53b5 Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Stephen Deckoff was born in 1966 (age: 57 years, as of 2023) in New York, to Dr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Deckoff. His father was a vascular surgeon at Booth Memorial Medical Center in Flushing, Queens, and his mother was a homemaker. He grew up in a well-off and supportive family, and developed an interest in business and finance from a young age. He attended Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Administration/Management. He graduated in 1988, and decided to pursue a career in the investment industry.
Career and Achievements
Stephen Deckoff started his career at Merrill Lynch & Co., where he worked as an analyst and associate in the high-yield and distressed debt group. He then moved to Oaktree Capital Management, a leading alternative investment firm, where he held various positions and gained valuable experience in the field. In 1995, he left Oaktree and founded his own firm, Black Diamond Capital Management, with the vision of creating a diversified and innovative asset management platform.
Black Diamond specializes in investing in distressed debt, special situations, hedge funds, and private equity. The firm has offices in Greenwich, Connecticut, Lake Forest, Illinois, London, England, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Deckoff serves as the managing principal and chief investment officer of Black Diamond, and oversees the firm’s strategy, operations, and performance.
Under his leadership, Black Diamond has grown to become one of the most respected and successful private equity firms in the world, with a portfolio of companies across various sectors, such as energy, power, infrastructure, media, technology, and consumer. Some of the notable investments that Black Diamond has made include:
- American Tire Distributors, the largest tire distributor in North America
- Spectrum Brands, a global consumer products company that owns brands such as Rayovac, Remington, and Black & Decker
- Everstream Solutions, a fiber-based network service provider in the Midwest
- Verso Corporation, a leading producer of graphic and specialty papers
- Hexion, a global leader in thermoset resins and specialty chemicals
Deckoff has been recognized for his achievements and expertise in the investment industry, and has been featured on several prestigious lists, such as:
- Forbes 400, the list of the richest people in America, where he ranked #356 in 2023, with a net worth of $3.2 billion
- Forbes Billionaires, the list of the richest people in the world, where he ranked #982 in 2023, with a net worth of $3.2 billion
- Institutional Investor’s Hedge Fund 100, the list of the largest hedge fund firms in the world, where Black Diamond ranked #64 in 2023, with $9 billion in assets under management
He is also an avid skier, and named his firm Black Diamond after his hobby. He owns multi-million dollar properties in Colorado and New York City, and a Beverly Hills mansion previously owned by the Latsis shipping family.
Wife, Kids
Deckoff is a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands and also owns properties in Colorado, New York City, and Beverly Hills. He is married and has three children. His wife’s name is Gertrude Job. They married earlier in May 1993 in the presence of their family members.
Philanthropy and Community Involvement
Stephen Deckoff is not only a successful businessman, but also a generous philanthropist and a community leader. He is a resident of St. John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he has been actively involved in supporting various causes and organizations, such as:
- The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, a nonprofit organization that promotes the well-being and positive development of the people of the Virgin Islands
- The Virgin Islands National Park, a national park that preserves the natural and cultural resources of St. John and its surrounding waters
- The Gifft Hill School, a private school that provides education to students from preschool to 12th grade on St. John
- The St. John School of the Arts, a nonprofit organization that offers arts education and enrichment programs to children and adults on St. John
- The St. John Cancer Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance and support to cancer patients and their families on St. John
He has also donated to other charitable causes and institutions, such as Cornell University, his alma mater, where he established the Deckoff Family Scholarship, which provides financial aid to students from the U.S. Virgin Islands who attend Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration.
Net Worth in 2024
| Net Worth | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $2.8 billion |
| 2023 | $3 billion |
| 2024 | $3.2 billion |
Recent Purchase of Two Islands
In February 2024, Stephen Deckoff made headlines when he bought two islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands that belonged to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier who died in prison in 2019. The islands, known as Little St. James and Great St. James, were part of Epstein’s estate, which was being sold to pay off his creditors and victims. Deckoff paid $60 million for the two islands, which have a combined area of about 280 acres and feature several buildings, including a mansion, a guest house, a temple, and a helipad.
The islands were previously valued at $86 million, but were sold at a discount due to their tainted reputation and legal issues. He has not revealed his plans for the islands, but some sources have speculated that he might use them for his personal or business purposes, or donate them to a conservation group or a public entity. He has declined to comment on his purchase, but his spokesperson has issued a statement saying that He is “a longtime resident of the Virgin Islands and a supporter of the local community.”
Stephen Deckoff is a remarkable entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has built a successful and diversified asset management firm, Black Diamond Capital Management, that manages over $9 billion in assets. He is also a generous donor to various community organizations, especially in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he resides with his family. He recently bought two islands that belonged to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a controversial figure who was accused of sex trafficking and abuse. He is one of the richest and most influential people in the world, and has a net worth of $3.2 billion. He is a man who has achieved a lot in his life, and has a lot more to offer.
