Jami Gertz has spent decades defying the usual Hollywood trajectory.
Once best known for her roles in films like Sixteen Candles and The Lost Boys, she has long since transitioned into a far different kind of spotlight, one defined by ownership, investment, and one of the NBA’s more quietly influential franchises: the Atlanta Hawks.
A recent rare public appearance has brought her back into conversation, highlighting both her entertainment past and her current status as one of the league’s most prominent owners.
Gertz, now a billionaire through her business and investment ties with her husband, Tony Ressler, continues to maintain a low-profile approach despite her significant role in professional sports ownership.
Her path from actress to NBA governor is not the typical sports-business pipeline.
According to reporting from People and Page Six, Gertz built her financial standing alongside Ressler, a co-founder of private equity firm Ares Management.
Together, they became part of an ownership group that purchased the Atlanta Hawks in 2015, immediately placing her in one of the NBA’s most visible leadership positions.
While she rarely seeks media attention, her influence within the organization is well established.
She has frequently represented the franchise at league events and has taken part in high-level decision-making alongside Ressler.
Still, she has largely avoided the public-facing role embraced by some of her NBA ownership peers.
That balance between visibility and privacy has defined much of her post-Hollywood identity.
Even as interest in celebrity owners continues to grow across professional sports, Gertz has maintained a deliberate distance from the spotlight, preferring to let the franchise operate without constant personal branding attached to her name.
From Hollywood success to NBA ownership influence
The transformation from actress to NBA owner reflects a broader shift in how wealth and influence intersect in modern sports.
Gertz’s career in entertainment provided early visibility, but her financial standing, built through strategic investments with Ressler, ultimately positioned her within the upper tier of NBA ownership circles.
As an owner of the Atlanta Hawks, she is part of a franchise that has undergone significant evolution in recent years, including roster rebuilds, front office restructuring, and an ongoing push to re-establish itself as a consistent contender in the Eastern Conference.
While she is not involved in day-to-day basketball operations, her role as co-owner places her within key organizational decisions that shape the franchise’s long-term direction.
Off the court, Gertz and Ressler have also been active philanthropists, contributing to education, youth programs, and community development initiatives in Atlanta and beyond.
That broader footprint has helped define their ownership style as one that blends business discipline with civic engagement.
Despite her rare public appearances, Gertz continues to attract attention whenever she surfaces.
Part of that stems from nostalgia for her acting career, but an increasing share comes from curiosity about her role in professional sports ownership, a space where she has become one of the more understated yet influential figures.
In an NBA landscape increasingly shaped by celebrity owners and high-profile investors, Jami Gertz stands out for doing the opposite: staying mostly out of the spotlight while still helping steer one of the league’s most valuable franchises.
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