From Rapping About College Girls to Owning an NBA Team: The Jesse Itzler Story

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jesse Itzler has built a career defined by rapid pivots. He moved from writing Billboard-charting hip-hop songs and sports anthems to co-founding a major private jet company and eventually becoming an NBA team owner. His life is a study in unconventional entrepreneurship and extreme endurance challenges.

Born in 1968 and raised in Roslyn, New York, Jesse Itzler began his career in the music industry under the pseudonym Jesse Jaymes. After graduating from American University in 1990, he signed with Delicious Vinyl. His 1991 single, "Shake It Like A White Girl," reached 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Beyond his own tracks, Itzler became a prolific creator of sports music, penning the New York Knicks theme "Go New York Go" and the Emmy Award-winning song "I Love This Game."

Itzler’s business ventures have been equally diverse. In 1996, he co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records, which blended arena music with historical sports commentary. He later co-founded Marquis Jet in 2001, a private jet card company that was eventually acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2009. That same year, he launched the 100 Mile Group, an incubator that partnered with ZICO Coconut Water before its acquisition by Coca-Cola in 2012. In 2015, he joined a group led by Tony Ressler to purchase the Atlanta Hawks for $850 million.

Beyond business, Itzler is known for testing his physical limits. In 2006, he completed a 100-mile run in under 24 hours at the USA National Ultra Marathon Championship. He later founded 29029 Everesting, an endurance event where participants hike to reach the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest. His personal methodology for managing these varied pursuits led to the creation of The Big Ass Calendar Company. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely, with whom he has four children.

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