Roger McNamee (via Elevation Partners)
Not every investor can overshadow one of the world's biggest entertainers, but McNamee's roots in tech investing run that deep. In the 1980s, he managed T. Rowe Price's Science & Technology Fund. He later helped launch Integral Capital Partners, a partnership with venture capitalists Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers that pioneered the crossover investment strategy. In 1999, he co-founded Silver Lake Partners, the first private equity fund focused on technology companies.
Since 2004, McNamee has focused his efforts on Elevation Partners, a private equity firm with a focus on media, technology and entertainment companies. The firm counts U2 frontman Bono as one of its co-founders and managing directors, as well as Fred Anderson, a former Apple chief financial officer. With about $1.9 billion under management, Elevation's portfolio companies include Yelp, Forbes and Move, a network of real estate websites.
McNamee is the author of The New Normal: Great Opportunities in a Time of Risk and is a touring musician with the band Moonalice.
Born: May 2, 1956, Albany, NY
Lives: San Francisco area, CA
Education: Yale University, B.A.; Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, MBA
Relationship to Facebook
Not every Elevation investment has paid off (see: Palm), but its $120 million purchase of Facebook stock from private shareholders in 2010—on top of a smaller 2009 investment—is making the firm look like a rock star. At the time, the deal valued Facebook at $23 billion. Now, that 2.2 percent stake could be worth as much as $1.4 billion. Think Bono still hasn't found what he's looking for? Go ask Moonalice.
Career Profile
Current Occupation: Managing Director, Elevation Partners
Former Occupation: Silver Lake Partners, Integral Capital Partners