RedBird Capital Partners

What RedBird Capital Partners does

RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm founded in 2014 by Gerry Cardinale, a former Goldman Sachs partner, that manages $14 billion in assets under management across sports, media & entertainment, and financial services, with selective exposure to insurance following 2026 platform launches. The firm invests through control and significant-minority structures in 50+ portfolio companies representing $83 billion+ in enterprise value, building category-leading businesses in partnership with founders, operators, and institutions. Its portfolio spans AC Milan, Liverpool FC, the PGA TOUR, Big 12 Conference (via the CAS joint venture), Skydance, Paramount, iConnections, Bishop Street, and more.

The firm's technology and platform infrastructure centers on RedBird X, a formalized AI/AI-native function that applies an AI Agent Framework (patented by team member Kebudi) across due diligence, portfolio monitoring, predictive analytics, NLP, and optimization workflows. The firm's co-heads of RedBird X were recruited from Blackstone PE Data Science and Palantir, and the team has built production-grade AI products including InterPositive (a film and media AI platform that was exited to Netflix). RedBird operates from 10 global offices including New York, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Stamford, Miami, San Francisco, London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Singapore, with 100+ professionals.

RedBird's business model is the standard alternative-asset manager model: it earns management fees on committed or invested capital (typically 1.0-1.5% of AUM) plus carried interest on investment gains across its funds and co-investment vehicles. It is augmenting this model with permanent-capital structures such as Calidris (P&C insurance sidecar) and Affirma (specialty insurance platform formed from the Affinia acquisition), reducing reliance on closed-end fund cycles. Its go-to-market is institutional LP fundraising complemented by direct deal sourcing through its global office network and operator relationships, with co-investment from high-profile partners including the Ellison family, Skelton, Affirma, Loud, and NorthRoad on marquee transactions.

Name

RedBird Capital Partners

Legal name

RedBird Capital Partners Management LLC

Website

https://redbirdcap.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm managing $14 billion in assets that builds and invests in sports, media & entertainment, and financial services businesses, partnering with operators and institutions across 50+ portfolio companies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Alternative Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Media, Entertainment & Gaming Growth Equity (FSANACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)

Keywords

• Private equity investing
• Alternative asset management
• Sports media investments
• Capital solutions management
• Wealth management platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment advisory / management fees: RedBird Capital Partners is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser (per Disclaimers & Terms of Use) and manages assets for institutional and family-office investors; primary revenue is management fees on $14B AUM across Flagship, Capital Solutions, Ascend, Capital Strategies, RedBird Development Group, and RedBird X vehicles.
2. Performance / carried interest and investment income: Standard PE economics: carried interest on realized gains, plus co-investment and balance-sheet investment income. Specific carried-interest economics are not publicly disclosed on the firm's website. The firm cites a 10+ year track record of risk-adjusted returns, low correlation, limited use of leverage, and an active co-investment program for LPs.
3. Strategic advisory and operating partner services: RedBird Development Group (RDG) and RedBird X provide strategic, operational, financial, advisory, and AI services to portfolio companies, with Operating Partners, Chairmen, and Advisors compensated by the receiving entity. Examples: EverPass Media (NFL partnership), EverWonder Studio, MARI, UFL.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm that manages $14 billion in assets for blue-chip institutional and family-office investors, investing across three core ecosystems: Sports, Media & Entertainment, and Financial Services. The firm offers flexible capital solutions including the Flagship fund, Capital Solutions, Ascend, Capital Strategies, RedBird Development Group (operating partner services), and RedBird X (in-house AI/data science platform), with a portfolio of 50+ companies representing over $83 billion in enterprise value.

Product overview

RedBird Capital Partners operates as a platform-plus-modules private investment architecture rather than a single unified product. The core offering is the Flagship investment vehicle combined with Capital Solutions and RedBird X (AI/data science) capabilities, supported by the RedBird Development Group operating arm. Across these, RedBird manages 50+ portfolio companies representing over $83 billion in enterprise value, organized across three core ecosystems: (1) Sports — including flagship assets AC Milan, Fenway Sports Group (Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC), Alpine Racing, Toulouse FC, Rajasthan Royals, YES Network, and the United Football League; (2) Media & Entertainment — including Paramount Skydance Corporation, All3Media, Artists Equity, EverPass Media, Media Res Studio, Prologue Entertainment, Fulwell Entertainment, MARI Group, Talent Systems, Front Office Sports, and EverWonder Studio; and (3) Financial Services — including Arax Investment Partners ($32.9B AUM), Aquarian Holdings, Bishop Street Underwriters, Calidris, Obra Capital, and Reckoner Capital Management. Underpinning the platform is RedBird X, the in-house AI/data science team that deploys predictive analytics, NLP, and AI agents across investment due diligence and portfolio operations, while operating partners like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Massimo Calvelli provide domain expertise. Other portfolio assets include OneTeam Partners, Dream Sports, Main Event, Hidden Pigeon Company, Build A Rocket Boy, Go Rentals, Jet Linx, Aero Centers, and CAS (the Big 12 Conference partnership). RedBird manages $14 billion in assets and partners with holders of the world's most iconic intellectual property across sports, media, and financial services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RedBird Development Group: Operating partner arm providing strategic, operational, financial, advisory and AI services to portfolio companies.
• RedBird X
• RedBird IMI
• Art & Science Partners

Products and services

• RedBird Flagship Fund
• RedBird Capital Solutions
• RedBird Ascend
• RedBird X (Artificial Intelligence) In-house AI and data science platform that spearheads implementation of AI across RedBird's investment teams and portfolio companies. Co-headed by Yasser Ezbakhe and David Kebudi, with sector specialists across Sports, Media & Entertainment, and Financial Services. Deploys predictive analytics, NLP, and AI agents for investment due diligence and portfolio operations.
• RedBird Development Group RedBird's operating group providing strategic, operational, and advisory services directly to portfolio companies, staffed with Chairmen, Advisors, and Operating Partners including Mark Dowley (Chief Operating Partner) and Brandon Snow (Chief Commercial Officer).
• RedBird IMI Joint investment vehicle with International Media Investments (UAE) focused on acquiring, investing in, and building large-scale media, entertainment, and sports content properties on a global basis. Led by CEO Jeff Zucker; owns All3Media.
• AC Milan Professional football club in Milan, Italy, founded in 1899, one of the most historic and decorated clubs in European football with an estimated 550+ million fans worldwide. Acquired by RedBird in August 2022 for EUR 1.2 billion; under RedBird ownership has achieved three consecutive years of record profits and Champions League qualification.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and major.

• Big 12 Conference and Weatherford Capital (Collegiate Athletic Solutions)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026RedBird + Weatherford Capital formed a 50/50 JV called Collegiate Athletic Solutions, signing a five-year agreement on April 29, 2026 providing at least $12.5M capital infusion to the conference plus optional up-to-$30M credit lines per school at near-10% interest. Includes a PayPal-headlined sponsorship portfolio of ~$100M and is the first league-wide private-capital deal in major U.S. college sports.
• TKO Group HoldingsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Strategic equity and commercial partner added to EverPass Media in connection with the UPshow acquisition (2024); brings UFC and WWE content rights into EverPass's commercial distribution platform.
• Dwayne Johnson and Dany GarciamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Co-founders/co-owners of the United Football League (UFL) with RedBird, Disney, Fox, and Mike Repole; UFL launched in 2024 from the XFL/USFL merger.
• Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro (MARI Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Founded September 2025 as a global live events and experiences platform with premium properties including Miami Open, Madrid Open, IMG Tennis, Frieze (art fairs), Barrett-Jackson, TodayTix, and IMG's Arts, Entertainment & Action Sports portfolio anchored by Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
• All3Media (RedBird IMI joint venture with International Media Investments)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024RedBird IMI (a JV with UAE-based International Media Investments) is the owner of All3Media, a London-based global TV production/distribution/digital company of 50+ labels including 'The Traitors', 'The Circle', 'Squid Game: The Challenge'. In 2026 RedBird IMI retained a 50% stake after All3Media merged Banijay's entertainment division.
• The Walt Disney Company and Fox CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-owners of the United Football League (UFL) alongside RedBird, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Mike Repole; UFL was formed in 2024 from the merger of the XFL and USFL, with all games distributed on Fox and Disney networks.
• Ian Orefice (EverWonder Studio)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Experiential production studio co-founded in August 2023 by Ian Orefice and RedBird; financed/produced NFL Christmas Gameday Live on Netflix, Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on Netflix, and owns the 'Players Era' college basketball tournament with NIL prize money.
• Mo Willems and Stampede Ventures (Hidden Pigeon Company)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Multi-platform kids and family content company founded in May 2023 by Mo Willems, RedBird, and Stampede Ventures; leverages Willems's best-selling catalog across TV, film, digital, gaming, live events, location-based experiences, publishing, and consumer products.
• Haig Ariyan (Arax Investment Partners)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Founded March 2023 as a wealth-management buy-and-build platform with former Alex. Brown CEO Haig Ariyan; has executed 25 acquisitions to scale to $32.9B AUM as of September 30, 2025.
• Ben Affleck and Matt Damon (Artists Equity)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Artist-led studio founded in November 2022 by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and RedBird; produced 'Air', 'The Instigators', and 'The Accountant 2'; co-produced 'Air' with Skydance Sports. Operates Artists Equity Advertising (Super Bowl ads for Dunkin', Stella Artois).
• Ellison Family (David and Larry Ellison)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Long-term partnership: RedBird invested in Skydance Media in November 2019 alongside the Ellison Family, Tencent and CJ Entertainment, and led the $8.4B Skydance-Paramount merger that closed in August 2025 (RedBird's $2B equity check was the largest PE investment in a Hollywood studio, giving RedBird 22.5% of Paramount's voting rights). In 2026 RedBird co-led Paramount's $110B acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery with the Ellison family ($47B equity).
• National Football League (NFL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015Created On Location Experiences (OLE) in April 2015 with NFL and 32 team owners, growing it from 3 to 500+ employees and selling to Endeavor in January 2020. Anchored EverPass Media's exclusive long-term license to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket to commercial establishments (bars, restaurants, hotels). Co-owns the UFL with Disney, Fox, and Dwayne Johnson/Dany Garcia; EverPass also brought TKO Group Holdings (UFC/WWE) in as a strategic equity/commercial partner.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Arctos Partners: Arctos Partners is a private equity firm dedicated to the sports industry, investing across the North American sports value chain including teams, leagues, and adjacent businesses. Directly comparable to RedBird as a sports-focused PE platform serving institutional LPs with operator-led sports investing.
• Bruin Capital Partners: Bruin Capital is a private investment firm focused on sports, media, and consumer technology with operations across investment and operating partnership models. Closely comparable to RedBird's Sports and Media & Entertainment ecosystems and de novo IP-anchored investment approach.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty Media Corporation: Liberty Media holds controlling stakes in Formula 1, Atlanta Braves, and TripAdvisor Holdings, with a track record of operating iconic sports and media assets. Comparable to RedBird as a long-duration holder of premium sports and entertainment IP, though Liberty is a public holding company rather than a private fund manager.
• Silver Lake: Silver Lake is a global technology-focused private equity firm with deep media, entertainment, and sports exposure (Endeavor, City Football Group, Manchester City). Comparable to RedBird at the intersection of large-scale media investment and operator-led value creation.
• Apollo Global Management: Apollo is a global alternative asset manager with large private-equity, credit, and insurance balance-sheet strategies and direct exposure to sports/media through Yahoo Sports, ADT, and similar platforms. Comparable to RedBird as a large, diversified PE platform with significant media M&A capacity (Apollo co-arranged Paramount-WBD debt).
• Eldridge Industries: Eldridge Industries is a holding company that invests across insurance, media, sports, and technology (e.g., majority stake in Eldridge, ownership of Connecticut Sun, Sports Illustrated, Dick Clark Productions). Comparable to RedBird in its multi-sector holding-company approach with significant sports/media concentration.
• Sixth Street Partners: Sixth Street is a global investment firm with sports, media, and entertainment strategies (acquired Barcelona's licensing rights; partners on sports stadium projects). Comparable to RedBird in its sports-and-media investment focus and flexible capital-solutions structure.
• Blackstone Inc. Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager with private equity, real estate, credit, and insurance solutions and significant sports/media exposure (e.g., media royalties, Refinitiv, Spanx). Comparable to RedBird at the scale and global-LP tier, and a talent source (RedBird X's Ezbakhe ex-Blackstone).
• KKR & Co. KKR is a global investment firm with private equity, credit, and infrastructure strategies across media, sports, and financial services. Comparable to RedBird as a multi-strategy alternative asset manager with institutional-LP base, with KKR's sports exposure (e.g., cricket leagues) overlapping RedBird's portfolio.

Emerging players

• Endeavor Group Holdings: Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company that owns UFC, IMG, On Location Experiences, and PBR; acquired RedBird-built On Location in 2020. Directly comparable to RedBird's sports/franchise aggregation thesis and a key counterparty in RedBird's exit history.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redbird-capital-partners-llc

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries32 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A8 records

Investments58 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RedBird Capital Partners