She quit Hollywood years ago to become a wealthy baller

Lilit

As an actor, Jami Gertz was known for her portrayal of the rebellious heartbreaker in ’80s adolescent classics such as The Lost Boys. Today, the 59-year-old actress is better known as one half of a millionaire power couple, mother of three children, and NBA franchise owner.

When you think of Jami Gertz, you probably envision the cheery, preppy kid from Square Pegs and Facts of Life, or the seductive 80’s heartbreaker from Quicksilver and Less Than Zero.

Gertz was the “it girl” of the decade, playing runaways, half-vampires, unstable teenagers, and crazy characters.

However, her narrative did not finish with Hollywood stardom. Gertz has grown into a millionaire philanthropist, a dedicated wife and mother, and, in an unexpected move, an NBA franchise owner.

Jami was born in 1965 to Sharyn and Walter Gertz, and she grew up in Glenview, Illinois, with her two brothers, Michael and Scott. Raised in a pious Jewish home, her faith was an important part of her childhood, to the point where she would occasionally leave school for holy holidays, a practice she continued throughout her acting career.

Her family’s steadfast support contributed significantly to her accomplishment.

When she was hired in Square Pegs, an 80s comedy starring Sarah Jessica Parker, her father allegedly went to Los Angeles with her to assist her in adjusting to Hollywood life.

That love and support would continue to fuel her path, even as she transitioned from the bright lights of Hollywood to an entirely other sort of stage.

In the mid-1980s, Gertz was at the height of her acting career when she met Tony Ressler, a rising investor who would transform her life. Susan Geller, her publicist, introduced the two, and they immediately hit it off, connecting over their Jewish ancestry. Ressler was just starting out, and Gertz had the money.

“Everyone thinks I married a rich guy,” the Sixteen Candles actor told The Hollywood Reporter. “But when I met Tony, I made far more money than he did. I paid for our first home. I paid for our first trip. I married him because I was in love with him.

This dynamic would not endure long. After two years of courting, the couple married in 1989, and as their family expanded, so did their fortune. Ressler co-founded Ares Management, a private equity business worth billions, placing the pair among Hollywood’s richest.

They had three boys together, and while the Still Standing star took a brief hiatus from performing to focus on her family, she was far from done making an impression.

Gertz and her husband shifted their focus to a completely other type of investment: basketball.

Ressler seized the chance in 2014, when the Atlanta Hawks’ previous owner was forced to sell the franchise owing to exposed racist emails. He purchased the franchise, which was at the time one of the NBA’s bottom-tier teams, alongside NBA veteran Grant Hill, and Gertz became a part-owner and the face of a professional basketball team.

“I think it’s fair to say that she makes a better impression on our fan base than any of us in the organization,” Ressler told The Hollywood Reporter of his wife, who lives for the spotlight. “I take an active role in business and player personnel decisions. But Jami steps in when it comes to so many aspects of the company that I didn’t understand or had expertise with.”

She is now a courtside regular, frequently cheering heartily, expressing the team’s spirit, and actively connecting with the crowd.

Gertz, Ressler’s “good luck charm,” even represented the Hawks in the NBA draft lottery for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 selections.

Since owning the Hawks, Gertz and Ressler have attempted to transform the team’s culture and performance. The franchise has seen significant changes, including new coaching hires, player additions, and a greater emphasis on community involvement.

While the Hawks are not yet a dominant force in the NBA, they have showed consistent development, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Their leadership has taken a new strategy, focusing on long-term progress rather than merely short-term gains.

Gertz is well-known for her generosity, in addition to her limited acting career, family, and NBA team. The Ressler-Gertz Foundation has contributed millions to organizations ranging from education to healthcare.

In fact, “thanks to a record donation of $10,569,002” to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the pair topped Forbes’ “30 Most Generous Celebrities.”

Gertz also sits on the board of the Melanoma Research Alliance.

With the Atlanta Hawks on the rise and her business acumen evident, Jami Gertz is showcasing her abilities both on and off the court.

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