150. Real Estate, Sports Investing, and Venture Capital Feat. David Adelman

It's our special 150th episode!! We’re reuniting with billionaire investor and CEO David Adelman (whom you may remember from our “Sports Investing 101” episode) for a deep dive into his multifaceted empire and brilliant business acumen. 

David’s story is the stuff of legend. After making his first real estate investment with his bar mitzvah money at the age of 13, David ultimately rose to become CEO of Campus Apartments, followed by FS Investments and Darco Capital.  

First, David walks us through the key principles of investing in commercial real estate.  He shares lessons about utilizing leverage, identifying niche markets, and paying attention to young trend-setters. We get a crash course on Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REIT”s), and learn how to avoid the pitfalls of chasing frothy markets. 

Then, by explaining the history of FS Investments, David walks us through being an early mover on delivering access to private capital investments to non-institutional investors. 

Next, David delves into his role as a partner in Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment. He covers the nuances of sports investing vis-a-vis his ownership stakes in the Philadelphia ’76ers, the New Jersey Devils, the Washington Commanders, and Premier League football team (a.k.a., soccer) Crystal Palace. But it’s not just about the teams. David is laser-focused on his newest passion project: developing a world-class sports arena in Philadelphia, set to open in 2030.  

And last — but certainly not least — we discuss American Harvest, his luxury vodka brand, and the challenges of conquering the alcohol segment of consumer retail.  

Above all, David shares countless hard-fought lessons he’s learned in business. Chief among them? “Don’t be afraid to fail”. 

Follow David on Instagram @davidadelman and https://www.darcocapital.com

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