Leslie Lee Alexander (born 1943) is a former stock trader from New Jersey who owns the National Basketball Association (NBA) team Houston Rockets. He started trading options and bonds for a Wall Street firm before he broke off to form his own investment company, The Alexander Group, in 1980. He also owns a 20% stake in First Marblehead, a private student loan company.
Alexander graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1965 and later earned his juris doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.[1][2] From 1978 to 2009, Alexander was a member of the California State Bar.[3] Alexander took control of the Houston Rockets in July 1993. A new stadium, the Toyota Center, was opened in 2003. He was named the best owner in the NBA by Forbes in 2008. He also owns a vineyard in Long Island and the related company Leslie Wine, launched in 2008, he also lives in Houston.[1]
In 1998, Alexander attempted to purchase and relocate the National Hockey League's storied Edmonton Oilers franchise, but a grassroots bid by local businessmen successfully prevented the sale.
From 1997 until early 2007, Alexander was the owner of the WNBA's Houston Comets. The Comets won the league's first 4 WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000. He sold the team to Hilton Koch in January 2007. The Comets folded a year later.[4]
In 2006 it was revealed that Alexander was amongst the 400 richest people in the USA, being valued at around $1.2 billion.[5]
Alexander is a vegetarian and an advocate for animal rights.[6] He is a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party and has donated $15,000 in the past 20 years to Democratic candidates.[7]
Alexander while was raised Jewish, now identifies as Agnostic.[8]
He divorced from his wife in 2003.[5]