So, you want to know who really owns the Atlanta Hawks? Grab your lemonade (or a sweet tea, because this is Atlanta), and pull up a chair. It’s not one super-rich person with a monocle and a pet panda—it’s actually a bunch of them, and they call themselves the Atlanta Hawks ownership group. Currently, the lead dog is a guy named Tony Ressler, a billionaire who made his cash co-founding Ares Management—think of him as the guy who manages other people’s money so well he can buy a basketball team.

Here’s the funny part: Ressler isn’t even the most famous face in the group. That honor goes to Grant Hill, the Hall of Fame player who once famously tried to tie his shoe during a game and almost broke his ankle again. Yes, the same Grant Hill who was on the Dream Team and now owns a piece of the Hawks. It’s like if your cool uncle got a promotion at the family business—but the business is a multi-million-dollar NBA franchise.

Wait, It’s a Group of Owners?

You bet your bottom dollar—and several of their bottoms are very deep. The Hawks are owned by a syndicate called the Atlanta Hawks, LLC, which is just a fancy way of saying “a bunch of rich friends who got together and said, ‘Hey, let’s buy a team!’” Besides Ressler and Hill, you’ve got icons like Rick Schnall, a private equity bigwig who once told a reporter he “loves spreadsheets almost as much as three-pointers.” And there’s Jami Gertz, yes, the actress from The Lost Boys and Twister—she and her husband, Antony Ressler (yes, Tony’s brother), are major owners. Imagine sitting courtside next to a vampire hunter from the 80s.

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The Surprising Truth: They Almost Became the Seattle Supersonics

Here’s a little-known fact that’ll make you choke on your nachos: In 2015, the ownership group almost moved the Hawks to Seattle. Seriously. When Ressler and his crew bought the team from the scandal-ridden previous owners, the city of Atlanta was on life support for basketball attendance. The group seriously considered packing up the moving trucks. But then someone—probably Grant Hill, using his Jedi mind tricks—convinced them to stay. Now, the Hawks have a shiny new arena, State Farm Arena, and fans who actually show up. Phew.

Another mind-blowing stat: The current owners paid about $730 million for the team in 2015. As of 2024, the franchise is worth roughly $2.5 billion. That’s like buying a fixer-upper house in a bad neighborhood, painting the front door, and suddenly discovering it’s sitting on a gold mine. Ressler and Co. didn’t just buy a basketball team—they bought a high-tech printing press for money.

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Who’s Who in the Zoo?

Let’s break down the cast of characters you might not know:
- Tony Ressler: The captain. A bald, suit-wearing numbers wizard who reportedly negotiates his coffee order. He’s the face of the franchise when Trae Young isn’t hitting step-back threes.
- Grant Hill: The legend. He’s the only owner in NBA history who could dunk on you and teach you about asset allocation. He’s basically the cool professor of basketball ownership.
- Jami Gertz & Antony Ressler: The Hollywood-meets-Wall Street power couple. Jami is a genuine movie star, and Antony is a private equity shark. They used to host Hawks games at their mansion, which is probably larger than your entire zip code.

Wait, There’s More! The Lesser-Known Billionaire

Don’t sleep on Rick Schnall and Steven Price. Schnall is a former Steve Jobs of the finance world (he co-founded a huge investment firm), and Price is a real estate mogul who once bought a hotel just because he liked the lobby. Together, they’re like the backup singers in a band—invisible, but absolutely essential. And if you think owning a basketball team is all courtside seats and champagne, think again. The group has to approve everything from trading a player to picking new seat colors. You think you have meetings that drag on? Try a zoom call where 15 billionaires argue about whether the halftime show should feature the same dance team again.

Atlanta Hawks Owners to Invest $40 Million Into Empowering the BlackAtlanta Hawks Owners to Invest $40 Million Into Empowering the Black

Why Does This Matter to You?

Because the owners decide how much money the Hawks spend—and that trickles down to your hangdog Trae Young jerseys and whether we get a championship. When you hear “the front office is cheap,” you can blame Tony Ressler (or thank him, if they win). The group also does a ton of community work—they donated millions to Atlanta public schools and helped renovate parks. So, next time you’re at State Farm Arena, cheer a little for the invisible men and women in the luxury suites. Just don’t expect them to buy you a beer.

In the end, the Atlanta Hawks are owned by a weird, wonderful crew of private equity kings, a basketball Hall of Famer, an 80s movie star, and a guy who probably owns your favorite coffee shop’s parent company. They’re a motley crew with a simple plan: make money, win games, and keep Atlanta from becoming Seattle’s backup team. So, raise your foam finger and give a toast to the owners—may their dollars rain down on the hardwood floor for years to come.