Jesse Itzler’s journey from a rapper to a multimillion-dollar entrepreneur is as fascinating as it is inspiring.
Starting off in the music industry as a rapper and songwriter, Jesse didn’t stop there. He soared to new heights by co-founding Marquis Jet, diving into the world of private jets and rapidly boosting his business credentials.
Alongside his business ventures, Jesse is also known for his love of marathons, showcasing his diverse interests and vibrant energy.
With a net worth of $220 million, Jesse Itzler wears many hats—each representing his various successful roles as a rapper, businessman, and author.
As we look closer at his early life, business ventures, and personal life, it’s clear how Jesse’s multifaceted career and adventurous spirit have made him not just a celebrity, but a business tycoon.
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His Childhood
Jesse Itzler was born on August 22, 1968, in Roslyn, New York, into a Jewish family. His father, Daniel Itzler, was an inventive spirit who always sought new and creative solutions, while his mother, Elise Itzler, served as president of the Roslyn Board of Education.
Jesse pursued higher education at American University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1990, majoring in Justice, Law, and Society.
Jesse Itzler didn’t wait for the right time to start his music career. He took chances and jumped into the music world before finishing school.
He loved hip-hop and rap music from the late ’70s. He asked his teacher if he could skip Monday classes to record his first album in Queens. He had to do this because he could only use the recording studio on Mondays.
He talked his teacher into letting him have a special study plan. His bold moves worked, and he got a record deal just two months after graduating.
His Career
Jesse Itzler started his music career before he even finished school. After graduating, he signed a deal with a record label called Delicious Vinyl. From there, he was on a roll.
He released his first album, “Thirty Feet in Your Face,” in 1991 under the name Jesse James. His song “Shake it Like a White Girl” from that album became a hit and got him noticed in the pop music world.
The song reached number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was a popular dance tune and even featured in the movie “White Chicks” in 2004. Jesse also co-wrote songs for other artists, including Tone Loc.
A fan of the NY Knicks approached him with an idea for a collaboration. Jesse took the chance and wrote the song “Go New York Go.”
He played it for the NY Knicks, and they loved it. Since then, “Go New York Go” has been the Knicks’ anthem, chanted by fans at games.
This song put Jesse in the spotlight and taught him a lot about the music industry and negotiation. He admits he didn’t get the best deal back then, but he knew he was on the right path.
Jesse has written songs for over 50 artists and projects. He even worked with the NBA, producing the theme song for “Inside the NBA.”
His song “I Love This Game” was a fan favorite and won an Emmy Award.
His Entrepreneurship Career
Jesse Itzler’s role expanded in the entertainment industry. But being a popular rapper and songwriter wasn’t enough for the entrepreneur inside him. After working with several record labels, Jesse decided to start his own record company.
Read Also : What is Entrepreneurship? ( Complete Guide)
In 1996, Jesse co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records with his childhood friend Kenny Dichter, who was also a successful entrepreneur.
The record company became known for using classic sports songs with highlights from famous pro teams. They partnered with Foot Locker and Coca-Cola for similar campaigns.
Even though Jesse was on his way up, he still had a long journey ahead to reach his current net worth of $220 million.
In 1998, he and Kenny sold Alphabet City Sports to SFX for $4 million plus a share of future profits.
Marquis Jets
Here’s where Jesse Itzler’s ventures get really interesting. In 2001, he and Kenny Dichter co-founded Marquis Jets, a company that offered jet cards.
This was a big challenge for them since neither had owned a private jet company before, nor were they particularly wealthy.
NetJets was the big player in the jet card market, and it seemed impossible to compete with them. But then, fate stepped in.
Years earlier, when Jesse was still active in the music industry, a friend asked him for a favor: concert tickets for his daughter to see Christina Aguilera. Jesse got the tickets and even arranged for the girl to meet the singer on stage.
The man, Jim Jacobs, was grateful and offered Jesse a favor in return. Years later, Jesse reached out to Jim, who was now the president of NetJets, and set up a meeting.
It was a huge opportunity, and Jesse knew it. He didn’t know much about private jets, but he was willing to give it a shot.
After weeks of meetings and bringing in new contacts for NetJets, their efforts finally paid off. NetJets allowed Marquis Jets to offer 25 hours of their flight time annually on the Marquis Jet card.
Marquis Jets made $5 billion in nine years, significantly increasing Jesse Itzler’s net worth. He became the company’s VP. In 2009, Marquis Jets was sold to Berkshire Hathaway, the parent company of NetJets.
One Hundred-Mile Marathon
In 2009, Jesse Itzler took on another exciting challenge: running a hundred-mile marathon, sponsored by the coconut water brand Zico.
He partnered with Zico and did a lot of marketing for the brand. His marketing and business strategies were a win-win for both him and Zico.
He leveraged his connections to get celebrity endorsements, helping Zico gain popularity in the market.
Atlanta Hawks
Jesse Itzler has always been a big fan of basketball. In 2015, he and his wife Sara Blakely, along with several other businesspeople, bought the Atlanta Hawks for $850 million. He’s often seen cheering for the team at their games.
Personal life
Jesse Itzler has always had a passion for sports, and he’s incorporated that passion into many of his professional endeavors.
His songs “Go New York Go” and “I Love This Game” became anthems for football fans in their time. His record label even specialized in sports and professional teams.
Jesse also loves running and says he can’t live without it. He’s been running since 1992 and participates in every New York City Marathon he can.
In 2006, he competed in the US National Ultra Marathon Championship, completing the marathon in less than a day. In 2012, he took part in the SEA Paddle NYC, a 25-mile paddle race.
Diana Mozie was Jesse’s early partner in life and career. They met in 1987 and collaborated on many music projects under Jesse’s stage name, Jesse James.
They parted ways while Jesse was still pursuing his music career for reasons unknown.
Jesse met Sara Blakely at a NetJets Poker tournament. They bonded over their lack of poker skills and became close friends, keeping in touch through emails.
After seven months, they started dating. Jesse would casually ask Sara if he could marry her, to which she’d respond, “Bring it on.”
A year later, Jesse proposed to Sara in a unique and thoughtful way. He organized a scavenger hunt that ended with a proposal and three ring options for Sara, one of which was engraved with “Jesse Hearts Sara.” The other ring said, “Bring it.”
Jesse and Sara got married on October 18, 2008, at the Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande, Florida.
Sara looked stunning in her grandmother’s wedding dress, and they had 450 guests, including famous celebrities and businesspeople, attend their wedding.
Sara Blakely’s net worth was $1 billion in 2019. She made it onto Forbes’ list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women in 2018, ranking 21st among the top 60.
She started her career as a door-to-door salesperson selling fax machines and realized she had her work priorities wrong.
She launched Spanx in 2000, a brand known for women’s undergarments, shapewear, and pantyhose. Spanx offered pantyhose in a variety of waistline sizes, aiming to provide comfortable wear for women of all shapes and sizes.
Spanx quickly became popular, loved by many women across the US, including celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba.
Living with a SEAL
In “Living with a SEAL,” Jesse Itzler shares a life-changing experience of inviting a retired US Navy SEAL to live with him for a month.
He documented this intense 31-day training with the “toughest man on the planet” in his book, which quickly became a bestseller. While the SEAL’s identity isn’t revealed in the book, it’s known to be David Goggins.
Itzler was inspired to invite Goggins after seeing him at a marathon. Goggins moved into Itzler’s apartment and put him through rigorous training that pushed his limits.
One memorable challenge was jumping into a frozen lake, which Itzler found extremely challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Living with a Monk
Following his SEAL experience, Itzler sought spiritual growth by living among monks at a monastery. He learned valuable lessons about dealing with anxiety and fear, realizing that most of our worries never materialize.
He even conducted an experiment by listing his fears and revisiting them six months later, finding that none of them were actual concerns.
Itzler’s advice is to focus on the present moment and not waste energy on unnecessary worries. He wrote about this experience in “Living with a Monk – What Turning off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus.”
Keynote Speaker and Coach
In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Jesse Itzler is a sought-after keynote speaker and coach. He shares his life lessons and success stories in engaging and inspiring talks. His coaching programs, like “Build Your Life’s Resume,” help individuals and businesses grow and thrive.
Itzler also hosts the “Build Your Life Resume” podcast on Capitalism.com, where he shares insights on business and life.
Life Lessons and Principles
Here are some key principles and lessons from Jesse Itzler’s life:
- Trust Your Intuition: Your gut feeling is valuable. Trust it, as Itzler found that his intuition was often right.
- Pace Yourself: Take your time when starting something new. Start slow, then build momentum.
- Empathy: Put yourself in your customer’s shoes to understand their needs better and create better products or services.
- Energy: Maintain a positive energy level in everything you do. If you’re feeling energetic, you’re on the right track.
- Build Relationships: Invest in meaningful connections with people who inspire you and can help you grow.
Conclusion
Jesse Itzler’s life is a testament to taking risks, trusting intuition, and continuous growth. From his early days as a rapper to becoming a successful entrepreneur with a net worth of $220 million, his journey is inspiring.
His willingness to push boundaries and embrace challenges, whether it’s training with a Navy SEAL or living with monks, shows his determination and adventurous spirit. Jesse Itzler is a dynamic entrepreneur who continues to inspire others with his unique approach to life and business.
