Joseph Baratta
American businessman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Baratta is an American businessman who is Global Head of Private Equity at the asset management firm Blackstone.[1] He is also a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Joseph Baratta | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Global Head of Private Equity at The Blackstone Group |
Early life
Born in Sacramento, California, Baratta graduated from Jesuit High School in the Sacramento area in 1989, then Georgetown University, from which he graduated magna cum laude[2] in 1993.[3]
Career
Baratta joined Blackstone in 1998. He moved to London in 2001 to establish Blackstone’s private equity business in Europe. In 2004 he became a Senior Managing Director of the firm and Head of European Private Equity in 2010. In July 2012 he was named the Global Head of Private Equity.[4]
He has led some of Blackstone’s most successful investments, including SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Merlin Entertainments (owner of the Legoland theme parks, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and many other visitor attractions), Center Parcs and Southern Cross. Before joining Blackstone, Baratta worked for investment firms Tinicum Incorporated and McCown De Leeuw & Company. He also worked in the mergers and acquisitions department at Morgan Stanley.[2]
In 2012, Baratta was included in Forbes “Top 50 Dealmakers” list.[5][6] In 2025, he joined the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.[7] Forbes also reported his net worth at $1 billion in 2026.[2]
Baratta is a Director of Ancestry, Merlin Entertainments and SESAC. He has previously served as a member or observer on the boards of ICS Group, Tragus Group, Center Parcs, Universal Orlando, Nycomed Holding ApS, Spirit Group, Southern Cross, and Refinitiv.[1]
He is on the Advisory Board of the McDonough School of Business. He is a former member of the Board of Directors at Georgetown University[2], his alma mater.[1]
In May 2026, he acquired a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders NFL team.[8]
Philanthropy
Baratta is on the board of Year Up, an organization committed to closing the opportunity divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experiences, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through careers and higher education.[1]
In May 2023, he founded the Baratta Center for Global Business at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business.[3]