John W. Rogers Jr.
Founder, Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Ariel Investments
John W. Rogers Jr. founded Ariel Investments in 1983 at age 24, three years after graduating from Princeton, with $200,000 raised from family and friends. He serves as the firm's chairman, co-chief executive officer and chief investment officer, and is known for a patient, value-oriented approach to small- and mid-cap equities. Forbes reported in 2023 that Ariel, the oldest Black-owned investment firm in the U.S., managed more than $16 billion in assets. He is also a longtime public-company director and civic leader in Chicago.
Notable Achievements
- Founded Ariel Investments in 1983 at age 24 with $200,000 raised from family and friends.
- Built Ariel Investments into the oldest Black-owned investment firm in the United States, managing more than $16 billion in assets as of Forbes' 2023 reporting.
- Serves as chief investment officer and lead stock-picker for Ariel's value equity strategies, including the $2.5 billion Ariel Fund.
- Oversaw the launch of Project Black, a $1.45 billion private equity fund.
- Received Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson Award in 2008 for commitment to national service.
- Received the Order of Lincoln, Illinois's highest honor for professional achievement and public service, in 2023.
- Co-chaired President Barack Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2009.
Expertise & Topics
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