Bruce Karsh (born October 10, 1955) is an American investor and former lawyer. In the early 1980s he was an appellate clerk to current Supreme Court of the United States justice Anthony M. Kennedy, and later worked at O’Melveny & Myers, Sun Life Insurance Company(formerly Kaufman & Broad), and the TCW Group. He co-founded Oaktree Capital Management in 1995, later becoming the firm’s President and in the process becoming a billionaire. As of August 2016 according to Forbes magazine, he has a net worth of $1.98 billion Karsh is the Chairman of the Board of Tribune Media.
Early life and education
Bruce A. Karsh was born in 1955 to a Jewish family, the son of David H. Karsh, and Roberta “Bobby” Karsh. In 1974, he graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis. In 1977, Karsh earned an A.B. degree in economics from Duke University where he graduated summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1980 he earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received the academic award Order of the Coif. While at the University of Virginia he served as notes editor for the Virginia Law Review.
Career
Early years (1980-1995)
Following law school Karsh served as an appellate clerk to current Supreme Court of the United States justice Anthony M. Kennedy. He went on to work as an attorney with the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, then served as an assistant to billionaire Eli Broad, who was then the chairman of Sun Life Insurance Company and SunAmerica.
In 1987, Broad’s insurance company became a client of TCW Group. Shortly thereafter, Karsh was hired by Howard Marks to manage distressed debt at TCW. TCW’s first distressed debt fund was started in 1988. Karsh served as Managing Director of TCW and managed the Special Credits Funds there.
| Bruce A. Karsh | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 10, 1955 |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | Duke University (B.A.) University of Virginia (J.D.) |
| Occupation | Co-Chairman and CIO, Oaktree Capital Management Chairman, Tribune Media |
| Net worth |  US$ 1.98 billion (August 2016) |
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