Marc Lipschultz is Co-Chief Executive Officer of Blue Owl Capital Inc. and a member of the firm’s board of directors. Marc also serves as a Co-Chief Investment Officer for each of the Blue Owl Credit Advisers. Previously, Marc co-founded Owl Rock Capital Partners, the predecessor firm to Blue Owl’s Credit platform.
Prior to co-founding Owl Rock, Marc spent more than two decades at KKR, serving on the firm’s Management Committee and as the Global Head of Energy and Infrastructure. Marc has a wide range of experience in alternative investments, including leadership roles in private credit, private equity, and infrastructure. Prior to joining KKR, he was with Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and principal investment activities.
Marc is actively involved in a variety of nonprofit organizations, serving as a board member of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Mount Sinai Health System, Riverdale Country School, Stanford University Board of Trustees, and the 92nd Street Y.
Marc received an MBA with high distinction, Baker Scholar, from Harvard Business School and an AB with honors and distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford University.
Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE: OWL) is a leading American alternative asset management firm headquartered at 399 Park Avenue in New York City, specializing in providing private capital solutions across private credit, general partner (GP) strategic capital, and real assets to drive long-term business growth.[1][2] As of September 30, 2025, the firm manages over $295 billion in assets under management (AUM), positioning it as one of the largest players in the alternatives sector.[3] Blue Owl operates as a publicly traded entity, offering permanent capital vehicle solutions to institutional and high-net-worth investors while emphasizing risk-adjusted returns through diversified investment strategies.[4]The firm was established in 2021 through a business combination involving Owl Rock Capital Group—a direct lending specialist founded in 2016—and Dyal Capital Partners—a GP stakes investor founded in 2010—via a merger with Altimar Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which enabled its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange.[5] In December 2021, Blue Owl expanded its capabilities by acquiring Oak Street Real Estate Capital, a Chicago-based private equity real estate firm founded in 2009 and focused on net lease properties, for approximately $1.6 billion in a mix of cash and equity.[6] This acquisition integrated real assets into Blue Owl's portfolio, complementing its existing credit and GP stakes platforms, and has since supported notable transactions such as the 2023 joint acquisition of STORE Capital with GIC for $15 billion.[7] The firm's growth reflects a strategic consolidation in the alternatives market, with Owl Rock Capital Corporation (now part of Blue Owl's credit arm) having gone public in 2019 as the second-largest publicly traded business development company (BDC) by assets.[3]Blue Owl's operations are structured around three core platforms: the Credit platform, which provides direct lending solutions including first-lien senior secured loans to upper middle-market companies and manages over $152 billion in AUM as of September 30, 2025;[8][9] the GP Strategic Capital platform, which acquires minority stakes in leading private equity and asset management firms to align with their growth; and the Real Assets platform, centered on commercial real estate investments like single-tenant net lease properties.[3][10] The firm is led by Co-Chief Executive Officers Doug Ostrover, co-founder of Owl Rock and Chairman of the Board, and Marc Lipschultz, co-founder of Dyal Capital, who oversee a team committed to values of mutual respect, excellence, and collaborative dialogue.[11][12] With offices in key global locations including London, Dubai, and Hong Kong, Blue Owl continues to expand its influence in redefining alternative investments amid evolving economic conditions.[1]As of February 2026, there is no evident direct connection, investment, financing, or partnership between Blue Owl Capital and Iris Energy (IREN). While both operate in digital infrastructure and AI-related sectors—Blue Owl through private credit and investments supporting data centers, and Iris Energy through Bitcoin mining and AI cloud services—public sources show no specific link, with joint mentions typically related to broader industry trends or unrelated matters.
History
Formation and initial mergers
Blue Owl Capital was formed through the merger of Owl Rock Capital Group and Dyal Capital Partners, two prominent alternative asset managers. Owl Rock Capital Group, a direct lending firm specializing in providing financing solutions to middle-market companies, was founded in 2016 by Doug Ostrover, Marc Lipschultz, and Craig Packer.[13][14] Dyal Capital Partners, which focused on acquiring minority stakes in general partner (GP) interests of alternative asset managers, was established in 2010 by Michael Rees and Sean Ward, initially as part of Neuberger Berman before operating independently.[3][15]On December 23, 2020, Owl Rock and Dyal announced a definitive business combination agreement to create Blue Owl Capital, aiming to build a diversified platform in direct lending and GP stakes investing.[16] The transaction was structured as a merger with Altimar Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by an affiliate of HPS Investment Partners, to facilitate a public listing.[17] Key founders Doug Ostrover and Michael Rees played central roles in orchestrating the merger, with Ostrover, as Owl Rock's co-founder, emphasizing the strategic benefits of combining the firms to achieve greater scale in the alternative assets market.[18]The business combination was completed on May 20, 2021, resulting in Blue Owl Capital Inc. commencing trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OWL.[5] Post-merger, the combined entity managed approximately $52.5 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2021, integrating Owl Rock's credit-focused direct lending strategy with Dyal's approach to GP minority stakes.[5] This initial integration laid the foundation for Blue Owl's multi-platform structure in alternative investments.[19]
Subsequent acquisitions and expansions
Following the formation of Blue Owl Capital in 2021, the firm pursued inorganic growth to broaden its platform capabilities. In December 2021, Blue Owl completed the acquisition of Oak Street Real Estate Capital, LLC, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm founded in 2009, for a closing purchase price of $950 million funded through cash and Blue Owl common units, with up to an additional $650 million in earnout consideration based on performance milestones.[20][6] This transaction integrated Oak Street's strategies in real estate debt and equity, including net lease investments and sale-leaseback transactions, adding approximately $12.4 billion in assets under management as of September 2021.[6]The acquisition of Oak Street represented a strategic diversification move, enabling Blue Owl to expand beyond its core credit and general partner strategic capital platforms into the commercial real estate sector, particularly lending and equity investments in sectors like healthcare, industrial, and retail properties.[21] By incorporating Oak Street's specialized expertise, Blue Owl aimed to capture opportunities in the evolving real estate market, enhancing its ability to offer comprehensive private capital solutions to institutional investors.[20]In August 2021, shortly after its initial merger, Blue Owl announced plans to raise dedicated funds for GP-led secondaries and co-investments, signaling an intent to deepen its private equity offerings and provide liquidity solutions to general partners and limited partners in the alternative investment space.[22] These initiatives built on the firm's existing GP strategic capital platform, targeting growth in secondary transactions and direct co-investment opportunities to further scale its asset management footprint.[23]In 2023, Oak Street, as part of Blue Owl's Real Assets platform, jointly acquired STORE Capital Corporation with GIC for approximately $15 billion. This transaction marked one of the largest net lease real estate deals and significantly expanded Blue Owl's portfolio in single-tenant net lease properties.[7]A significant expansion in the credit segment occurred in January 2025, when Blue Owl Capital Corporation (NYSE: OBDC) completed its merger with Blue Owl Capital Corporation III (OBDE), with OBDC as the surviving entity.[24] The all-stock transaction consolidated the two business development companies, creating the second-largest publicly traded BDC by total assets at approximately $18.6 billion, while enhancing Blue Owl's direct lending capabilities and permanent capital base.[25] This merger streamlined operations and positioned Blue Owl to pursue larger-scale credit investments amid a competitive middle-market lending environment.[26]In January 2025, Blue Owl completed the acquisition of the business of IPI Partners, LLC, a leading manager of digital infrastructure investments focused on data centers and cellular infrastructure. This deal integrated IPI's approximately $7 billion in AUM into Blue Owl's Real Assets platform, enhancing its capabilities in high-growth digital sectors and partnering with ICONIQ Growth for future expansion.[27] This expansion into digital infrastructure does not include any direct connection, investment, or partnership with Iris Energy (IREN), despite overlapping sector interests.
Business platforms
GP Strategic Capital
GP Strategic Capital, formerly known as Dyal Capital Partners, was founded in 2011 by Michael Rees and a team of investment professionals to focus on providing capital solutions to alternative asset managers.[28] The platform pioneered the strategy of acquiring minority equity stakes in general partners (GPs), emerging as a leader in the GP stakes market by offering non-control investments that support managerial growth and expansion without disrupting operations.[29] Following the 2021 merger that formed Blue Owl Capital, the platform was rebranded as GP Strategic Capital, integrating into the firm's broader alternative investment ecosystem while maintaining its core focus on long-term partnerships with GPs.[30]The core investment strategy involves purchasing minority equity positions, typically ranging from 5% to 20%, in the general partners of established alternative asset managers across private equity, credit, and real estate sectors.[31] These stakes provide GPs with flexible capital for initiatives such as team expansions, product diversification, and operational enhancements, while Blue Owl benefits from ongoing revenue streams including a share of management fees and carried interest.[32] This approach emphasizes alignment with GPs, fostering enduring relationships that capture the growth of the private markets industry, projected to expand significantly through diversified exposure rather than direct asset investments.[33]Key funds underscoring the platform's evolution include Dyal Capital Partners III, which closed in 2017 with $5.3 billion in commitments, exceeding its target by over $2 billion and marking a milestone in scaling GP stakes investing.[34] This was followed by Dyal Capital Partners IV, closing in 2019 at a record $9.0 billion, more than tripling the size of prior funds and reflecting surging investor demand for the strategy.[29] Post-merger, Blue Owl GP Stakes V (formerly Dyal Capital Partners V) achieved a final close in 2023 with $12.9 billion, nearly $4 billion above its predecessor, solidifying the platform's market leadership.[30]The portfolio comprises stakes in over 60 GPs, spanning leading managers in private equity, credit, and real estate, with investments structured to generate stable cash flows through fee-related earnings and performance-based incentives.[2] As of September 30, 2025, GP Strategic Capital contributes approximately $68.8 billion to Blue Owl's assets under management, underscoring its role in driving sustainable returns via long-term, aligned partnerships in the evolving private capital landscape.[35]
Real Estate
Blue Owl's Real Estate platform originated from the 2021 acquisition of Oak Street Real Estate Capital, a firm founded in 2009 by co-founders Marc Zahr and Jim Hennessey as a specialist in net lease real estate investments.[36][6] The acquisition, completed on December 30, 2021, integrated Oak Street's capabilities into Blue Owl, rebranding the entity as Blue Owl Real Estate to expand the firm's real assets offerings.[6] This move established a dedicated platform for commercial real estate financing and investment, leveraging Oak Street's established track record in property-level strategies.[20]The platform's investment strategy centers on debt-focused opportunities, including senior loans and mezzanine financing, complemented by opportunistic equity investments in key commercial real estate sectors such as multifamily, office, industrial, and healthcare.[37] This approach prioritizes downside protection and income generation through credit-first underwriting, targeting recession-resilient assets like healthcare properties, which benefit from stable demand and long-term leases.[37] The strategy also incorporates net lease investments in single-tenant properties to enhance portfolio stability and yield.[37]Key products include a series of real estate credit funds, such as the Oak Street Real Estate Capital Fund series, which provide diversified financing solutions for property owners and developers, alongside equity vehicles designed for direct property acquisitions and value enhancement.[37] These offerings enable institutional investors to access both core-plus and value-add opportunities across the capital stack.[37]As of September 30, 2025, the platform manages $74.7 billion in assets under management, reflecting significant growth from the $10.8 billion at the time of the Oak Street acquisition.[38][20] The portfolio encompasses over 5,800 properties across the United States and Europe, with a focus on value-add and core-plus strategies in mission-critical sectors to deliver consistent returns amid market volatility.[37]
Credit
The Credit platform of Blue Owl Capital originated from Owl Rock Capital Corporation, which was founded in 2016 by Doug Ostrover, Marc Lipschultz, and Craig Packer to specialize in middle-market direct lending.[39][40] In 2021, Owl Rock merged with Dyal Capital Partners to form Blue Owl Capital, integrating the direct lending operations into the firm's broader alternative asset management structure.[5]The platform's strategy centers on providing senior secured loans, unitranche facilities, and mezzanine debt to U.S. middle-market companies, typically those with EBITDA between $10 million and $250 million, often serving as the lead arranger in transactions.[41][8] This approach emphasizes downside protection through first-lien senior debt while targeting private equity-sponsored and non-sponsored borrowers across diversified industries.[8]Key investment vehicles include the Owl Rock Core Income Fund, now known as Blue Owl Credit Income Corp. (OCIC), a non-traded business development company focused on income generation through direct lending.[42] The platform also manages publicly traded business development companies (BDCs) such as Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC, NYSE: OBDC), which focuses on first-lien senior secured debt to upper middle-market companies with a weighted average annual EBITDA of $229 million as of September 30, 2025, along with private credit funds, limited partnerships, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and interval funds.[8][43][39]The Credit platform's portfolio features investments in over 200 companies, with significant exposure to sectors such as software and internet services, healthcare providers and technology, and consumer products.[44] For OBDC specifically, the portfolio comprised 238 companies with a fair value of $17.1 billion as of September 30, 2025, diversified across first-lien senior secured loans and other debt instruments.[43]As of September 30, 2025, the Credit platform managed $152.1 billion in assets under management, making it the largest within Blue Owl Capital.[8]In February 2026, amid elevated redemption pressures, Blue Owl Capital sold $1.4 billion in direct lending assets from three of its business development companies—$600 million from Blue Owl Capital Corporation II (OBDC II), a retail-focused private credit fund; $400 million from Blue Owl Technology Income Corp.; and $400 million from Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC)—at 99.7% of par value to institutional investors including public pensions and insurers. The proceeds for OBDC II were intended to support a substantial return of capital distribution to shareholders (up to approximately 30% of net asset value) and debt repayment. Concurrently, Blue Owl permanently eliminated quarterly redemption options for OBDC II investors, shifting to quarterly return of capital distributions determined by the firm and funded by earnings, loan repayments, asset sales, or other transactions.[45][46]These actions raised concerns about liquidity strains in the private credit sector, particularly given OBDC II's retail investor base and exposures such as to software-related investments. Economist Mohamed El-Erian questioned whether the developments represented a "canary in the coal mine" moment akin to crisis signals in August 2007. Dan Rasmussen of Verdad Advisers described the situation as "a canary in the coal mine" signaling the potential bursting of a private markets bubble. Blue Owl Capital's shares declined nearly 6% (with intraday drops up to 10%), accompanied by comparable declines in shares of peers including Ares Management, Apollo Global Management, and Blackstone.[46][47][48]
Leadership and governance
Executive leadership
Blue Owl Capital's executive leadership is led by a dual co-CEO structure, with Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz serving as Co-Chief Executive Officers. Doug Ostrover, who co-founded Owl Rock Capital Partners in 2016—the predecessor to Blue Owl's Credit platform—oversees the firm's credit operations and overall strategy as Co-CEO, Chairman of the board of directors, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Blue Owl Credit Advisers.[11][49] Prior to Owl Rock, Ostrover co-founded GSO Capital Partners in 2005, serving as a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone until 2015, and held senior roles in leveraged finance at Credit Suisse First Boston and DLJ, where he joined in 1992.[11] His contributions include driving the growth of Blue Owl's credit platform through direct lending solutions tailored to middle-market companies.[11] Ostrover holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.[11]Marc Lipschultz, co-founder of Owl Rock Capital Partners in 2016—the predecessor to Blue Owl's Credit platform—serves as Co-CEO, focusing on credit investments, and is a member of the board of directors and Co-Chief Investment Officer for Blue Owl Credit Advisers.[12][15] Before Owl Rock, Lipschultz spent over 20 years at KKR as a member of the Management Committee and Global Head of Energy and Infrastructure, and earlier worked at Goldman Sachs on mergers, acquisitions, and principal investments.[12] He has been instrumental in establishing Blue Owl's direct lending strategy in private credit, contributing to the firm's expansion in alternative investments.[12] Lipschultz earned an MBA from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar and an AB from Stanford University.[12]The firm is further supported by Co-Presidents Craig W. Packer and Michael Rees. Packer, who co-founded Owl Rock in 2016, heads the Credit platform as Co-President, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Blue Owl Credit Advisers, and CEO of Blue Owl's business development companies, bringing over 25 years of experience in lending.[50][49] His prior roles include Partner and Co-Head of Leveraged Finance at Goldman Sachs from 2008, Global Head of High Yield Capital Markets at Credit Suisse First Boston, and positions at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.[50] Packer's leadership has emphasized innovative financing for underserved middle-market firms.[50] He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the University of Virginia.[50] Rees, co-founder of Dyal Capital in 2010, serves as Co-President and Head of the GP Strategic Capital platform, leveraging his expertise in alternative investments.[28][15] He played a central role in the 2021 merger between Dyal Capital Partners and Owl Rock Capital Partners to form Blue Owl Capital, contributing to the integration and expansion of the firm's alternative investment platforms.[28][5] Previously, he was a founding employee and COO of alternatives at Neuberger Berman post-2009, and held strategic roles at Lehman Brothers from 2001 to 2009, including Head of Asset Management Strategy.[28] Rees has driven the development of Blue Owl's GP stakes platform through minority partnerships.[28] He possesses MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Technology Policy from MIT, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.[28]Key supporting executives include Alan Kirshenbaum, who has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2021 and Co-Chair of the Operating Committee, with a background in investment banking and asset management at firms including Bear Stearns Asset Management, where he was CFO from 2003 to 2006, and Goldman Sachs.[51][52] Kirshenbaum previously oversaw the IPO of Sixth Street Specialty Lending as CFO from 2011 to 2015, contributing to Blue Owl's financial infrastructure and treasury management post-merger.[51] He holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BS from Rutgers University.[51] Andrew Polland, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Chair of the Operating Committee, manages post-merger operations and previously served as COO of Dyal Capital, with earlier roles as COO, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer at Hoplite Capital Management and compliance leadership at MSD Partners and Fortress Investment Group.[53] Polland's expertise has supported Blue Owl's operational integration and strategic direction.[53] He earned a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS from Cornell University.[53]This dual CEO structure, drawing from credit backgrounds, balances perspectives to guide Blue Owl's strategy, including expansion into global markets through partnerships like the one with Qatar Investment Authority for digital infrastructure and integration of technology in asset management.[3][54]
Board of directors
The Board of Directors of Blue Owl Capital Inc. consists of 10 members as of November 2025, led by Chairman Doug Ostrover, who also serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer and provides strategic oversight across the firm's operations.[55] The board features a combination of interested directors from executive leadership and independent directors with expertise in finance, private equity, and business operations, ensuring balanced governance.[56]Key independent directors include Claudia Holz, a certified public accountant and former financial executive, who chairs the Audit Committee; Stacy Polley, a senior advisor at Blackstone Inc. with extensive experience in asset management; Dana Weeks, CEO and co-founder of MedTrans Go, offering insights into entrepreneurial growth; and Andrew S. Komaroff, a private equity veteran with a background in investment management.[57][58][59][60] These members, along with Polley and Weeks serving on the Audit Committee with Holz, oversee financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance matters.[61]The board is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms to promote continuity, and while there is no separate nominating committee, the full board participates in director nominations and evaluations.[56] Compensation decisions are handled by a committee composed solely of independent directors, focusing on alignment with performance and shareholder interests.[61]Governance practices highlight a commitment to diversity, with about 30% of board members being women (including Brouse, Holz, and Polley) as of 2025, as well as ethnic and professional diversity to foster inclusive decision-making.[56] The firm integrates ESG considerations into oversight, as a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing, and enforces stock ownership requirements for directors to ensure alignment with shareholders.[62]Since the 2021 business combination forming Blue Owl from Owl Rock Capital and Dyal Capital Partners, the board has evolved through integrations, including the addition of Marc Zahr from the 2021 Oak Street Real Estate Capital acquisition to represent real assets and Jennifer Brouse in March 2025 from GP Strategic Capital to cover that platform, broadening expertise across all business areas.[5][63][64]
Financial overview
Assets under management and growth
As of September 30, 2025, Blue Owl Capital managed approximately $295.6 billion in assets under management (AUM), diversified across its core platforms with Credit comprising 51%, Real Assets 25%, GP Strategic Capital 23%.[38] This composition reflects the firm's emphasis on alternative investments, including direct lending, real asset financing, and minority stakes in general partners of private capital firms.[3]The firm's AUM has exhibited robust growth since its initial public offering (IPO) in May 2021, expanding from $52 billion to $295.6 billion by September 2025.[65] This trajectory has been propelled by $57 billion in new capital commitments over the preceding 12 months, equivalent to 24% of total AUM, underscoring sustained investor demand for Blue Owl's strategies amid a favorable environment for alternative assets.[66]Key drivers of this expansion include both organic and inorganic elements. Organically, the Credit platform has benefited from substantial loan deployments, supporting portfolio growth through new originations in direct lending and related vehicles. Inorganically, notable contributions stem from the 2021 acquisition of Oak Street Real Estate Capital, which bolstered the Real Assets platform, and the November 2025 announced merger of Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC) with Blue Owl Capital Corporation II (OBDC II), which is expected to enhance scale in the business development company (BDC) segment.[67][6] On November 5, 2025, Blue Owl announced a merger between its BDCs OBDC and OBDC II, pending approval, to combine into a larger entity with approximately $18.9 billion in assets. Fundraising momentum has been particularly strong, with $14 billion raised in the third quarter of 2025 alone, distributed across Credit, Real Assets, and GP Strategic Capital.[67][6]Breaking down platform-specific growth, the Credit segment has scaled from $17 billion in AUM in 2021 to $152.1 billion by September 2025, driven by expanded direct lending activities and BDC integrations.[68] Meanwhile, the Real Assets platform grew from approximately $12.4 billion following the Oak Street acquisition to $74.7 billion, fueled by net lease and infrastructure investments that capitalized on post-acquisition synergies. These developments highlight Blue Owl's strategic focus on high-conviction areas, contributing to overall AUM diversification and resilience.[37]
Revenue and key financial metrics
Blue Owl Capital generates revenue primarily through management fees, which constituted approximately 89% of its total revenue in the third quarter of 2025, along with incentive fees and carried interest (about 11%), and administrative services.[69] Management fees are based on assets under management, providing stable recurring income, while incentive fees are performance-based and more variable.[70] Administrative services include fees from fund administration and other operational support.[69]In the third quarter of 2025, Blue Owl reported total revenue of $728 million, representing a 21% increase year-over-year, driven by higher management fees from fundraising and deployment across its credit, real assets, and GP strategic capital platforms.[71] Fee-related earnings (FRE) reached $376 million for the quarter, with a margin of approximately 52%, reflecting efficient cost management amid scaling operations.[69] Approximately 86% of management fee revenue derived from permanent capital vehicles, which comprise a significant portion—around 70%—of total assets under management, enabling predictable cash flows and reduced reliance on cyclical fundraising.[72]As a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker OWL since its 2021 debut via business combination, Blue Owl maintains a market capitalization of approximately $22.8 billion as of November 17, 2025.[73] It pays quarterly dividends of $0.225 per Class A share, yielding about 5.7% annually, with the next payout scheduled for November 24, 2025.[74][75]Blue Owl's performance in 2025 highlights robust growth, with Q3 FRE up 19% year-over-year and management fees increasing 29% over the trailing twelve months, supported by diversified platforms and strategic acquisitions that enhance fee generation.[76] The company anticipates continued FRE expansion for the full year, targeting over 20% growth through sustained capital inflows and deployment