Aaron Stone

Aaron Stone is a Senior Partner of Apollo Global Management, LLC, one of the world's largest alternative asset managers with over $650 billion in assets under management. He joined Apollo in 1997 and oversees the firm's investments in the media and entertainment sectors, leading the Media, Entertainment & Communications investment group. Over his 27+ year tenure at Apollo, Stone has become one of the firm's most experienced private equity professionals in the media sector.

Stone graduated cum laude from Harvard College with an AB degree in Social Studies. He subsequently earned his MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Prior to joining Apollo in 1997, Stone worked at Smith Barney Inc. in its Investment Banking division, specifically in the Mergers & Acquisitions group. This experience provided him with foundational skills in deal structuring and valuation that he would later apply throughout his private equity career.

Beyond his primary role at Apollo, Stone has developed a secondary investing persona as an angel investor. Since approximately 2020, he has made personal investments in early-stage technology companies, particularly in the FinTech, blockchain, and software sectors. His angel investing activity demonstrates an interest in emerging technologies and disruptive business models beyond traditional media and entertainment.

Stone is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations. He serves as co-Chairman of the Jewish Community Project Downtown (JCP Downtown), a modern Jewish community organization in Lower Manhattan. He is also a board member of The Civilians, a nonprofit theater company that creates and produces new works, and serves as a trustee of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on Middle Eastern affairs.

Apollo Global Management (Private Equity):

At Apollo, Stone focuses exclusively on media, entertainment, and communications investments. His portfolio reflects a preference for established companies with strong cash flows, defensible market positions, and opportunities for operational improvement. Apollo's typical investment strategy involves taking significant stakes (often control positions) in companies valued at hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Stone has led or participated in Apollo's investments in major media properties including AMC Entertainment (theatrical exhibition), Great Wolf Resorts (family entertainment and lodging), CORE Media Group (talent and content management), Endemol Shine Group (television production), and numerous telecommunications and satellite communications companies.

Angel Investing (Personal Investments):

As an angel investor, Stone focuses on early-stage companies in FinTech, blockchain technology, multimedia software, and health tech. His documented investments suggest an interest in companies leveraging technology to disrupt traditional industries. Geographic focus includes the United States and Israel.

Investment sectors include:

Stone typically invests at the seed and Series A stages, with check sizes ranging from approximately $150,000 to $1.5 million based on available data.

• FinTech and financial software
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency-related companies
• Multimedia and design software
• Healthcare technology and clinics
• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)