Jesse Jaymes

Jesse Itzler (born August 22, 1968) is an American entrepreneur, author, and rapper. He is the co-founder of Marquis Jet, one of the largest private jet card companies in the world, a partner in Zico Coconut Water, the founder of The 100 Mile Group, and one of the owners of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jesse Itzler was born on August 22, 1968, to a Jewish family and raised in Roslyn, New York, on Long Island, the son of Daniel Itzler, an inventor, and Elese Itzler, the president of the Roslyn Board of Education. He was the youngest of three or four children, depending on the source. Three generations of his father's family were raised in Brooklyn. Itzler earned his bachelor's degree in 1990 from American University. He later obtained a degree in justice, law, and society. After graduating from college, Itzler signed with Delicious Vinyl records as a songwriter/artist. He released his debut album Thirty Footer in Your Face using the pseudonym Jesse Jaymes in 1991. He co-wrote songs for various artists including Tone Lōc. His first released single, "College Girls (Are Easy)", while not ranking on the Billboard Hot 100 chart did become a club anthem. This was followed by his second single "Shake It Like A White Girl", which did reach 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991 and was featured in the soundtrack of the 2004 movie White Chicks. In 1992, Itzler wrote and sang the New York Knicks theme song "Go New York Go" as well as original songs for more than 50 other professional teams. Itzler wrote and sang the Emmy Award-winning song "I Love This Game" and also produced the theme song for Inside the NBA. Itzler is credited with campaigns for Foot Locker and Coca-Cola. Itzler's music partner was Dana Mozie, whom he met in 1987, a man described as being from a "strikingly different background... raised in the southeast section of Washington... as streetwise as Itzler was suburban," with whom he collaborated on several musical projects in his period as Jesse Jaymes. In 1996, Itzler co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records with his friend Kenny Dichter. The record company is known for mixing classic arena songs with highlights of historical play-by-play calls for professional sports teams including the Wizards, the Mavericks, and the Lakers. In 1998, the company was sold to SFX. In 2001, Itzler co-founded Marquis Jet, one of the largest private jet card companies in the world. Itzler served as the company's Vice Chairman until the company was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, parent company of NetJets, in 2009. In 2009, Itzler created the 100 Mile Group, a brand incubator and accelerator. The company announced a partnership with ZICO Coconut Water and the Coca-Cola company in 2009. In 2012, ZICO was acquired by Coca-Cola for an undisclosed sum. In 2017, Itzler co-founded 29029 Everesting, an endurance challenge where participants repeatedly hike a ski mountain until they reach the elevation of Mount Everest (29,029 feet). The event has since expanded to multiple locations in the United States. In November 2015, Itzler released his book Living With a SEAL: 31 Days Training With the Toughest Man on the Planet. The book was a New York Times Best Seller and ranked first on the LA Times book list. He released Living With the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus in 2018. Itzler is represented by literary agent Lisa Leshne of The Leshne Agency. Itzler founded The Big Ass Calendar Company, a productivity company that produces large-format wall calendars and planners designed to display an entire year at a glance. The calendar system emerged from Itzler's personal planning methodology, which he developed to manage his busy schedule balancing multiple business ventures and family life with four children. In 2015, Itzler and his wife, Sara Blakely were part of a group led by Tony Ressler along with Grant Hill, Steven Price, and Rick Schnall, that purchased the Atlanta Hawks for $850 million from Bruce Levenson. In 2006, Itzler competed in the USA National Ultra Marathon Championship in Grapevine, Texas, successfully completing a 100-mile run in under 24 hours. Itzler finished 49th out of 80 in the SEA Paddle NYC 25 mile stand up paddle race around Manhattan in 2012. In 2008, Itzler married Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, at the Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande, Florida. The couple has four children and resides in Georgia. Reichley, Melissa, "Alumni Success Story: Go-Getter Itzler on Third Career: Marquis Jet", Alumni News, American University Rhoden, William C. (18 February 1995). "Sports of The Times; Hip-Hop In Orange And Blue". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 February 2017. Janes, Erika Rasmusson (1 November 2004). "NBA Idol: An Entrepreneur Raps His Way Into The Big Leagues". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2012. Natalie Robehmed (14 January 2014). "How To Pitch Successfully From Rapper-Turned-Entrepreneur Jesse Itzler". Forbes. Retrieved 31 March 2015. Atlanta Hawks Agree to Sell Team to Antony Ressler-Grant Hill Group. USA Today.Jeff Zillgitt. April 22, 2015. accessed February 9, 2016 Atlanta Jewish Times: "Jewish Investor Buying Hawks" by David R. Cohen April 29, 2015 Best, Neil (25 May 2021). "He wrote the Knicks' 'Go New York' anthem of the mid-1990s. Now, Long Island's Jesse Itzler co-owns the Hawks". Newsday. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Kroll, Chana (20 July 2009). "Jewish News: '100-Mile Man' Funds Educational Center for Underprivileged Children". Chabad.org. Rhoden, William C (18 February 1995). "Sports of The Times; Hip-Hop In Orange And Blue". The New York Times. p. A.29. ProQuest 430065520. Retrieved 18 May 2024. Scooby Axson (2 June 2021). "Hawks co-owner Jesse Itzler, who wrote Knicks anthem, will see his NBA worlds collide again in Game 5". USA Today. ProQuest 2535769381. Retrieved 19 May 2024. Frankel, Bethenny (17 June 2021). "Episode Transcript". Just B. iHeartMedia. Retrieved 18 May 2024. Billboard Hot 100 Original: Week of February 01, 1992, Referenced: February 22, 2011 "White Chicks Soundtrack". IMDB. Retrieved 22 February 2011. Erika Rasmusson Janes (1 November 2004). "NBA Idol: An entrepreneur raps his way into the big leagues". CNN Money. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2011. Executive Transactions. Street and Smith's Sports Business Daily. November 1, 2001. accessed February 9, 2016 Billboard Magazine May 17, 1997 By Gina Van Der Viliet via Google Books accessed February 22, 2011 Alphabet City Alums Soar After Selling Firm to SFX Archived 2016-01-21 at the Wayback Machine. Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal. Andy Bernstein. December 9, 2002. accessed February 9, 2016 "This Rapper From The Nineties Has A Sick New Startup". Business Insider. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015. Teresa Novellino (31 October 2013). "Good music, great grub? Vowch it to friends, says Jesse Itzler". Retrieved 31 March 2015. American Booty. Forbes. Clare O'Connor. March 7, 2002. accessed February 9, 2016 Following A Winner:Tracking The Investment Profile of Super Investor Isaac Blech.Reuters. Scott Matusow. September 20, 2012. accessed February 9, 2016 Coca-Cola Finishes Purchase of Majority ZICO Stake. Bevnet. April 11, 2012. accessed February 9, 2016 Vanderbilt, Tom (3 December 2018). "Jesse Itzler's Everest-Sized Hike Will Change Your Life". Outside. Retrieved 28 April 2026. What You Learn Living One Month With a Navy SEAL. CBS News. November 9, 2015. accessed February 9, 2016 "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous". The New York Times. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017. "Paperback Nonfiction". Los Angeles Times. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017. Living with the Monks: What Turning off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus. Center Street. 29 May 2018. "Jesse Itzler – the Leshne Agency". Elliott, Bryan (15 August