Early Life and Education
George Raymond Zage III was born on January 20, 1970, in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA. Growing up, Zage was exposed to the world of finance through his father, who was a dentist, helping him manage the family’s investment portfolio. During his teens, Zage developed a keen interest in the financial markets, spending hours studying financial publications. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Finance.
Rise to Success
Zage began his career at Goldman Sachs in New York City, later working in Los Angeles before being assigned to the firm's Singapore office. In 2000, he joined Farallon Capital Management, where he spearheaded the firm’s Asian business, managing investments in the region. Zage's experience at Farallon included managing distressed assets and working with entrepreneurs during the Asian financial crisis. In 2017, he founded Tiga Investments.
Key Business Strategies
Zage's investment strategy has focused on special situations and corporate turnarounds. A pivotal moment in his career was the acquisition of Grindr in 2020. Zage led a group that acquired Grindr from its Chinese parent company, Beijing Kunlun Tech, addressing U.S. security concerns. The success of this investment, particularly Grindr's public listing in 2022, significantly increased his net worth. He has also made investments in companies like Lippo Karawaci and Whitehaven Coal.
Philanthropy
Zage is involved in philanthropic activities, including serving as chair of the board of the foundation of the Singapore American School. He has also been involved with Room to Read.