Strauss Zelnick

Harry Strauss Zelnick is an American businessman and lawyer, widely recognized as the long-standing chairman and chief executive officer of Take-Two Interactive, one of the biggest players in the video game world and the company behind Rockstar Games and 2K Games. He's essentially the mastermind behind Take-Two's modern success, having guided the company's journey to the top, including the development and triumph of mega-franchises like Grand Theft Auto.

On top of his role at Take-Two, he's the brains behind ZMC¹, a private equity firm, and has held top jobs at several other major media companies. Zelnick is known for shaping the business strategies that drive some of the most successful video game properties out there.

Background

Strauss Zelnick was born in Boston, Massachusetts, into a Jewish family. Zelnick's mother, Susan Manello, passed away when he was just ten². After that, he and his siblings were raised by their aunt and uncle, Elsa and Allan Zelnick. He grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, and wrapped up high school at Columbia High in Maplewood in 1975.

He then attended Wesleyan University³, where he dove into psychology and English, graduating with honors in 1979. During his college days, he was busy as the national public relations director for the Coalition of Independent College and University Students (COPUS)⁴.

Zelnick furthered his education by enrolling simultaneously at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, earning an MBA in 1982 and a Juris Doctor in 1983⁵. This dual background in business and law would later inform his approach to corporate leadership and deal-making in the entertainment industry.

Career

His early career included a role as vice president for television international sales at Columbia Pictures International Television⁶ in 1983. He later joined Vestron Inc.⁷, rising to president in 1988, where he managed the company’s operations. In 1989, Zelnick became president and CEO of 20th Century Fox⁸, before moving to Crystal Dynamics in 1993⁷.

In 2001, Zelnick founded ZMC, a private equity investment firm specializing in media and communications. He started the company with $300,000 in capital, focusing on leveraged buyouts and growth investments⁹.

Family

Strauss Zelnick’s family includes his late mother, Susan Manello, and his uncle and aunt, Allan and Elsa Zelnick, who raised him after his mother's death. He has four sisters: Karen Davis, Beth Kaufman, Marci Zelnick Rodriguez, and Laurie Zelnick. Zelnick's brother, Carl D. Zelnick, died in 1995. Zelnick married Wendy J. Belzberg in January 1990, and together they have three children: Cooper, Lucas, and Leigh.

Professionally, Zelnick is affiliated with high-profile organizations, including Take-Two Interactive, ZMC, and previously, CBS Corporation as a board member. He also led ZMC’s acquisition of The Second City, a Chicago-based comedy troupe, in 2021.

Trivia

• Strauss Zelnick holds both a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School, which he completed simultaneously.
• He has served as chairman and CEO of several major media companies, including 20th Century Fox and CBS Corporation.
• Zelnick is the founder of ZMC, a private equity firm, and led its acquisition of The Second City comedy troupe in 2021.
• He became chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive in 2007 and is its largest single shareholder.
• Zelnick is known for his disciplined approach to fitness¹⁰ and corporate management.