Ari Emanuel Raises $2 Billion to Buy Events Like Madrid Open (1)

Hollywood superagent Ari Emanuel raised more than $2 billion in equity for Mari, a new company he founded that’s acquiring events businesses such as the Frieze art fairs and the Madrid Open tennis tournament.

The investors include Apollo Global Management, RedBird Capital Partners and the Qatar Investment Authority, according to Emanuel and his longtime partner Mark Shapiro. Funds managed by Ares Management Corp. also participated.

Emanuel, 64, is acquiring the businesses from Endeavor Group Holdings Inc., which he led until it was taken private in March by majority shareholder Silver Lake. That company has been ...