KKR Co-CEO Joseph Bae Turns Asian Expansion into Billions
By James Moreau | 06 May, 2025

Under Bae's leadership, KKR's valuation has more than doubled, a testament to his successful private equity and real estate strategies.

Joseph Bae serves as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of KKR & Co. Incorporated, a publicly traded global investment firm with a diverse portfolio spanning private equity, credit, and real assets, managing $638 billion in assets. 

Since Bae became Co-CEO in 2021 KKR’s valuation has more than doubled, thanks in part to Bae’s success with private equity and real estate strategies.  Bae joined KKR in 1996 and is credited with being the architect of the firm's expansion in Asia, which included a highly profitable investment in South Korea’s Oriental Brewery and carve-out deals for Japanese conglomerates Panasonic Healthcare and Hitachi. The 52-year-old’s net worth is an estimated $2.4 billion.

Bae graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1994 with a degree in social studies.  He has donated tens of millions of dollars to his alma mater.  Additionally, he lends his expertise to Harvard University's Global Advisory Council.  Bae is co-founder and serves on the board of The Asian American Foundation.