Larry Tanenbaum built Kilmer Group into a Canadian holding company and now chairs Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owning stakes in Toronto's NHL, NBA, MLS, CFL and WNBA franchises.
The Builders | Olam.business
Larry Tanenbaum, born July 8, 1945, in Toronto, chairs Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owning a 20 to 25 percent stake through his holding company Kilmer Sports Inc. In 1998 he helped bring the Toronto Raptors and what became Scotiabank Arena into the same company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in 2024 he secured the WNBA's first franchise outside the United States for Toronto. Forbes has estimated his net worth near 2.8 billion dollars.
Who Is Larry Tanenbaum?
Larry Tanenbaum is a Canadian businessman who chairs Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns Toronto's NHL, NBA, MLS and CFL franchises, through his holding company Kilmer Sports Inc.
At a Glance
| Born | July 8, 1945, Toronto, Ontario, to a Jewish family. Father Max Tanenbaum owned York Steel |
| Education | Bachelor's in economics, Cornell University, 1967 or 1968; law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, 1970 |
| Kilmer Group | Chairman and CEO of Kilmer Van Nostrand, a private investment company spanning infrastructure, electronics, publishing and food processing, originally a construction firm his family acquired in the 1950s |
| MLSE | Helped acquire the Toronto Raptors and Scotiabank Arena in 1998, forming Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment alongside the Maple Leafs. Owns a 20 percent stake through Kilmer Sports Inc, which itself holds 25 percent of MLSE |
| Toronto Tempo | Paid 115 million dollars in 2024 for the WNBA's first franchise outside the United States, based in Toronto |
| Net worth | Approximately 2.8 billion dollars, Forbes 2025 Billionaires List |
| Honors | Officer of the Order of Canada, 2007; founding member of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs |
How Did Larry Tanenbaum Build His Sports Empire?
Tanenbaum, the son of Toronto steel-industry businessman Max Tanenbaum, earned an economics degree from Cornell and a law degree from Osgoode Hall before working as a corporate and tax lawyer. He took over Kilmer Van Nostrand, his family's civil engineering construction firm, and grew it into a diversified private investment company spanning infrastructure, electronics, publishing, food processing and gaming.
In 1998 Tanenbaum was an active force behind the acquisition of the Toronto Raptors and the arena that became Scotiabank Arena, combining them with the Toronto Maple Leafs to form Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. His company Kilmer Sports Inc. holds a 25 percent stake in MLSE, of which Tanenbaum personally owns 20 percent, alongside Rogers Communications and Bell, which together own the remainder. In 2023 Tanenbaum sold 20 percent of Kilmer Sports to OMERS, the Ontario municipal employees pension plan, for 400 million dollars.
What Is Larry Tanenbaum's Role in Canadian Sports Today?
Tanenbaum has served as chairman of MLSE and held governor positions simultaneously with the NHL, NBA and MLS. In May 2024 he secured Toronto's WNBA expansion franchise, the Toronto Tempo, for 115 million dollars, the league's first team outside the United States, which began play in 2026. He is also a co-owner of Coca-Cola Canada Bottling and a board member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Larry Tanenbaum?
Larry Tanenbaum is a Canadian businessman who chairs Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owning the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, FC and Argonauts through his holding company Kilmer Sports Inc.
What is Kilmer Group?
Kilmer Group, formally Kilmer Van Nostrand, is Larry Tanenbaum's private investment company spanning infrastructure, electronics, publishing and food processing, originally a construction firm his family acquired in the 1950s.
What is Larry Tanenbaum's net worth?
Forbes estimated Larry Tanenbaum's net worth at approximately 2.8 billion dollars on its 2025 Billionaires List.
Does Larry Tanenbaum own a WNBA team?
Yes. Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Ventures paid 115 million dollars in 2024 for the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA's first franchise located outside the United States.
More From The Builders
- The Builders: Profiles of Jewish Business Builders
- Sylvan Adams: Iberville Heir Behind Israeli Cycling
- The Israeli Billionaires
מי הוא לארי טננבאום?
לארי טננבאום, יליד 1945 בטורונטו, יושב ראש Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, המחזיקה בקבוצות הפועל טורונטו במייפל ליפס, ראפטורס, FC וארגונאוטס, באמצעות חברת האחזקות שלו Kilmer Sports Inc. ב-2024 רכש עבור טורונטו את קבוצת ה-WNBA הראשונה מחוץ לארצות הברית. הונו מוערך בכ-2.8 מיליארד דולר.
The Olam Editorial Team | The Builders / הבונים
How we report: Olam stories draw on public filings, company disclosures and named sources, checked by our editors. Read our methodology · Corrections
