The Biography of Orlando Bravo, Career and Net Worth

Orlando Bravo is popularly nicknamed as the billionaire investor. This is partly because of his act of buying failing software companies and resurrecting them from their ashes. However, the story of Orlando Bravo's success is not from rags to riches. This article gives a detailed break down of his life and career. 

Early life and Education

Orlando was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, a Spanish colonial city popularly known as a port for tuna fishing boats that deliver supplies to nearby markets such as Bumble Bee, Starkist and Neptune canneries. In 1945, Orlando's grandfather started the Bravo shipping company. When Orlando's father - Orlando Bravo Sr - became an adult, he joined his father's business (Orlando's grandfather) and managed the shipping company. 

The shipping company became one of the biggest tuna-fishing company in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Since the business was a very lucrative one in the state, in no time, the family amassed a 16-foot motorboat.

However, unlike his father and grandfather, Bravo picked interest in sports and started playing tennis as early as age eight. With consistent practice, he became one of the best players in Puerto Rico.

At age 15, Orlando enrolled for Nick Bollettieri's legendary tennis academy at Bradenton, Florida. After maintaining a routine practice of training all afternoon before returning to study in the two-bedroom condo for two years, he emerged as one of the top 40 rankings in U.S. junior tennis player in 1985.

In 1992, Orlando earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political science from Brown University. In 1998, he earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a JD from Stanford Law School. 

Career History

In 1982, when he completed his undergraduate studies, Orlando landed a job as an analyst in the department of Merging and Acquisitions in a company owned by Morgan Stanley & co. He worked here for 100 hours per week. His fluency in Spanish earned him a lot of clients. Thus, Orlando's professional career began with Morgan Stanley & Co company.  

In 1993, Orlando started working at Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros' acquisition of the Puerto Rican grocery chain Pueblo Xtra International. It was his experience in this job that opened his eyes to the world of buyout, and he later confirms his lack of interest in banking. Hence, he began a dual MBA and JD at Stanford. 

Upon completing his studies in 1998, he began job hunting and met Carl Thoma. At this time, Carl was the founder of the Chicago-based private equity firm Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, Inc. (TCEP). Thoma and Bravo hit off at a go and he was immediately employed.

Orlando Bravo joined Carl Thoma's firm and was allowed by Carl to manage the acquisition of product distribution software provider, Prophet 21. This became the first software deal the company had ever carried out. 

The deal did not hit as big as expected. This was partly because it happened at a time lenders were very skeptical of funding related deals like the Prophet 21. Hence, there was no dependence on leverage.

However, Orlando persevered. In fact, noticeable among his impact during the deal was his bringing in operating partners to look into the problem of software companies' running on high gross margins. This became the firm's first operating partner. However, instead of making profit, the firm was losing money. The loss continued for a while but after about 3 years into the business, Prophet 21 made a return of 4.7x. 

When he turned 30, Carl commended his effort in the deal and many more that have earned the company more success and breakthrough by making him a partner at TCEP. His major role at this time is to control and manage the software group of the company. 

In 2007, the company named was changed from TCEP to Thoma Cressey Bravo in recognition of his contribution to growth and development of the firm.

Today, Thoma Bravo has grown to be the hottest firm in software with asset worth over $39 billion. The firm has completed over 200 technology and software acquisition. This includes more than 65 platform companies and 145 add-ons.  Some of the firm's past and present portfolio companies entail Blue Coat, Solar winds, Deltek and Qlik.

In 2016, the firm closed its Fund XII worth $7.6 billion - two times the former size of the firm. In January 2019, Thoma Bravo announced its 13th flagship fund of $12.6 billion. 

Presently, Orlando Bravo is a managing partner and co-founder of the Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm that deals in software investment. In the technology industry, Orlando has managed the firm's strategy which earned the firm more than 203 acquisitions. This is more than $68 billion in enterprise value. The firm has over 40,000 people working with them. 

Other Interests

Orlando is a very active philanthropist in Puerto Rico. He is the founder of the Bravo Family Foundation whose aim is to empower as many youths as it can into becoming independent and financially stable.

In 2016, Orlando gave Brown University a $2 million gift aim at establishing two professorships and a center for economic research. 

He has also served on the UCSF Board of Oversees and on Bravo President's Leadership council. He is also the founder of the Border Youth Tennis Exchange and also one of the members in the board of directors of the foundation.  The aim of this foundation is to train and enhance quality life for both youth and children in the US - Mexico border through education and tennis.

After the hurricane Maria hit his homeland and leaving it in shambles, and the devastating effect of the incident reinforced the cycle of poverty in the state, Bravo stepped to alleviate the effect of the incident and to help the economic state of Puerto Rico and donated $100 million to the cause.

Net worth

Orlando Bravo's net worth is $3B (as of May 27, 2020). Since 2003 till the present day, he has engaged in more than 230 software deals worth over $68 billion enterprise value. He currently manages a portfolio of 38 software companies that generate over $12 billion