James Dolan Biography and Net Worth

James L. Dolan is Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sphere Entertainment Co., where he is responsible for setting the Company’s overall vision and growth strategy, as well as overseeing its operations.  

Mr. Dolan is the visionary behind Sphere – a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment. Sphere is powered by cutting-edge technologies to create experiences that ignites the senses and transports audiences to places both real and imagined. The first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in September 2023, and the Company is having discussions regarding the development of Sphere in other forward-thinking cities.   

Sphere Entertainment’s portfolio also includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, that telecast a wide range of live sports content and original programming.     

Along with his role at Sphere Entertainment, Mr. Dolan is Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment). MSG Entertainment’s portfolio features renowned venues and entertainment brands, including Madison Square Garden, as well as the original production, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. Mr. Dolan also serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports), whose collection of properties includes the New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Rangers (NHL) franchises. Mr. Dolan is also Chairman of AMC Networks Inc., which owns and operates several award-winning brands in television and film. 

Mr. Dolan was CEO of Cablevision Systems Corporation from 1995 until June 2016, when the media and telecommunications company, which served as MSG’s parent company until 2010, was sold to Altice.  Prior to his role as Cablevision CEO, Mr. Dolan was CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings, the former Cablevision programming subsidiary now known as AMC Networks.  Mr. Dolan began his career with Cablevision in the 1970s and held a variety of executive positions before overseeing Rainbow Media. 

Mr. Dolan supports the ongoing commitment of Sphere Entertainment, MSG Entertainment, and MSG Sports to their communities, particularly through the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the non-profit organization that works closely with all three companies to assist young people in need. In addition, he is Vice Chairman Emeritus of the board of the Lustgarten Foundation, an organization he helped found in 1998, which today is the nation’s largest private supporter of pancreatic cancer research.

Mr. Dolan has six children and is an avid musician.