Long before Gabe Plotkin founded Melvin Capital Management, a multibillion-dollar equity long-short fund, he was a “die-hard” Michael Jordan fan and a hoopster who dreamed of playing in the NBA one day. Although he never made it as a player, it’s safe to say that he has managed something even greater with the BIG bucks, as the Maine native is the current owner of an NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, a feat he achieved by purchasing the majority stake from his idol MJ himself!
“He’s not hiding anything… He’s very comfortable with who he is as a person. Some sports figures, there’s always something they’re kind of hiding. I think with him, it’s pretty open,” Gabe once said about Michael Jordan, a few years ago.
Throughout his journey, one person has always been by his side and that is his lovely wife, Yaara Bank-Plotkin. She’s been actively involved in all major decisions since they tied the knot. They share a loving relationship; together they’ve navigated life’s complexities with grace since meeting in New York. Here’s everything you need to know about the Hornets owner’s wife Yaara Bank-Plotkin.
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Who is Gabe Plotkin’s wife Yaara? Where is she from?
Yaara Bank-Plotkin is the partner of Charlotte Hornets’ owner Gabe Plotkin and although people mostly know her as the billionaire’s better half, she also shines in her own right. She hails from the vibrant heart of Queens, New York, and her roots trace back to Israel, all thanks to her parents. This rich culture shaped her early years as she dabbled between tradition and modernity.
New York was where she met her future husband for the very first time. Gabe had been in the Big Apple for a couple of days looking for an apartment, and after bar hopping for a while, he and his friends decided to go to a diner. Although he was with a few other girls, as soon as Yaara entered the diner with her friend, Gabe casually approached them, along with his buddy.
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As he recalls, “I went over there and said I’ll sit with my buddy, and we hit it off, my [future] wife and I. … It wasn’t my initial plan to move to NY and get tied up, but we hit it off. … With a lot of girls that I dated in the past, everyone is playing games and thinking of rules, but with her, it was just very natural.” Although he was a bit hesitant about moving to NY, that meeting with Yaara cleared any second thoughts!
What does Yaara Bank-Plotkin do for a living?
Yaara chose journalism because of her passion for storytelling and revealing the truth. She attended New York University, where she honed her reporting skills and found her voice. She is a journalist and is actively involved with the Belev Echad program. It’s a program that focuses on supporting terror victims and injured Israeli Defense Force soldiers. Later, she met Gabe, who’s a notable figure in finance; the two moved their attention towards philanthropy, trying to give back to the community as much as possible.
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Do Gabe Plotkin and Yaara have kids together?
After sharing the vows in 2006, Yaara and Gabe have nurtured a family and are proud parents to 4 kids. Together, the couple has done a phenomenal job at raising them, and there’s not much information available. The power couple prefers to keep them away from the spotlight. Their names are Eytan Shmerel, Matan Shmerel, Ella Plotkin, and Maya Plotkin, and currently, the family resides in Miami.
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From MJ fan to NBA team owner—Is Gabe Plotkin living every basketball fan's ultimate dream?
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