Anwar Zakkour is a name that resonates across international finance, investment banking, and high-profile media deals. Known as one of the most prominent Lebanese-born financiers to make it big on Wall Street, he has built a career that spans multiple continents, investment strategies, and boardrooms.
While many executives maintain low profiles, Zakkour has found himself in the public eye not only for his high-level banking career but also through family connections that have drawn attention from lifestyle media and reality TV audiences. His story combines the threads of ambition, resilience, and reinvention—shaped by early displacement from Lebanon during the civil war, a strong educational foundation in Europe, and decades in the highest levels of finance in New York and London.
In this article, we’ll explore who Anwar Zakkour is, details of his early life and career, his age, rumored net worth, his family and relations, as well as insights into his personal life, including marriage and children.
Early Life and Background
Anwar Zakkour was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1963, making him about 62 years old in 2025. He grew up during a turbulent period in Lebanese history. His family lived in Beirut until the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War, which forced them to leave when Anwar was around 12 years old. The Zakkour family relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark, where Anwar completed much of his early education.
In Beirut, he attended the Collège des Frères Maristes Champville before moving abroad. Interestingly, he initially studied medicine before realizing his passion lay in economics and finance. This decision shifted his life trajectory and set him on a path toward becoming one of the most respected investment bankers of his generation.
Education and Formation of a Banker
Zakkour pursued his higher studies at Copenhagen Business School, later continuing at ESCP Business School in Europe. His studies took him across major European academic hubs in Paris, Berlin, and Oxford, where he gained a truly international perspective on business and economics.
This strong academic foundation laid the groundwork for his entry into the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). With an eye for detail and a knack for structuring deals, Zakkour began his climb in some of the most competitive environments in global finance.
Career Highlights in Finance
Anwar Zakkour’s career spans over three decades in investment banking and corporate strategy. His reputation as a sharp dealmaker developed as he worked with top-tier financial institutions, moving from Europe to the United States.
Early Career
- Began working in M&A advisory at prestigious financial firms in Europe.
- Later joined Morgan Stanley and subsequently J.P. Morgan, where he rose to Vice Chairman of Investment Banking.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Zakkour’s most notable role came when he became Global Head of Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) between 2013–2018.
Here, he oversaw transformative deals that reshaped media and entertainment industries, including:
- The NBC Universal sale to Comcast.
- The Dow Jones acquisition by News Corp.
- The Live Nation–Ticketmaster merger, a deal that redefined live entertainment.
At Merrill Lynch, he was credited with shifting the group’s focus from narrow debt financing to becoming a more integrated investment banking powerhouse.
Later Roles and Advisory Work
- Served as Chief Investment Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail LLC, a leading Middle East retail conglomerate.
- Became Senior Advisor at 25madison, a venture studio that invests in early-stage startups.
- Appointed as Independent Director at Falcon Capital Acquisition Corp. II, highlighting his continued influence in corporate governance.
His work has cemented his status as a respected figure in global finance.
Age of Anwar Zakkour
As mentioned, Anwar Zakkour was born in 1963. This makes him 62 years old in 2025. His career trajectory aligns with someone who entered finance in the late 1980s, matured through the dot-com boom and bust of the 2000s, and eventually took leadership in restructuring global media deals in the 2010s.
Net Worth of Anwar Zakkour
Estimating the net worth of private bankers and investors is difficult, as they are rarely required to disclose personal finances publicly. However, considering Zakkour’s:
- Senior executive roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan.
- Directorships at Falcon Capital Acquisition Corp. II and other firms.
- Private investments and advisory roles.
…it is safe to say he has accumulated significant wealth, likely in the tens of millions of dollars, though no verifiable figure exists in public records.
Some blogs speculate higher numbers, but those remain unverified.
Family, Father, and Relations
Anwar Zakkour’s family background traces to Lebanon. While not much is known about his father publicly, sources suggest he came from a respected Lebanese family that valued education and resilience. His displacement during the civil war and later relocation to Europe shaped much of his global outlook.
His family connections extend into art, media, and business. In recent years, his personal life has drawn attention because of his children and their association with the entertainment world.
Marriage and Personal Life
Anwar Zakkour has been linked to high-profile relationships and marriages.
- He is known to have been connected to Elizabeth “Liz” Williams, an art collector, with whom he shares at least one child.
- Some reports suggest he was married to Dina Azar (a former Miss Lebanon) Oonagh Zakkour around 2012, though details remain unclear and not widely confirmed.
Despite the speculation, Zakkour himself has generally kept his personal life private, avoiding the spotlight unlike many of his Wall Street peers.
Children: The Next Generation
Among his children, the most publicly recognized is Charlie Zakkour, who appeared on the reality TV series Next Gen NYC. This has brought attention to the Zakkour family from pop culture and entertainment media.
Other sources mention additional children, including a daughter named Oonagh, but these details come primarily from blogs and are not officially confirmed.
The visibility of his son Charlie highlights an interesting transition—while Anwar himself thrived in high finance, his children are stepping into entertainment and media, bridging two worlds that he himself helped connect through corporate deals years ago.
Legacy and Influence
Anwar Zakkour’s legacy lies in his ability to navigate global finance while retaining connections to his Lebanese heritage. His influence is notable in several ways:
- Finance – Reshaped investment banking practices in TMT sectors.
- Global Reach – Worked across New York, London, Paris, and Dubai, demonstrating a rare international scope.
- Media and Culture – Facilitated deals that impacted how billions consume entertainment.
- Family Influence – His children’s emergence in reality television introduces his name to a new generation.
Despite recent mentions of bankruptcy filings linked to his name in U.S. courts (which may or may not be directly tied to him), Zakkour’s decades-long career paints him as a figure of both resilience and reinvention.
Conclusion
Anwar Zakkour’s journey is emblematic of the global citizen—a man shaped by the upheaval of war in Lebanon, forged in the financial hubs of Europe, and tested in the boardrooms of New York. From a banker advising billion-dollar mergers to a father navigating public attention brought by his children, his story continues to unfold.
For readers looking to follow influential figures in global finance and beyond, Anwar Zakkour remains a fascinating case study of ambition, adaptability, and influence.
This article is published for informational purposes on primeheadlines.