About Richard Handler
Richard Handler, CEO of Jefferies, has been active in discussing Miami's growing role in finance. In a December 2024 interview, Handler stated that he had spent eight days in Miami meeting with 140 clients, including private equity and hedge fund executives. He described Miami as "an active part of the financial system at this point in time" and "a major hub" for transactions and conferences, adding that the consistency of people staying in the area is likely to be maintained.
Handler has also spoken about his management philosophy and the importance of avoiding risk. At a 2023 conference, he said that "rule number one has to be do not blow up your company," attributing Jefferies' survival and growth to that principle. He has emphasized the value of mentorship and family, noting in a 2022 interview that he runs a scholarship program for disadvantaged students and that his family is his top priority. In 2014, Handler participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, jumping into an ice bucket and nominating four individuals, including Tilman Fertitta and Pitbull.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Richard Handler's recent appearances.
Browse all interviews →
Transcript (10 segments)
I
Interviewer0:10
Welcome back. We mentioned in the previous block, it's about somebody who always has a pulse on the consumer, maybe better than anybody out there. Tilman Fertitta, the CEO of Landry's. It owns Del Frisco's, Chart House, Rainforest Cafe, Bubba Gump and more, in addition to the Golden Nugget casino chain and the NBA's Houston Rockets and hotels across America. He has come to us live from a brand-new Mastro's Ocean Club in Miami, Florida, officially opening up this weekend. You've also got a new Catch restaurant coming in a few months. We are getting a little sneak peek. Thank you for inviting us in. I know it's not open yet, so it's kind of a special moment. Why this restaurant, why now, why Miami?
T
Tilman Fertitta0:55
Miami is, believe it or not, in Florida where the people are coming. Texas and Florida has been the place to accept so many different people. Also, not only people that are your blue-collar people, but also your Wall Street people. Especially Florida when it comes to Palm Beach in the Miami area, and all the little areas around here. So many people have moved their offices down here. Restaurants have been booming. Hotels have been booming. Everything is blooming here. Already we have a few restaurants in this area. We are opening this Mastro's here tomorrow night. Of course, Catch in three months.
I
Interviewer1:38
The money, you know, it feels like a little bit of Wall Street South. We have had a number of firms either move a lot of people or all their people said they're going to move all their people. I love New York. I know you love New York as well, but that whole area there is starting to feel a lot like Manhattan, but a little bit warmer with more palm trees.
T
Tilman Fertitta1:55
Let me just give you an example of a good friend of mine who everyone knows, the CEO of Jefferies, is down here tonight for this event. He has been down here for a week. What are you doing down here for a week when all of your employees are up there working their offices in Manhattan? I'm going to let him give you a straight answer. He is standing here. Why are you down here this week?
R
Richard Handler2:26
First off, hold on. Hold on. I got to say...
I
Interviewer2:31
You told me I had to be down here? I got to tell our audience, the CEO of Jefferies. Tillman, hold on. Let me tell our audience. He is the CEO of Jefferies. As much as he claims to like me, he has been ducking an interview on CNBC for about 15 years. This is a big moment. Go ahead, Rich.
R
Richard Handler2:56
First off, I've been down here for about eight days and I've seen probably 140, very back to back, private equity, hedge fund, corporate CEOs. It has been incredibly efficient. People have moved here, visiting here, there are conferences here. Out of nowhere folks are coming.
I
Interviewer3:16
I think that tells you the whole thing. That he is here because this is where his clients are. When you think about seeing 140 clients for lunches and one-on-ones, but who in the world would have thought before COVID that you could come down to Miami and Palm Beach and see 140 clients? We always saw each other here. I know Rich is not wearing an earpiece. This may be the last time I get a question in on TV with the great Rich Handler. Does Rich see his firms continuing to move now, even post-COVID? Do you see your firms now moving here even post-COVID? Is it still happening?
R
Richard Handler4:04
I think the consistency of people staying here is going to be maintained. Clearly, it's an active part of the financial system at this point in time. It used to be people would travel here and now it's a major hub, a major part of transactions, communication, conferences. Part of the system at this point.
I
Interviewer4:23
Said they are now moving back? You know what, people go back and forth. I would say New York is...
