John Middleton

John S. Middleton is an American business leader and philanthropist. He is the managing partner and principal owner of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball, holding a 48% ownership stake in the team. His philanthropy has focused on ending homelessness.

• John Middleton made his fortune selling his family’s storied tobacco business to Philip Morris-parent Altria for $2.9 billion in cash in 2007.
• The original business, John Middleton Inc., was founded as a small retail tobacco shop in Philadelphia in 1856 by his great-great-grandfather.
• The company began manufacturing cigarettes in the 1950s and launched the Black & Mild cigar brand in 1980.
• Middleton bought out his relatives’ stakes in the company in 2003 for about $200 million amid tobacco lawsuits that threatened to harm the business.
• Middleton has a nearly 50% stake in the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.