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The $3.4 Billion Man: 7 Shocking Facts About Greg Sklenar, The Husband Of EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar

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The man behind the CEO of two of the most iconic Black media brands, EBONY and JET, is just as powerful in the world of business. Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, the daughter of the late NBA legend and business mogul Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman, is a powerhouse in her own right, but her husband, Greg Sklenar, is a key executive within the same multi-billion-dollar family enterprise, Manna Inc. This article, updated for the current date of December 23, 2025, dives deep into the life and career of Greg Sklenar, revealing how he and Eden Bridgeman Sklenar form one of the most dynamic couples in American business today.

The couple’s story is a true "re-meet cute," blending the worlds of high-powered corporate finance and legacy media. While Eden manages the future of historic publications, Greg manages the financial and beverage ventures that form the backbone of the vast Bridgeman family fortune. Their combined influence stretches from the boardrooms of Louisville, Kentucky, to the cultural landscape of the entire nation, making the details of their partnership a subject of intense curiosity.

Greg Sklenar: Biography and Professional Profile

Greg Sklenar is not a public-facing media mogul like his wife, but his professional influence is significant, particularly within the Bridgeman family's expansive business portfolio. He is a high-level executive whose career trajectory aligns perfectly with the family's diversified interests.

  • Full Name: Gregory Sklenar
  • Spouse: Eden Bridgeman Sklenar (Owner, Chairwoman, and CEO of EBONY and JET)
  • Children: Two children, including a daughter named Eve
  • Residence: Outside Louisville, Kentucky
  • Current Role: Executive Director of Beverages and Ventures at Manna Capital Partners
  • Previous Experience: Roles at Manna Beverages & Ventures and Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  • Family Enterprise: Manna Inc. (founded by Junior Bridgeman, known for owning hundreds of Wendy's, Chili's, and other franchise locations)
  • Meeting Story: Met Eden in Chicago on Memorial Day while she was pursuing her MBA
  • Wedding Date: September 20th (Year believed to be 2013 or 2014)

The Power Couple's Business Empire: Manna Capital Partners and EBONY

The Sklenar-Bridgeman partnership is a masterclass in combining corporate finance with cultural impact. While Eden focuses on revitalizing the iconic EBONY and JET brands, Greg is deeply entrenched in the financial engine that fuels the family's wealth.

The Financial Backbone: Greg Sklenar’s Role in Manna Inc.

Greg Sklenar serves as the Executive Director of Beverages and Ventures at Manna Capital Partners, a critical component of the Bridgeman family's multi-billion-dollar enterprise, Manna Inc.

Manna Inc., founded by the late NBA star Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman, is one of the largest minority-owned and family-operated companies in the United States, with a portfolio that has included hundreds of fast-food franchises like Wendy's and Chili's, as well as bottling operations and other ventures. The family fortune is estimated to be in the billions, and Greg’s role as an executive director puts him at the forefront of managing and expanding these diversified holdings, particularly in the beverage and venture capital sectors.

His professional background, which includes experience at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Manna’s own beverage division, provides the corporate and operational expertise necessary to manage such a vast and complex financial structure. This strategic alignment means that the couple’s professional lives are intrinsically linked, with Eden managing the media legacy and Greg managing a significant portion of the financial legacy.

Eden’s Cultural Legacy: Revitalizing EBONY and JET

Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is the Owner, Chairwoman, and CEO of EBONY and JET magazines, a role she took on to lead the historic brands into a new era. Her mission is to broaden the media landscape and ensure the family legacy brand continues to be the “voice of the culture.”

Her business acumen was honed at Loyola University Chicago-Quinlan School of Business, where she earned her MBA in Entrepreneurship, a period that would prove pivotal both professionally and personally. The acquisition of the EBONY Media Group in 2020 was a significant move that cemented her status as a top Black woman boss in the media industry, bringing a cultural institution under the umbrella of her family's wealth.

This dual focus—Greg in high-level finance and Eden in media ownership—demonstrates a powerful synergy, ensuring the Bridgeman legacy remains robust across multiple sectors.

The Romantic Story: From Chicago MBA to Louisville Power Couple

The love story of Eden and Greg Sklenar is often described as a "re-meet cute," a narrative that is both charming and indicative of their busy, interconnected lives. Their initial meeting occurred in Chicago, Illinois, on Memorial Day, while Eden was residing there and completing her MBA program.

The most famous detail of their courtship involves a lost sweater. As the story goes, Greg tracked down a sweater Eden had left behind in Chicago and returned it to her. This act of thoughtful persistence led to a deeper connection and eventually, marriage.

Wedding and Family Life

The couple tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony on September 20th. While the exact year is not always specified, the timing aligns with the period shortly after Eden completed her studies at Loyola, likely in 2013 or 2014, making it a key milestone in their transition to a life together in Louisville, Kentucky.

They are now proud parents to two children, including their daughter, Eve Sklenar. The Sklenars maintain a relatively private family life outside of the public eye in Louisville, but their presence at high-profile events, such as the EBONY Power 100, often makes headlines, showcasing their unity as a top-tier power couple.

The Bridgeman Family Legacy and Recent Events

The Sklenar family is deeply connected to the legacy of Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman, who passed away in March 2025. Junior Bridgeman was not only an NBA star for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers but also a business titan who built the Manna empire from the ground up.

Greg Sklenar and Eden, along with her brothers, Justin Bridgeman and Ryan Bridgeman, are now the torchbearers of this immense legacy. Ryan Bridgeman serves as the President of Manna, and Justin Bridgeman is the CEO of Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling, demonstrating that the entire family, including Greg, holds pivotal roles in maintaining and expanding the vast Bridgeman business interests. Their combined efforts ensure that the family's influence continues to grow across the realms of finance, media, and community impact.

eden bridgeman sklenar husband
eden bridgeman sklenar husband

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