Despite his fame in finance and sports, Malik Murray remained discreet about his personal life and kept details about his relationship with his girlfriend, Liz, away from the public eye.
West Town resident and respected finance professional, Murray, played basketball for DePaul University’s men’s basketball team from 1992 to 1996.
As a 6-foot-8 forward, he contributed to the team’s success, including their conference title win and NIT appearances in 1994 and 1995.
Though he once aspired to an NBA career, he transitioned into finance after an internship at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange while attending DePaul University.
This experience led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Finance and later an MBA in Finance.
He worked as Senior President and Head of Business Development at Ariel Investments, which he joined in 2004.
Tragically, he passed away on April 19, 2025, at the age of 50, due to an apparent heart attack at his home.
While details about his final moments are not widely reported, his passing has deeply affected his colleagues, friends, and the DePaul University community.
Ariel’s founder, chairman, and co-CEO, John W. Rogers Jr., paid a heartfelt tribute to Malik, saying:
Everyone just loved Malik. He was extremely generous,He always had time for everyone, and was never too busy to talk to a friend in need or a young person who needed mentorship, or someone who was going through a difficult time — Malik was always there for them. It didn’t matter their titles.
Malik Murray Is Survived By His Girlfriend, Liz, Father, Leonaed, Brother, Kamau, And Sister, Kai!
Malik Murray was born to parents, Cook County Circuit Judge Leonard Murray and Linda Diane Gray.
His mother was a teacher and assistant principal at Hyde Park Academy before passing away in 2021.
Malik grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood with his sister, Nubia Murray Davis.
The entire Ariel family is in a state of shock over the passing of our beloved friend, Malik Murray. Malik was the ultimate teammate who always put clients and colleagues first. A fiercely competitive, yet abundantly kind spirit–he inspired excellence in everyone who had the… pic.twitter.com/TwVLntNzi7
— Ariel Investments (@ArielInvests) April 19, 2025
Regarding his relationship, Malik Murray’s girlfriend, Liz, was known for her constant support throughout his career.
According to one of Malik’s friends, Kendall Gill, a former Illinois and Chicago Bulls player, Liz encouraged his professional growth and built a warm and friendly relationship with his family.
He described Malik and his girlfriend as very good companions of his family, saying:
He was a big part of my 60/40 workout and he’s a big part of the reason my children go to St. Ignatius,After my retirement from the NBA, I played basketball with Malik in different leagues, on the same team. He was a big part of my life, and he and his girlfriend, Liz, were great friends with my wife and me and my sons. This is just a very sad day for my family, for the Chicago basketball community, for St. Ignatius, for Ariel and for our 60/40 Club.
Despite her support, Liz remained out of the spotlight, standing by Malik Murray throughout his life and career.
Though he was well-known in the finance world, Malik never publicly shared details about their relationship.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before Ariel Investments, Murray spent eight years at Bank One Brokerage, where he became the lead broker for its European shift.
- Murray was deeply involved in DePaul University’s Board of Trustees, serving on the finance and investment committees and co-chairing the athletics committee.
