[5][6] Harbinger was founded in 2001[7] by Philip Falcone and Harbert Management Corporation, a Birmingham, Alabama-based investment company that provided much of the original funding.

The company has also owned stakes in rival satellite operators SkyTerra and Terrestar, and British sugar producer Tate & Lyle.

[16][17] In March 2015, the lawsuit accusing Falcone and Harbinger Capital Partners of "misleading investors about the firm's stake in LightSquared Inc." was dismissed.

[citation needed] As of 2015, the top equity holdings of the firm were in the shares of the following companies: Spectrum Brands Inc, Harbinger Group Inc, North American Energy Partners Inc, and EXCO Resources Inc.[2] In December 2017, Harbinger Capital Partners filed a lawsuit against Apollo Global Management, alleging fraud over "pouring" "$2 billion into the ill-fated wireless venture formerly known as LightSquared Inc."[19] In August 2013, the firm reached a settlement with the SEC agreeing to pay more than $18 million and admit wrongdoing.

[21] July 4, 2014, the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission's Office of the Whistleblower issued a "Final Order" in matter number 2012 -81[22] ruling that rejected a claim made by an individual requesting a reward for assisting in the investigation.