Stephen Ross spent the first years of his career getting fired from a Wall Street finance job. Today he chairs one of the largest private real estate firms in the country and owns an NFL franchise. That gap between where he started and where he ended up is what makes his story worth understanding.
Ross is best known as the founder of Related Companies, the firm behind Hudson Yards in Manhattan, and as the majority owner of the Miami Dolphins. His net worth is estimated in the $15–18 billion range as of 2026, built almost entirely through decades of real estate development rather than a single windfall or IPO. He has also become a significant figure in professional sports, owning stakes in the Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open alongside the Dolphins.
This guide walks through his early life, education, career milestones, business holdings, net worth, and philanthropy, based on verified public reporting.
Stephen Ross at a Glance
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Stephen Michael Ross |
| Date of Birth | May 10, 1940 |
| Age | 86 |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Michigan (BBA), Wayne State University (JD), NYU School of Law (LLM in Taxation) |
| Profession | Real estate developer, investor, sports team owner |
| Known For | Founding Related Companies, developing Hudson Yards, owning the Miami Dolphins. |
| Net Worth | Estimated $15–18 billion (2026) |
| Current Position(s) | Chairman, Related Companies; Chairman & CEO, Related Ross; Principal Owner, Miami Dolphins |
Early Life and Family
Ross was born and raised in Detroit in a Jewish family. He first attended Mumford High School in Detroit before finishing his secondary education at Miami Beach Senior High School. His uncle, businessman Max Fisher, became an important early influence and later financed part of Ross’s graduate education. Ross has publicly credited Fisher as one of the most significant role models in his life.
Education
Ross began college at the University of Florida before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1962. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 1965, then a Master of Laws in Taxation from NYU School of Law in 1966.
That tax law training turned out to be the foundation of his entire career. His early expertise in federal tax incentives for housing is what let him build a business helping investors shelter income through subsidised housing development — the exact skill set he used to launch Related.
Career Journey
Starting as a Tax Attorney
Ross began working as a tax attorney at Coopers & Lybrand in Detroit before moving to New York in 1968. He then worked in real estate finance and later in the corporate finance division of Bear Stearns.
Entering the Real Estate Industry
In 1972, after a falling-out with a superior at Bear Stearns, Ross was fired. Living on a $10,000 loan from his mother, he used his tax law background to structure deals for investors seeking to shelter income through federally subsidised affordable housing projects. He reportedly earned $150,000 in his first year working independently.
Founding Related Companies
That same year, Ross founded Related Housing Companies, which built thousands of subsidised low- and moderate-income apartments across the country. By the 1980s, the firm shifted toward higher-profile, market-rate development, eventually becoming Related Companies.
Expansion into Sports and Entertainment
Ross’s ambitions expanded well beyond real estate starting in the late 2000s, when he purchased the Miami Dolphins. In the years since, he has added sports and entertainment ventures including RSE Ventures, the Miami Grand Prix, and the Miami Open to his portfolio.
Related Companies
Company History
Founded in 1972, Related Companies is now headquartered at 30 Hudson Yards in New York City. Ross serves as non-executive chairman, with Jeff Blau as CEO.
Business Model
Related develops and manages mixed-use, residential, retail, and office properties, targeting what the company calls high-barrier-to-entry markets. It is the largest owner of luxury residential rental properties in the U.S., with more than 40,000 units in its portfolio.
Major Real Estate Projects
Related’s most recognised projects include the Deutsche Bank Centre (formerly Time Warner Centre) in Manhattan, CityPlace in West Palm Beach, The Grand in Los Angeles (designed by Frank Gehry), and Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side.
Global Expansion
The company now operates in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, D.C., South Florida, Abu Dhabi, and London, with a portfolio valued at roughly $60–70 billion and more than 4,000 employees.
Current Leadership Role
In 2024, Ross stepped back from day-to-day leadership at Related to focus on Related Ross, the Miami Dolphins, and Formula 1, while remaining non-executive chairman of the parent company.
Related Ross
Why Stephen Ross Founded Related Ross
Ross began acquiring property in South Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic after noticing a wave of people and businesses relocating there. He launched Related Ross in July 2024 as a standalone firm, serving as its chairman and CEO.
Focus on West Palm Beach
Related Ross is investing roughly $10 billion to develop about 8 million square feet of space across West Palm Beach, including office towers, condominiums, and hotel rooms on land Ross assembled over two decades. Its first completed project, One Flagler, opened in February 2025.
Vision for South Florida’s Growth
The firm’s stated goal is to turn West Palm Beach into a financial hub, positioning it as an alternative to established markets like New York and Miami for finance and professional-services firms relocating to Florida.
Hudson Yards Development
What Is Hudson Yards?
Hudson Yards is a 28-acre mixed-use development on Manhattan’s West Side, built over an active rail yard. It stands as one of the largest and most expensive private real estate projects in U.S. history, at close to a billion dollars per acre.
Stephen Ross’ Vision
Ross pursued the project for roughly a decade before construction began, negotiating land rights, financing, and city approvals to bring the development to life. It opened to the public in March 2019.
Economic and Urban Impact
The project transformed a previously underused stretch of Manhattan into a dense commercial and residential district, anchoring major corporate tenants and retail alongside luxury housing.
Why Hudson Yards Is a Landmark Project
Beyond its scale, Hudson Yards is often cited as a model — and a subject of debate — for large-scale private urban development done with significant public incentives and infrastructure coordination.
Stephen Ross Net Worth
Estimated Net Worth
Estimates for Ross’s net worth vary by source and by year, generally ranging between $15 billion and $18 billion as of 2026, placing him among the top real estate billionaires and NFL owners in the world.
Wealth Growth Over the Years
Forbes placed his net worth at roughly $10.1 billion in 2020. It has climbed since then, driven largely by the rising value of the Miami Dolphins and Related’s expanding real estate portfolio.
Main Sources of Income
His wealth comes primarily from his ownership stake in Related Companies, his majority stake in the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, and his interests in the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open.
Valuable Assets and Investments
In December 2024, Ross sold a 10% stake in the Dolphins to Ares Management and a 3% stake to Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, in a deal that valued the franchise at $8.1 billion — a transaction that also included stakes in the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open.
How Stephen Ross Made His Fortune
Real Estate Development
The bulk of Ross’s fortune traces back to decades of real estate development, starting with subsidised housing in the 1970s and scaling into major commercial and mixed-use projects.
Commercial Properties
Related’s commercial portfolio spans office towers, retail centres, and mixed-use complexes across major U.S. markets and international cities.
Luxury Residential Projects
Ross built one of the largest luxury residential rental portfolios in the country, developing tens of thousands of high-end apartment units.
Sports Investments
His purchase of the Miami Dolphins in 2008–2009, for a total deal value of $1.1 billion, added a second major pillar to his fortune as the franchise’s value multiplied over the following 15 years.
Private Equity and Other Ventures
Ross also holds stakes in fitness and lifestyle brands, media ventures, and sports-related businesses through RSE Ventures, adding diversified income streams outside of core real estate.
Business Empire
Real Estate Portfolio
Related’s holdings span residential, commercial, retail, and affordable housing across the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe.
Sports Businesses
Ross’s sports holdings include the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami International Autodrome, and stakes in the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open.
Entertainment Ventures
Through RSE Ventures, Ross has backed companies including the Drone Racing League, Thuzio, and marketing agency VaynerMedia.
Technology Investments
RSE’s portfolio also extends into media and technology ventures tied to sports and entertainment, reflecting Ross’s broader push beyond traditional real estate.
Fitness Brands and Other Holdings
Related is a major investor in Equinox Fitness and SoulCycle, along with several fast-casual restaurant brands.
Miami Dolphins Ownership
Becoming the Majority Owner
Ross bought 50% of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the surrounding land from Wayne Huizenga in February 2008 for $550 million. He closed on an additional 45% stake in January 2009, bringing the total deal to $1.1 billion and making him the team’s principal owner.
Hard Rock Stadium Redevelopment
After Florida lawmakers rejected public funding for stadium renovations, Ross spent roughly $500 million of his own money to modernise Hard Rock Stadium ahead of hosting Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
Investment in Team Facilities
Ross has continued to invest in Dolphins infrastructure, including bringing high-profile events like the Miami Open and Formula 1 to the stadium grounds.
Leadership Philosophy
Ross has taken a hands-on ownership role, including notable public stances such as casting the lone dissenting vote against the Oakland Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas in 2017. His ownership tenure has also included league discipline: in 2022, the NFL fined Ross $1.5 million and suspended him through mid-October over tampering violations tied to conversations with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
Launching the Event
Ross pursued a Formula 1 race in Miami for several years before securing it. The Miami Grand Prix debuted during the 2022 F1 season on a purpose-built circuit around Hard Rock Stadium, known as the Miami International Autodrome.
Economic Impact
The race has become a major annual draw for South Florida, bringing global attention and tourism spending to the region each spring.
Future Vision
The Autodrome holds exclusive rights to host the Miami Grand Prix through the 2041 season, giving Ross a long-term stake in Formula 1’s growth in the U.S. market.
Miami Open Tennis Tournament
Acquisition and Relocation
The Miami Open relocated to Hard Rock Stadium starting in 2019, tying the tournament into the same South Florida sports campus as the Dolphins and the Miami Grand Prix.
Tournament Growth
Hosting the event at Hard Rock Stadium gave organisers more space and modern facilities compared to the tournament’s previous home.
Business Significance
The tournament adds another recurring, globally televised event to Ross’s South Florida sports ecosystem, reinforcing the area as a hub for major sporting events.
Other Major Investments
RSE Ventures
Ross co-founded RSE Ventures in 2012 with Matt Higgins, former executive vice president of the New York Jets. The firm invests across sports, entertainment, media, marketing, and technology.
Relevent Sports
Relevent Sports Group, part of the RSE portfolio, focuses on international soccer events and media rights in the U.S. market.
Equinox
Related is a significant investor in Equinox Fitness, the upscale gym chain.
SoulCycle
Related also holds a stake in SoulCycle, the boutique indoor cycling brand.
Additional Strategic Investments
Ross’s broader portfolio includes fast-casual restaurant investments and various sports-media ventures through RSE.
Philanthropy and Charitable Work
University of Michigan Donations
Ross is the largest donor in University of Michigan history, with lifetime contributions exceeding $470 million. His giving has funded academic buildings, athletics facilities, and innovation initiatives.
Ross School of Business
In 2004, a $100 million gift led the university to rename its business school the Ross School of Business in his honour.
Community Development Initiatives
In 2020, Ross committed $63.5 million to the WRI Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities, bringing his total support for that program to $100 million, funding research and initiatives focused on urban resilience and mobility around the world.
Healthcare and Education Support
Ross serves as a trustee of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and has supported causes including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus.
Diversity and Social Impact
Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
Ross founded RISE in 2015 to combat racism and promote social justice within professional and college sports. The organisation has partnered with leagues including NASCAR, the PGA of America, and the USTA, and Ross has committed more than $30 million to its work.
Recognition for Diversity Efforts
In 2020, Ross and the Dolphins received the Paul Tagliabue Award for diversity, and Sports Business Journal recognised him the following year as a leader in inclusive hiring.
Awards and Recognition
Ross has received an ESPY Award from the University of Michigan for his philanthropy (2017), the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s ROBIE Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), and induction into the NFF/College Football Leadership Hall of Fame (2019). He was also named one of the most powerful figures in New York real estate by The New York Observer in 2009.
Personal Life
Ross has two children from his first marriage. He was previously married to jewellery designer Kara Ross; the couple divorced in 2021 after 18 years together, and he has two stepchildren from that marriage. He owns an oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, known as The Reef.
Leadership Style and Business Philosophy
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Ross has spoken publicly about turning his 1972 firing from Bear Stearns into the catalyst for founding Related, framing early setbacks as the foundation of his later success.
Investment Strategy
His approach has consistently favoured long-horizon, capital-intensive projects —subsidised housing, then luxury development, then a decade-long push to build Hudson Yards — over quick-turn deals.
Long-Term Vision
That same pattern shows up in Related Ross, where Ross spent roughly 20 years assembling land in West Palm Beach before launching the firm in 2024.
Challenges and Controversies
Business Challenges
Ross’s Hard Rock Stadium renovation was funded largely out of his own pocket after Florida lawmakers declined to approve public subsidies in 2013.
Public Criticism
Ross has faced public criticism over political fundraising activity, including a 2019 Trump campaign fundraiser that drew calls for boycotts of Equinox and SoulCycle, despite those companies stating they had no connection to the event. In 2022, the NFL disciplined Ross and the Dolphins organisation following an investigation into tampering violations involving Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
Key Lessons Learned
Across these episodes, Ross has generally maintained his ownership positions and business relationships, with his core real estate and sports holdings continuing to grow in value.
Legacy and Future Plans
Impact on Real Estate
Hudson Yards remains Ross’s signature project and a reference point for large-scale private urban development in the U.S.
Influence on Sports Business
His moves to bring Formula 1 and expanded tennis programming to South Florida have helped establish the region as a major hub for global sporting events.
Ongoing Projects
Related Ross’s $10 billion West Palm Beach buildout is his most active current project, alongside continued investment in Dolphins facilities and events.
Long-Term Legacy
Between his real estate portfolio, sports ownership, and philanthropic record — particularly at the University of Michigan — Ross has built a legacy that spans multiple industries rather than a single signature business.
Interesting Facts About Stephen Ross
- He was fired from Bear Stearns in 1972 before founding Related Companies the same year.
- His graduate education was financed by a loan from his uncle, businessman Max Fisher.
- Hudson Yards cost close to a billion dollars per acre to develop, making it one of the most expensive real estate projects in U.S. history.
- He cast the only “no” vote among NFL owners on the Raiders’ 2017 move to Las Vegas.
- The Miami Grand Prix circuit he built has broadcasting and hosting rights through the 2041 F1 season.
Conclusion
Stephen Ross’s path runs from a $10,000 loan from his mother to a real estate and sports portfolio worth tens of billions of dollars. Related Companies built his fortune, Hudson Yards defined his reputation as a developer, and the Miami Dolphins turned him into one of the most recognisable owners in professional sports. With Related Ross now underway in West Palm Beach, his next chapter is already taking shape in South Florida.
FAQs
Who is Stephen Ross?
Stephen Ross is an American real estate developer, philanthropist, and sports team owner. He founded Related Companies in 1972 and is the principal owner of the Miami Dolphins.
What is Stephen Ross’ net worth?
Estimates place his net worth between $15 billion and $18 billion as of 2026, depending on the source and how private real estate assets are valued.
How did Stephen Ross become a billionaire?
He built his fortune primarily through Related Companies, developing subsidised housing early in his career before moving into large-scale commercial and luxury real estate, including Hudson Yards.
What company does Stephen Ross own?
He is the founder and non-executive chairman of Related Companies, and chairman and CEO of Related Ross, a separate firm focused on South Florida.
What is Related Companies?
Related Companies is a private real estate development firm founded in 1972, known for projects including the Deutsche Bank Centre and Hudson Yards.
What is Related, Ross?
Related Ross is a real estate firm Ross launched in July 2024 to develop roughly $10 billion in projects across West Palm Beach, Florida.
Does Stephen Ross own the Miami Dolphins?
Yes. Ross became majority owner in 2008–2009 and has sold minority stakes since, including to Ares Management and Joe Tsai in a 2024 deal valuing the franchise at $8.1 billion.
What is Hudson Yards?
Hudson Yards is a 28-acre mixed-use development on Manhattan’s West Side, built by Related Companies and considered one of the largest private real estate projects in U.S. history.
What businesses has Stephen Ross invested in?
Beyond real estate and the Dolphins, he holds interests in the Miami Grand Prix, the Miami Open, Equinox, SoulCycle, and various sports and media ventures through RSE Ventures.
Is Stephen Ross married?
Ross divorced his second wife, Kara Ross, in 2021 after 18 years of marriage.
Does Stephen Ross have children?
He has two children from his first marriage and two stepchildren from his marriage to Kara Ross.
What philanthropic work is Stephen Ross known for?
He is the largest donor in University of Michigan history, funding the Ross School of Business and multiple campus initiatives, and he founded RISE to promote equality in sports.
What awards has Stephen Ross received?
His honours include an ESPY Award for philanthropy, the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s ROBIE Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame.
What is Stephen Ross doing now?
He is focused on RelatedCompanies’s West Palm Beach development, his ownership role with the Miami Dolphins, and expanding the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open.
