Have you ever wondered how much money the person taking charge of the Miami Dolphins has? We’re talking about Stephen Ross, a major participant in the world of significant wealth and even greater business deals. Miami Dolphins’ owner, Stephen Ross recently made waves for exploring the sale of the stake in the team.

Soon after the NFL revised its rule, allowing the private equity firm to own up to 10 % of an NFL team. The real estate magnate, Ross reportedly evaluated this new rule by talking to the private equity firm Ares Management and billionaire Joe Tsai about selling a minority stake in the Dolphins. However, he isn’t restricted to sports and has worked on a variety of projects. He has become a worldwide dealmaker, with real estate investments, a game-changing investment by the Dolphins, and ownership of a premium fitness business. But how did he accumulate such massive wealth?

How much is the owner of the Miami Dolphins worth?

Stephen Ross’ name sticks out among the wealthiest NFL owners. As per Forbes, his net worth is a cool $17 B as of August 2024. He ranks 7th among the Richest U.S. Sports Team Owners in the Forbes 2024 list.  Interestingly, he is not just a proud owner of the Dolphins which allegedly generated $673 million in revenue last year in 2023 itself.

Allegedly, earlier this year, the business tycoon declined an offer of $10 billion for ownership of the team, Hard Rock Stadium, and the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. He claimed that he intended to stay with the team in his family. And since the Detroit, Michigan native purchased the Miami Dolphins in 2009 for $1.1 billion, he reportedly made it the league’s eighth most valuable team.  Reportedly, in October, the Dolphins were valued at $7.1 billion. Now that’s what we call a game-winning move!

Ross is currently 84 and received his master’s degree in laws in taxation in 1966 from the New York University School of Law. Subsequently, he served as a tax attorney, guiding his clients to navigate legal issues related to taxes at Coopers & Lybrand in Detroit. And, then he worked with an investment banking company Bear Stearns and Laird Inc. in New York City in 1968. But, striving to do something big, 4 years later in 1972, he founded a global real estate development company, Related Companies as an affordable housing developer.

Impressively, a few years later, he became a real estate billionaire. He established or purchased over $60 billion worth of properties worldwide, from California to Abu Dhabi to London. Since then, he continued to make his name in the real state world, and the Deutsche Bank Center and Hudson Yards Redevelopment are other major notable projects. 3 months back in, a US real estate developer,  launched his new real estate firm, Related Ross, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Allegedly,  Ross’ Related is constructing two additional mega-developments, The 78 in Chicago and Related Santa Clara in California, which will be comparable in scale to Hudson Yards. Clearly, his hard work and never-give-up mindset made him one of the wealthiest people in the US.

How did Stephen Ross make his money?

In addition to amassing money in real estate and sports, the chairman of Related Companies regulates the fitness brands brand Equinox Fitness, and SoulCycle. In addition to this, he also owns a fast-casual restaurant chain. Allegedly, Ross started the real estate firm, Related in 1972 with $10,000 that he borrowed from his mom.

During an interview with CNN, Ross, 84, revealed his early struggles.  Stephen stated that he was even sacked from his first job in a securities brokerage firm,  Laird in New York. So, he decided to serve for an investment banking company,  Bear Stearns, but it also did not work out. Seemingly, fate had different plans for him.

“I had no money … I didn’t think anybody would be interested in hiring me, and I didn’t want to go through that process again,” Ross revealed.

Then, with money borrowed from his mother, the Miami Dolphins owner started developing his real estate company, and he has since become America’s wealthiest person, placing 44th on Forbes’ 400 Richest People in America list.