Stephen M. Ross is the CEO and Chairman of Related Ross, Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Related Companies and Chairman and Managing General Partner of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. Ross first invested in the Miami Dolphins in February 2008 and assumed the responsibilities of managing general partner of both the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium in 2009. The role is the culmination of one of his long-held dreams — Ross grew up in South Florida and the Dolphins have been a lifetime passion for him.

Stephen M. Ross is the CEO and Chairman of Related Ross, Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Related Companies and Chairman and Managing General Partner of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.

In 1972, Ross formed Related Companies, which has grown into one of the most prominent privately owned real estate firms in the United States. Known for developing the neighborhood-defining Hudson Yards in Manhattan, the company was recently named one of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World by Fast Company Magazine and boasts more than $60 billion in assets owned or under development across the United States. In 2024, Ross founded and became Chief Executive of Related Ross, which has already become the largest commercial-property owner in downtown West Palm Beach. Focused on continued development and inclusive economic growth across South Florida, Related Ross has attracted a new generation of leaders across finance and technology to The Gold Coast and elicited renewed interest and investment in the region.

Ross first invested in the Miami Dolphins in February 2008 and assumed the responsibilities of managing general partner of both the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium in 2009. The role is the culmination of one of his long-held dreams — Ross grew up in South Florida and the Dolphins have been a lifetime passion for him.

Throughout the Dolphins organization, Ross' ethos of building a first-class team on and off the field is etched deep. His more than $1 billion of private investment in Hard Rock Stadium and its surrounding properties – most notably to modernize the stadium from 2015-17 – has transformed the iconic venue into a global entertainment destination that showcases the best Miami has to offer and attracts a talent and event lineup that is unparalleled in professional sports. As a result of Ross' vision and investment, Hard Rock Stadium secured events such as Super Bowl LIV – which coincided with the 100th season of the NFL – as well as the 2021 and 2026 College Football Playoff National Championships, the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, 2026 FIFA World Cup, major global concert tours, international soccer matches and a host of world-class events over the past decade.

With football, Ross has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to provide coaches, players and support staff the resources necessary to build a winning team that will compete for championships. He invested $135 million into the state-of-the-art Baptist Health Training Complex, which opened in July 2021. In the annual NFLPA Player Team Report Cards survey, Ross has received the highest ownership grade among all NFL team owners each of the past two years and the Dolphins were ranked first among all 32 teams in both 2024 and 2025, which scores the player experience in a variety of categories. As a result of Ross' investment, the Dolphins received an A-or-higher rating in all 11 categories each year, including first overall in weight room, training room and training staff, food/cafeteria and team travel. The team finished second among all teams in the inaugural survey in 2023. Ross has also invested in the players' personal and professional development off the field, creating and funding the Dolphins Business Combine — a three-day event which allows players to meet with business leaders across a variety of industries and receive training on topics like personal finance, real estate and investments — since 2017.

In 2016, Ross named Chris Grier as general manager and in 2019 gave him full control of football operations. Under Grier's leadership, the team delivered four consecutive winning seasons from 2020-23, marking a first for the franchise in two decades (2000-03). In 2022, Ross selected Mike McDaniel as the team's 11th head coach, who at the time had not received a head coach interview request from another team. Ross identified McDaniel's ingenuity, authentic leadership and innovative thinking as notable traits for a head coach, and in his first two years with the franchise, McDaniel led the team to the playoffs, something Miami had not done in more than 20 years.

Ross has broadened his sports and entertainment portfolio considerably since assuming primary ownership of the Dolphins in 2009, developing what is widely considered one of the most dynamic global operating enterprises in sports and entertainment.

In 2012, Ross established RSE Ventures, a multi-national sports, entertainment and technology investment firm for which he serves as Chairman. That same year, Ross founded global soccer media company Relevent through RSE Ventures. Initially focused on live events, Relevent successfully orchestrated the first-ever El Clásico hosted in North America. The 2017 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid stands as the highest-revenue-grossing soccer match in U.S. history.

Shortly thereafter, Relevent began transitioning its business from event promotion to commercial rights representation. In the years since, it has since grown into the leading and most influential privately-owned commercial partner in soccer worldwide, working with leagues, governing bodies, and other properties to sell media, sponsorship and licensing rights. In 2025, Relevent won a landmark mandate to represent the UEFA men's club competitions — including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League — in the sale of their global media and sponsorship rights for the 2027-2033 cycle. The company's other market-leading partnerships include LALIGA North America, a 20-year joint venture with LALIGA for North and Central America, a 17-year partnership with Bundesliga for the Americas, the Premier League Summer Series event platform in the United States and a media rights, content and marketing partnership with the EFL across the Americas.

Ross also expanded his South Florida sports portfolio beyond the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, adding the Miami Open tennis tournament and the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix to his growing list of sports and entertainment properties. In 2017, when Miami Open organizers began to explore leaving the tournament's longtime home in Key Biscayne, Florida, Ross stepped in to propose hosting the tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Two years later, the Miami Open debuted in its new home in Miami Gardens, where Ross had spearheaded and funded the construction of a custom tennis complex that is now considered one of the best in professional tennis in terms of guest experience and player amenities. The tournament, which is one of the sport's most prestigious outside of the four Grand Slams, has consistently delivered record attendance and revenue in the years since.

In April 2021, Ross became the Chairman and Owner of the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. As one of the few sports properties with true global appeal — rivaling the likes of the Olympics and World Cup in terms of consumer interest worldwide — Formula 1 represented a significant opportunity for South Florida to draw widespread attention from and become culturally relevant to a massive international sports audience. Ross and Managing Partner of the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel worked with specialist designers to create a racetrack that provides great racing and unique fan experiences that are reflective of the diverse and dynamic nature of Miami, with Hard Rock Stadium sitting at the heart of the circuit – made possible as a result of Ross' sole ownership of the venue and surrounding property, as well as his private investment to build the FIA Grade One track. The inaugural race was named the Best New Event of 2022 by the Sports Business Journal and the organization was named Promoter of the Year by Formula 1 after just the third edition of the event, while delivering an estimated economic impact of more than $1 billion to the local area. Thanks to Ross' efforts, the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix has cemented itself as America's premier Formula 1 race and a marquee event at the intersection of sports and culture, with a new extended contract through 2041, making it the longest agreement in the sport.

Following these successes, Ross has taken further steps to realize his ambitions of transforming South Florida into a leading global sports hub. He facilitated the sale of a 13% stake in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix to Ares Management funds and Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg in December 2024, with the raise intended to fuel continued investment into his diverse South Florida-based sports and entertainment portfolio. Ross also played a central role in securing Miami-Dade as a host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026, with the region's matches set to take place at Hard Rock Stadium. The event will showcase South Florida on a global scale and is expected to generate approximately $1.5 billion in economic impact for the community.

Deeply committed to supporting and uniting the South Florida community, Ross routinely leverages the platforms of the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis tournament to make a lasting positive impact in the region. Under his stewardship, the Dolphins have raised nearly $90 million for local cancer research through the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which is now the largest fundraiser in the NFL. In June 2020, Ross and the Miami Dolphins Foundation announced a year-long Food Relief Program with a $3 million investment and an additional $1 million from the Lennar Foundation. The initiative provided 1,000 meals each day from local minority-owned restaurants to churches, community groups and those in need during the pandemic. Through this program, the Dolphins' Community Restaurant Program was established, which continues to operate for numerous stadium and community events, along with the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, allowing local restaurants to showcase on a global stage.

Furthermore, Ross has used his platform to harness the unifying power of sport to advance race relations across the country through the establishment of the nonprofit Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE). RISE was recognized in 2017 by ESPN's Humanitarian Awards with the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award, which celebrates people and organizations who have taken an innovative approach to help the disadvantaged through the power of sports. This also connects to Ross' vision of the Dolphins' FOOTBALL UNITES™ program to effectuate positive social change. Under his leadership, the Dolphins organization actively embraces the diversity and intersections that make up South Florida, working with groups to improve relationships and foster understanding. In February 2020, the Miami Dolphins were honored by the Fritz Pollard Alliance with the Paul J. Tagliabue Award for their leadership in advancing diversity. Ross was among Sports Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity and Inclusive Hiring honorees in March 2021.

In May 2013, Ross pledged to give more than half of his estate to philanthropic causes and charitable organizations, including South Florida-based institutions. The commitment was made through the Giving Pledge, a long-term global initiative that aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally. He is also the largest single donor to the University of Michigan supporting the Ross School of Business, critical athletic facilities, scholarships, career development programs and faculty recruitment.

Over the years, Ross has received numerous honors for his business, civic and philanthropic activities. In August 2019, Ross was inducted into the National Football Foundation Leadership Hall of Fame. The prestigious award recognizes the country's most influential individuals who have ascended to the highest levels of success and exhibited the critical leadership qualities that transcend ordinary enterprises. He also received the Jackie Robinson Foundation ROBIE Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to promoting equal opportunity and inclusion.

Ross graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and from Wayne State University Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. He later received a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. In 2004, the University of Michigan renamed its business school the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and in 2011, the school awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at its commencement.