Ryan Smith (businessman)
{{short description|American businessman (born 1978)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ryan Smith
| image = Ryan Smith 2024 01.png
| caption = Smith in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|6|28}}
| birth_place = Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
| alma_mater = Brigham Young University (BS)
| title = Executive chairman, Qualtrics
| spouse = Ashley Smith
| children = 5
}}
S. Ryan Smith (born June 28, 1978) is an American billionaire businessman and chairman of Smith Entertainment Group. He is the executive chairman and co-founder of Qualtrics, an experience management company based in Provo, Utah.{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Ari |title=Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith made $153 million in Qualtrics IPO a day after his NBA team snagged first place |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/utah-jazz-owner-ryan-smith-leads-qualtrics-ipo-as-team-moves-to-first.html |website=CNBC |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128225114if_/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/utah-jazz-owner-ryan-smith-leads-qualtrics-ipo-as-team-moves-to-first.html |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |language=en |date=January 28, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Semerad |first1=Tony |last2=Larsen |first2=Andy |title=What you need to know about Ryan Smith, the new owner of the Utah Jazz |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/28/what-you-need-know-about/ |access-date=October 30, 2020 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028200906/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/10/28/what-you-need-know-about/ |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |language=en |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Konrad |first1=Alex |title=Utah Cloud Unicorn Qualtrics Files To Raise Up To $200M In IPO |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2018/10/19/utah-cloud-unicorn-qualtrics-files-to-raise-up-to-200m-in-ipo/ |website=Forbes |access-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611055815/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2018/10/19/utah-cloud-unicorn-qualtrics-files-to-raise-up-to-200m-in-ipo/ |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |language=en |date=October 19, 2018 |url-status=live}} Smith is also owner of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Salt Lake City. He was also a former co-owner of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS).
Early life and education
Smith was born in Eugene, Oregon.{{cite web |last1=Schoenfeld |first1=Bruce |title=Ryan Smith: Utah's Jazzmaster |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2021/06/07/Portfolio/Ryan-Smith.aspx |website=Sports Business Journal |date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=2 August 2023}} His father, Scott Smith, worked as a university professor and his mother, Nancy Smith Hill, holds a PhD in information systems.{{cite news |last1=Raymond |first1=Art |title=Qualtrics co-founder Ryan Smith honored as Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://www.deseret.com/2018/2/2/20639390/qualtrics-co-founder-ryan-smith-honored-as-entrepreneur-of-the-year#qualtrics-ceo-ryan-smith-the-mountainwest-capital-network-entrepreneur-of-the-yearintroduces-his-mother-nancy-smith-hill-to-bryan-schreier-right-at-the-little-america-hotel-in-salt-lake-city-on-friday-feb-2-2018 |access-date=October 31, 2020 |work=Deseret News |date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031221547if_/https://www.deseret.com/2018/2/2/20639390/qualtrics-co-founder-ryan-smith-honored-as-entrepreneur-of-the-year |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Lev-Ram |first1=Michal |title=A Unicorn Founder's Big Life Hack |url=https://fortune.com/longform/qualtrics-ryan-smith-40-under-40/ |website=Fortune |access-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014050022if_/https://fortune.com/longform/qualtrics-ryan-smith-40-under-40/ |archive-date=October 14, 2020 |language=en |url-status=live}} While he was attending Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business, he founded Qualtrics with his father, and his brother, Jared. During his junior year he dropped out of school to spend more time working on Qualtrics, though he returned to school and finished his degree in 2016.
Sports team ownership
=Utah Jazz=
On October 28, 2020, Smith bought a majority stake in the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from Gail Miller. The sale also included the Delta Center, the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League, and management of the Salt Lake Bees.{{cite press release|title=Gail Miller and Family Announce Agreement to Sell a Majority Interest in the Utah Jazz to Qualtrics Founder Ryan Smith|url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/gail-miller-and-family-announce-agreement-sell-majority-interest-utah-jazz-qualtrics-founder-0|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=UtahJazz.com|date=October 28, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204181024/https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/gail-miller-and-family-announce-agreement-sell-majority-interest-utah-jazz-qualtrics-founder-0|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Wojnarowski |first1=Adrian |title=Sources: Jazz being sold in $1.66B agreement |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30210088/utah-jazz-sold-ryan-smith-ending-millers-three-decade-run-majority-owners |website=ESPN.com |access-date=October 30, 2020 |author-link1=Adrian Wojnarowski |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028215704/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30210088/utah-jazz-sold-ryan-smith-ending-millers-three-decade-run-majority-owners |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |language=en |date=October 28, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Marc |author-link1=Marc Stein (reporter) |title=Utah Jazz to Sell Majority Stake to Tech Entrepreneur |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/sports/basketball/ryan-smith-jazz.html |access-date=October 31, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029014347/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/sports/basketball/ryan-smith-jazz.html |archive-date=October 29, 2020}} The sale was unanimously approved by the NBA on December 18, 2020.{{cite web |title=NBA approves sale of Jazz to Utah technology entrepreneur |url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-nba-baseball-adam-silver-68c2622d9b3b02669e75da9bb39fec94 |website=AP NEWS |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128223039if_/https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-nba-baseball-adam-silver-68c2622d9b3b02669e75da9bb39fec94 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |date=December 18, 2020 |url-status=live}}
=Utah Mammoth=
As early as 2022, Smith and his Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) discussed moving a National Hockey League (NHL) team to Salt Lake City, either via expansion or relocation.{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Derick |title=Utah sports mogul Ryan Smith submits bid to bring NHL to Salt Lake City |url=https://www.abc4.com/sports/utah-ryan-smith-submits-bid-to-bring-nhl-to-salt-lake-city/ |website=ABC4 |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619100248/https://www.abc4.com/sports/utah-ryan-smith-submits-bid-to-bring-nhl-to-salt-lake-city/ |url-status=live }} In January 2024, SEG issued a formal request for the NHL to open an expansion process, stating they were "ready to welcome the NHL" to Salt Lake City.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/utah-jazz-parent-company-initiates-nhl-expansion-process-1.2066996|title=Jazz's parent company initiates NHL expansion process|work=TSN|author=The Canadian Press|date=January 24, 2024|access-date=April 10, 2024|archive-date=June 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613172917/https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/utah-jazz-parent-company-initiates-nhl-expansion-process-1.2066996|url-status=live}} SEG officials also said that the team could play immediately at the Delta Center, and perhaps later in a new to-be-constructed arena in the Salt Lake City area.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/salt-lake-city-utah-group-formally-requests-nhl-to-initiate-expansion-team-process|title=Salt Lake City group formally requests NHL to initiate expansion process|work=NHL.com|first=Dan|last=Rosen|date=January 24, 2024|access-date=April 10, 2024|archive-date=April 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411083228/https://www.nhl.com/news/salt-lake-city-utah-group-formally-requests-nhl-to-initiate-expansion-team-process|url-status=live}} On April 18, 2024, the NHL granted a Utah-based expansion franchise to Smith. In lieu of an expansion draft, Smith purchased the Arizona Coyotes' hockey assets (personnel, draft picks, roster) from Alex Meruelo for $1.2 billion. Meruelo retained the Coyotes brand, allowing Smith to establish his new team. It operated under the interim name of "Utah Hockey Club" in the 2024-25 season{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Emily |title=NHL approves Coyotes sale, relocation to Salt Lake City |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39970381/nhl-approves-coyotes-sale-relocation-salt-lake-city |access-date=19 April 2024 |publisher=ESPN |date=18 April 2024 |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052852/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39970381/nhl-approves-coyotes-sale-relocation-salt-lake-city |url-status=live }} before revealing its permanent name, the Utah Mammoth.
=Real Salt Lake=
In January 2022, Smith and investor David Blitzer purchased Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) and America First Field, which included affiliate Real Monarchs and Zions Bank Stadium, from Dell Loy Hansen.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsl.com/news/david-blitzer-smith-entertainment-group-to-purchase-real-salt-lake |title=David Blitzer & Smith Entertainment Group to Purchase Real Salt Lake |author= |date=January 5, 2022 |website=rsl.com |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203140916/https://www.rsl.com/news/david-blitzer-smith-entertainment-group-to-purchase-real-salt-lake |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Ryan |date=January 6, 2022 |title=How the deal for Ryan Smith, David Blitzer to buy Real Salt Lake came together |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/6/22870914/how-deal-for-ryan-smith-david-blitzer-to-buy-real-salt-lake-came-together-dwyane-wade-mls-rsl |work=Deseret News |accessdate=March 2, 2022 |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303071531/https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/6/22870914/how-deal-for-ryan-smith-david-blitzer-to-buy-real-salt-lake-came-together-dwyane-wade-mls-rsl |url-status=live }} The pair also reestablished the Utah Royals of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2023, with the original team becoming the Kansas City Current in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Roger |title=Utah Royals FC to return to NWSL under David Blitzer and Ryan Smith as owners; club will begin playing in 2024 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/utah-royals-fc-to-return-to-nwsl-under-david-blitzer-and-ryan-smith-as-owners-club-will-begin-playing-in-2024/ |website=CBS Sports |date=March 12, 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023 |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730205741/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/utah-royals-fc-to-return-to-nwsl-under-david-blitzer-and-ryan-smith-as-owners-club-will-begin-playing-in-2024/ |url-status=live }} In April 2025, he sold his interest in Real Salt Lake, the Royals, and America First Field to Gail Miller.{{cite web |last1=Novy-Williams |first1=Eben |title=Miller Family Buying Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals From Blitzer |url=https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/gail-miller-buy-rsl-utah-royals-david-blitzer-1234848983/ |website=Sportico |access-date=April 20, 2025 |date=April 18, 2025}}
Personal life
Smith lives in Provo, Utah, and is married with five children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent two years in Mexico as a missionary.{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Carlos |title=Mormon Mad Men: Hold the Whiskey + Cigarettes |url=https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/mormon-mad-men-hold-the-whiskey-cigarettes/30106/ |website=OZY |access-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517181746if_/https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/mormon-mad-men-hold-the-whiskey-cigarettes/30106/ |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live}} In 2016, he was included in Fortune's "40 Under 40."{{cite web |title=Ryan Smith |url=https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2016/ryan-smith/ |website=Fortune |access-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425000241if_/http://fortune.com/40-under-40/ryan-smith-12/ |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |language=en |url-status=live}} According to Forbes, as of January 7, 2025, Smith's estimated net worth is US$2.2 billion, which places him in the top 1,500 richest individuals in the world.{{Cite magazine|title=Eduardo Saverin|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/ryan-smith/ |magazine=Forbes|access-date=January 7, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Utah Jazz}}
{{Utah Hockey Club}}
{{NHL owners}}
{{NBAOwners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Ryan}}
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:American billionaires
Category:American technology chief executives
Category:American technology company founders
Category:Businesspeople from Eugene, Oregon
Category:Businesspeople from Utah
Category:Latter Day Saints from Oregon
Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah
Category:Marriott School of Management alumni
Category:National Hockey League owners
Category:People from Provo, Utah