Stephen J. Cloobeck
{{Short description|American businessman}}
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| expiry = 3 May 2019
| date = 3 April 2019
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Stephen Cloobeck
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|10|26}}
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| education = Brandeis University (BS)
| occupation = Businessman
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children = 3
}}
Stephen J. Cloobeck (born October 26, 1961) is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts.
Early life
In 1983, Cloobeck graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Psychobiology.{{Cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=31157839&privcapId=6497221&previousCapId=286798&previousTitle=MGM%20MIRAGE |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119094145/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=31157839&privcapId=6497221&previousCapId=286798&previousTitle=MGM+MIRAGE |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |title=Executive Profile Stephen J. Cloobeck Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts Holdings, LLC |accessdate=October 4, 2012}}
Business activity
In April 2007, Cloobeck acquired the publicly traded company Sunterra Corporation and converted it into Diamond Resorts International.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thebrandusa.com/board-of-directors/eContent.asp?pg=Stephen%20J.%20Cloobeck&content=20&cat=12 |title=Executive Leadership & Staff|publisher=The Brand USA}}{{Cite web |url=http://travel-industry.uptake.com/blog/2012/01/13/undercover-boss-with-diamond-resorts-ceo-cloobeck |title=Undercover Boss Features Cloobeck of Diamond Resorts International and Brand USA |publisher=Discoveramerica.com |access-date=October 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012000637/http://travel-industry.uptake.com/blog/2012/01/13/undercover-boss-with-diamond-resorts-ceo-cloobeck/ |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} He is also the chairman of the board of the US Corporation for Travel Promotion.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidethegate.com/2011/10/chairman-of-the-corporation-for-travel-promotion-introduced-president-barack-obama-at-bellagio-fundraiser/ |title=Chairman of the Corporation for Travel Promotion Introduced President Barack Obama at Bellagio Fundraiser |work=Timeshare News |accessdate=October 4, 2012}} Cloobeck stepped down as chairman and chief executive officer of Diamond Resorts International when the company was purchased by Apollo Global Management, LLC in June 2016.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/apollo-global-nears-deal-to-buy-diamond-resorts-1467202412 |title=Apollo Global to Buy Diamond Resorts for $2.2 Billion |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=June 29, 2016 |accessdate=June 29, 2016}}
Charitable activity
Cloobeck supports charities and civic organizations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation,{{cite web | url=https://www.pcf.org/va-partnership/coe/ | title=PCF - VA Centers of Excellence }} FasterCures,[https://milkeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/Conversations_with_MM_-_Stephen_J._Cloobeck_-_May_5%2C_2020.pdf] the Barack Obama Foundation,{{cite web | url=https://www.obama.org/about/contributors/ | title=Obama Foundation Donors }} the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention,{{cite web | url=https://www.marketscreener.com/insider/STEPHEN-CLOOBECK-A0H5SR/ | title=Stephen Cloobeck: Positions, Relations and Network - MarketScreener }} the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation,[https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/jygi0qi8wquyxe0htvsf.pdf] the Los Angeles Dream Center,{{cite web | url=https://www.klove.com/news/good-news/major-donation-blesses-los-angeles-dream-center-50630 | title=Major Donation Blesses Los Angeles Dream Center | Positive Encouraging K-LOVE }} and various educational initiatives. To assist Diamond Resorts employees dealing with unexpected life events, Cloobeck founded the Diamond Resorts International Team Member Crisis Fund (now the Diamond Resorts International Foundation) in 2012.{{cite web | url=https://stephenjcloobeck.com/stephen-j-cloobeck-donates-250000-to-los-angeles-dream-center/ | title=Stephen J. Cloobeck Donates $250,000 to Los Angeles Dream Center }}
Cloobeck was chairman of the board of the Nevada Cancer Institute.[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=31157839 Executive Profile Stephen J. Cloobeck]{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}[http://www.nevadacancerinstitute.org/about.aspx?id=82 Stephen J. Cloobeck] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716221255/http://www.nevadacancerinstitute.org/about.aspx?id=82 |date=July 16, 2010 }} Nevada Cancer Institute In 2012, he endowed the Stephen J. Cloobeck '83 Endowed Fellowship at the Brandeis University International Business School. He was a founder of the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Awareness.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
On October 2, 2017, it was reported that Cloobeck donated $400,000 to the Las Vegas shooting GoFundMe campaign setup by law enforcement for benefit of victims.{{cite news|url=https://www.wthr.com/article/gofundme-for-las-vegas-victims-surpasses-22m-mark-in-donations|title=GoFundMe for Las Vegas victims surpasses $2.2M mark in donations|last=WTHR Staff|date=October 2, 2017|publisher=13 WTHR Indianapolis|accessdate=3 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/03/us/iyw-las-vegas-gofundme-donations-trnd/index.html|title=GoFundMe for Las Vegas victims passes $3 million|last=Levenson|first=Eric|date=October 3, 2017|work=CNN|accessdate=4 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/10/03/las-vegas-businessman-gives-400000-to-aid-massacre-victims.html|title=Las Vegas businessman gives $400,000 to aid massacre victims|last=Martin|first=Ken|date=October 3, 2017|work=Fox Business|accessdate=4 October 2017}}
Politics
In 2007, Cloobeck publicly considered running for governor of Nevada, but instead purchased Sunterra.Stephen J. Cloobeck – Golden Nuggets For Diamond Resorts International, by Sharon B. Drechsler-Scott, RRP
In June 2011, he donated $100,000 to Majority PAC, a PAC oriented to promoting Democratic candidates to the U.S. Senate. The donation was sent as a check from "JHJM Nevada I, LLC," which made the source not readily evident.Readers: Help Us Discover a Secret Donor, by Michael Luo, New York Times, February 4, 2012
In December 2022, Cloobeck announced he had handed in his resignation to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He stated his reason for leaving the commission was due to not being able to work with Governor-elect Joe Lombardo.{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/stephen-cloobeck-quits-athletic-commission-slams-lombardo-2693881/|title=Stephen Cloobeck quits athletic commission, slams Lombardo|date=December 13, 2022}}
On Election Day, November 5, 2024, Cloobeck announced a run for governor of California as a Democrat.{{cite web | url=https://www.ocregister.com/2024/11/05/hospitality-businessman-stephen-cloobeck-launches-california-governor-bid/ | title=Hospitality businessman Stephen Cloobeck launches California governor bid | date=November 5, 2024 }}
Media
Cloobeck has appeared on the US edition of Undercover Boss numerous times. Cloobeck first appeared in Season 3, Episode 1 (initially aired January 15, 2012), as well as Season 3 Episode 2 (aired January 22, 2012). Furthermore, Cloobeck was featured in Season 4, Episodes 16 and 17, which initially aired May 10, 2013 and May 17, 2013, respectively .List of Undercover Boss (U.S. TV series) episodes{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/undercover_boss/|title=Undercover Boss - CBS.com|website=CBS|publisher=}}
On November 7, 2017, Cloobeck appeared on MSNBC and said he told Democratic leaders he would "cut your money off" if they criticize the wealthy, saying: "I've talked to [Senator Chuck] Schumer, I've talked to [Senator Ron] Wyden, I've talked to [Representative Nancy] Pelosi and I've said if you use the term billionaire again, I'm done."{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-dem-stephen-cloobeck-blasts-party-attack-rich-163213865.html |title=Wealthy Dem Stephen Cloobeck Blasts Party for Attack on Rich: 'Effing Wrong' (Video) |work=Yahoo! |last=Levine |first=Jon |date=7 November 2017 |accessdate=14 November 2017}}
In February 2021, Cloobeck appeared on KTNV to discuss Harry Reid International Airport, explaining "he wants to set up a nonprofit to help fund the rebranding effort to change the airport's name to Harry Reid International Airport, and he says he is pledging the first $1 million out of his foundation to get the ball rolling."{{cite web|url=https://www.ktnv.com/news/diamond-resorts-intl-founder-pledges-1m-from-foundation-to-help-las-vegas-airport-rebranding |title=Diamond Resorts Intl. founder pledges $1M from foundation to help Las Vegas airport rebranding |work=ktnv Las Vegas|last= Bartels |first=Joe \date=16 February 2021|date=February 17, 2021 }}
Personal life
Cloobeck was in a five month relationship with OnlyFans model Stefanie Gurzanski which began in July 2020. Following their breakup, Cloobeck sued Gurzanski for offenses including fraud, claiming that Gurzanski had misled him about her modeling career; in response, Gurzanski filed for a restraining order against Cloobeck.{{Cite magazine|last=Cohan|first=William D.|title=Private Jets, Mega-Mansions, and Broken Hearts: Inside the Messy, Litigious Breakup of an OnlyFans Model and Her Über-Wealthy Boyfriend|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/04/inside-the-messy-litigious-breakup-of-an-onlyfans-model-and-her-uber-wealthy-boyfriend|access-date=2021-04-21|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=April 2021|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|date=2021-03-13|title=Why a Millionaire Says He Wants Ex to Return Expensive Gifts|url=https://www.insideedition.com/millionaire-wants-ex-to-give-him-back-over-1m-in-gifts-after-he-says-he-learned-she-posed-on-65483|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Inside Edition|language=en-US}}
On May 5, 2025, The Daily Beast released a podcast featuring Cloobeck, during which he discussed his candidacy for governor of California. When asked about the controversy involving an OnlyFans model, Cloobeck characterized himself as "naive to the dating scene." In response to the host’s remark that the relationship "ended in an ugly legal battle," Cloobeck clarified, "Well, actually, it ended with an apology letter... and all gifts being returned." Cloobeck continued on to read the apology letter:
:"Dear Stephen, I am sorry for the emotional pain I caused you. I am sorry for hurting your heart. I am sorry I disappointed you and could not live up to who you thought I could be. Thank you for pushing me to be a better me. Thanks to you, I have learned that material things do not bring happiness. I hope you find better than me, and I hope for your happiness in the future."{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpRb5RWYjjY |title=Trump's Spanx Secrets and OnlyFans Meets Politics |work=The Daily Beast|date=5 May 2025}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferwang/2016/07/02/timeshare-resort-company-founder-undercover-boss-is-big-winner-in-apollos-latest-deal/|title=Timeshare Resort Company Founder, Undercover Boss, Is Big Winner In Apollo's Latest Deal|last=Wang|first=Jennifer|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-09-27}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cloobeck, Stephen J.}}
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:American business executives
Category:American businesspeople in real estate
Category:Brandeis University alumni