| Stephen J. Cloobeck | |
| Birth Date: | 26 October 1961 |
| Alma Mater: | Brandeis University |
| Occupation: | Businessman |
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.
In 1983, Cloobeck graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Psychobiology.[1]
In April 2007, Cloobeck acquired the publicly traded company Sunterra Corporation and converted it into Diamond Resorts International.[2] [3] He is also the chairman of the board of the US Corporation for Travel Promotion.[4] 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.[5]
Cloobeck supports charities and civic organizations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation,[6] FasterCures,[7] the Barack Obama Foundation,[8] the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Prevention,[9] the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation,[10] the Los Angeles Dream Center,[11] 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.[12]
Cloobeck was chairman of the board of the Nevada Cancer Institute.[13] [14] In 2012, he endowed the Stephen J. Cloobeck '83 Endowed Fellowship at the Brandeis University International Business School.[2] He was a founder of the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug Awareness.
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.[15] [16] [17]
In 2007, Cloobeck publicly considered running for governor of Nevada, but instead purchased Sunterra.[18]
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.[19]
On June 3, 2016, Cloobeck donated $1,000,000 to Priorities USA Action, a pro-Hillary Clinton PAC.
In December 2022, Cloobeck announced he had handed in his resignation to the Nevada athletic commission. He stated his reason for leaving the commission was due to not being able to work with Governor-elect Joe Lombardo.[20]
On Election Day, November 5, 2024, Cloobeck announced a run for governor of California.[21]
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 .[22] [23]
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."[24]
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."[25]