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{{short description|American real estate developer (born 1935)}}
{{For|the Wisconsin politician|Louis Wolf}}
{{POV check|date=August 2016}}
 
{{Infobox person
| name = Lewis N. Wolff
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| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = United StatesAmerican▼
| residence = [[Westwood, Los Angeles]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Wisconsin, Madison|University of Wisconsin]] <small>([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])</small><br />[[Washington University in St. Louis]] <small>([[Master of Business Administration|M.B.A.]])</small>▼
▲| nationality = United States
▲| alma_mater = [[University of Wisconsin, Madison|University of Wisconsin]] <small>([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])</small><br />[[Washington University in St. Louis]] <small>([[Master of Business Administration|M.B.A.]])</small>
| occupation = Investor
| salary =
| spouse = Jean Wolff
| children = 3
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| website =
| imagesize =
| known for = Former owner and current chairman emeritus for the [[Oakland Athletics]]<br>Former owner of the [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
Owner of the [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| networth =
}}
'''Lewis N. Wolff''' (born December 13, 1935) is an [[United States|American]] [[real estate development|real estate developer]]. Wolff hashad been co-chairman of the boardBoard of Sunstone Investors, Inc. sincefrom October 2004 to April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/lewis-wolff/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312061727/http://www.forbes.com/profile/lewis-wolff/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2013|title=Lewis Wolff - Forbes|work=forbes.com|accessdateaccess-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> Wolff isowned alsosports recognizedfranchises. He was most well known for owninghis sportsownership franchises,of servingthe currently[[Oakland Athletics]] and as the co-owner of the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] of [[Major League Soccer]]. He was most well known for his ownership of the [[Oakland Athletics]]. However, in November 2016, Wolff sold his 10% share<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/11/18/fisher-family-buys-oakland-athletics-from-wolf/#2d240f33213c |title=Fisher Family Buys Remaining Stake Of Oakland Athletics From Wolff |last=Ozanian |first=Mike |publisherwork=Forbes |date=November 18, 2016 |website=Forbes |access-date=February 11, 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113125330/https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/11/18/fisher-family-buys-oakland-athletics-from-wolf/#2d240f33213c |url-status=live }}</ref> in the [[Oakland Athletics]] to [[John J. Fisher]], and currently serves as the team's chairmanChairman emeritusEmeritus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lewwolff.weebly.com/oakland-as.html|title=Oakland A's|website=LEW WOLFF|access-date=2017-04-16|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306234808/https://lewwolff.weebly.com/oakland-as.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wolff is credited with the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown San Jose, California where he was the largest developer of offices, hotels, and parking for many years.
 
==Early life and education==
Lewis "Lew" Wolff was born on December 13, 1935<ref name=Bloomberg$1.8BHotelsales>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-06/oakland-a-s-owner-wolff-seeks-1-8-billion-return-on-hotel-deals.html Bloomberg: "Oakland A's Owner Wolff Seeks $1.8 Billion From Hotels as Sales Considered" By Nadja Brandt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114082239/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-06/oakland-a-s-owner-wolff-seeks-1-8-billion-return-on-hotel-deals.html |date=2015-01-14 }} Apr 6, 2011</ref> to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family<ref>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/61759/oakland-as-ready-for-their-first-jewish-heritage-game/ JWeekly: "Oakland A’s Ready for Their First Jewish Heritage Game" by Andy Altman-Ohr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728120532/http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/61759/oakland-as-ready-for-their-first-jewish-heritage-game/ |date=2013-07-28 }} May 11, 2012</ref> in [[St. Louis]] and was raised in the middle-class suburbs of [[University City, Missouri]].<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra>[http://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/article/A-s-NEW-ERA-LEWIS-WOLFF-A-fan-since-childhood-2689051.php#ixzz2Ogn2dscK San Francisco Gate: "A's NEW ERA / LEWIS WOLFF / A fan since childhood finally gets to own a team" by John Shea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618160550/http://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/article/A-s-NEW-ERA-LEWIS-WOLFF-A-fan-since-childhood-2689051.php#ixzz2Ogn2dscK |date=2013-06-18 }} March 31, 2005</ref> Wolff graduated from the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> where he was a member of the [[Pi Lambda Phi]] fraternity,<ref>2011 Pi Lambda Phi Membership Guide</ref> and a fraternity brother of former [[MLB]] Commissioner [[Bud Selig]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/sports/baseball/athletics-owner-see-no-there-in-oakland.html?_r=0 |title= Relocation of A’sA's Has All the Plans but No Permit |author= Tyler Kepner |publisherwork= [[The New York Times]] |date= September 22, 2012 |access-date= March 29, 2017 |archive-date= March 28, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170328200926/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/sports/baseball/athletics-owner-see-no-there-in-oakland.html?_r=0 |url-status= live }}</ref> and US Senator [[Herb Kohl]]. In 1961, he earned aan MBA from the [[Olin Business School]] at [[Washington University in St. Louis]].<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /><ref name=MLBcom>[http://mlb.mlb.com/oak/team/exec_bios/wolff_lewis.jsp MLB.com: "Lewis Wolff - Owner and Managing Partner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024154/http://mlb.mlb.com/oak/team/exec_bios/wolff_lewis.jsp |date=2016-03-04 }} retrieved March 26, 2013</ref>
 
==Career==
In 1958, Wolff took a job as a real estate appraiser in St. Louis.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> In 1961, his company sent him to Los Angeles to open a regional office<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> and in 1963, he co-founded a real estate consulting firm.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> In the 1960s, he was very successful developing the booming San DiegoJose market and earned a solid reputation in the industry.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> In the 1970s, he accepted a position with [[20th Century Fox]] tasked with managing its worldwide real estate investments.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra /> Wolff's approach - which he would successfully apply throughout his career - was to find partners willing to fund the majority of the investment andthen take a more passive role, which would allow Wolff to directly manage the investment himself.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra />
 
In 1994, Wolff founded Maritz, Wolff & Co with [[Philip Maritz]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]].<ref name="MW&C history">{{cite web | url=http://www.maritzwolff.com/corporate_history.html | title=Corporate profile: History | publisher=Maritz, Wolff & Co. | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-21 |archive-date=2007-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021131247/http://maritzwolff.com/corporate_history.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The company owned interest in eighteen hotel and resort properties around the world, including the [[Fairmont San Jose Hotel]], [[the Fairmont San Francisco]], the [[Carlyle Hotel]] in New York, the [[Four Seasons Hotel]] Nevis, the [[Four Seasons Hotel Toronto]], and the [[Park Hyatt]] Sydney.<ref name=Bloomberg$1.8BHotelsales /><ref name="MW&C portfolio">{{cite web | url=http://www.maritzwolff.com/portfolio.html | title=Portfolio | publisher=Maritz, Wolff & Co. | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-21 |archive-date=2007-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021131059/http://maritzwolff.com/portfolio.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011 Wolff and his partner, Philip Maritz, orchestrated the $800 million sale of five hotels, including The Carlyle and the Rosewood Management Company to New World, a Hong Kong-based real estate and hotel company.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}
 
Wolff has a long history of sports franchise ownership. In the past, he has been a co-owner of the [[St. Louis Blues]] of the [[National Hockey League]] and the [[Golden State Warriors]] of the [[National Basketball Association]].<ref name="MW&C profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.maritzwolff.com/exec_wolff.html | title=Executive profile: Lewis N. Wolff | publisher=Maritz, Wolff & Co. | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-21 |archive-date=2007-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130110430/http://www.maritzwolff.com/exec_wolff.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 1, 2005, Wolff and an ownership group led by [[Gap Inc.|The Gap]] heir, [[John J. Fisher]], purchased the [[Oakland Athletics]] baseball team for $180 million from [[Stephen Schott]] and [[Ken Hofmann]].<ref name=Bloomberg$1.8BHotelsales /><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-09/the-oakland-a-s-don-t-belong-in-oakland.html Bloomberg: "Why The Oakland A’s Don’t Belong in Oakland" By Jonathan Mahler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109051100/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-09/the-oakland-a-s-don-t-belong-in-oakland.html |date=2012-11-09}} Oct 9, 2012</ref><ref name="Oakland As bio">{{cite web | url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/team/exec_bios/wolff_lewis.jsp | title=Lewis Wolff | publisher=[[Oakland Athletics]] | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-21 |archive-date=2007-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107165135/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/team/exec_bios/wolff_lewis.jsp |url-status=live}}</ref> Wolff's investment gave him a 10% ownership interest.<ref name=SanFranGateAsNewEra/> In 2006, the A's ownership group purchased an option to revive the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] franchise of [[Major League Soccer]].<ref name="SF Chronicle Quakes option">{{cite news | url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/05/25/SOCCER.TMP | title=A's gain rights to revive Quakes | work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | author=Michelle Smith | date=May 25, 2006 | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-22 | deadurlurl-status=yesdead | archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060612211654/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2006%2F05%2F25%2FSOCCER.TMP | archivedatearchive-date=June 12, 2006 | df= }}</ref> At the [[2007 MLS All Star Game]], it was announced that Wolff had exercised the option, and the Earthquakes began play during the 2008 MLS season.<ref name="usa today">{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2007-07-18-earthquakes-san-jose_N.htm | title=Earthquakes return to San Jose in 2008 | work=[[USA Today]] | accessdateaccess-date=2007-09-22 |date=2007-07-18 |archive-date=2008-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316151104/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2007-07-18-earthquakes-san-jose_N.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
OAKLAND A’S
== Philanthropy ==▼
Under Wolff's ownership, the [[Oakland Athletics]] were community-minded. In 2011, Sony Pictures complied with Wolff's wishes in staging the motion picture premiere of ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'' in Oakland, including a charity component that raised $370,000 for the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland and Stand Up To Cancer. Lew is also an active participant in the A's Home Run Readers program.<ref name="Executive Bio">{{Cite web|title = Executive Bio|url = http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/team/executive_bio.jsp?loc=wolff|website = Oakland Athletics|access-date = 2016-02-03}}</ref>▼
 
Wolff was the Managing Partner of the Oakland A’s from 2005 -2015. Wolff and his partner, John Fisher invested $100 million and assumed $80 million in debt to acquire the team. During Wolff’s tenure, the team reached the play-offs 40% of the time, (Wolff credits Billy Beane with the team’s performance), never had a capital call and returned $58,400,000 of the initial $100 million investment.
The ''San Jose Mercury-News'' ranked Wolff first in its annual listing of the Bay Area's 25 Most Powerful Sports Figures in both 2006 and 2007. In September, 2008, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group also presented Wolff with its prestigious "Community Cornerstone Award," given to "a Silicon Valley leader who has displayed a lifetime of impeccable ethics, business achievement and community engagement."<ref name="Executive Bio"/>▼
 
▲== Philanthropy ==
▲Under Wolff's ownership, the [[Oakland Athletics]] were community-minded. In 2011, Sony Pictures complied with Wolff's wishes in staging the motion picture premiere of ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'' in Oakland, including a charity component that raised $370,000 for the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland and Stand Up To Cancer. LewWolff is also an active participant in the A's Home Run Readers program.<ref name="Executive Bio">{{Cite web|title = Executive Bio|url = http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/team/executive_bio.jsp?loc=wolff|website = Oakland Athletics|access-date = 2016-02-03|archive-date = 2016-02-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204051114/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/team/executive_bio.jsp?loc=wolff|url-status = live}}</ref>
 
▲The ''San Jose Mercury-News'' ranked Wolff first in its annual listing of the Bay Area's 25 Most Powerful Sports Figures in both 2006 and 2007. In September, 2008, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group also presented Wolff with its prestigious "Community Cornerstone Award," given to "a Silicon Valley leader who has displayed a lifetime of impeccable ethics, business achievement and community engagement."<ref name="Executive Bio"/> Wolff's Family Foundation supports numerous causes with emphasis on [[Stand Up to Cancer|Stand-Up to Cancer]], [[KIPP|KIPP Charter schools]], [[Planned Parenthood]], [[Yavneh Day School (Los Gatos, California)|Yavneh Day School]], Los Gatos, California. The most recent activity is a personal campaign to research and address the impact of [[Narcissistic personality disorder|Narcissistic Personality Disorder]] (NPD) in the field of family law and children of divorce.
==Criticism==
Wolff had been actively pursuing a new stadium for the [[A's]] for a decade. His initial attempts to relocate took place in 2006 when he sought to move the team to Fremont. After Fremont fell through, Wolff began advocating a move to a new ballpark in San Jose. However, the [[San Francisco Giants]] own the territorial rights to San Jose, and the two teams appeared to be at an impasse. In the past, some fans have called for Wolff to sell the team.<ref>{{cite web | last = Gammon | first = Robert | title = Lew Wolff and John Fisher Should Sell the A’s | work = East Bay Express | date = May 8, 2012 | url = http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2012/05/08/wolff-and-fisher-should-sell-the-as | accessdate = May 8, 2012 | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120511123252/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2012/05/08/wolff-and-fisher-should-sell-the-as | archivedate = May 11, 2012 | df = }}</ref> He was also criticized for covering almost all of the upper deck of [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]] with a tarp, eliminating the use of the upper deck with the exception of the "Value Deck" sections, just behind home plate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1361071-oakland-athletics-should-owner-lew-wolff-remove-3rd-deck-tarps-for-playoffs|title=Oakland Athletics: Should Owner Lew Wolff Remove 3rd-Deck Tarps for Playoffs?|last=Houser|first=Nick|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=2017-04-16|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
== Stadium efforts ==
WolffIn has2015, beenWolff quotedclaimed as sayingthat the A's are "looking to stay in Oakland." In... that same San Jose Mercury News article, he is quoted as saying "We have not been looking at venues in other places in the Bay Area," he said. "And we are not planning to look."<ref>{{Cite web|title = A's co-owner Wolff not interested in sharing Coliseum site with Raiders|url = http://www.mercurynews.com/athletics/ci_28355420/co-owner-wolff-not-interested-sharing-coliseum-site|website = www.mercurynews.com|date=21 June 2015 |access-date = 2016-02-03|archive-date=2022-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714004207/https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/06/21/as-co-owner-wolff-not-interested-in-sharing-coliseum-site-with-raiders/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, the A's signed a 10-year lease to stay in the O.coOakland Coliseum.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A's lease settled after Lew Wolff accepts Oakland's changes|url = http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-lease-settled-Lew-Wolff-accepts-most-5638870.php|website =San Francisco SFGateChronicle|access-date = 2016-02-03|archive-date=2016-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215084630/http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-lease-settled-Lew-Wolff-accepts-most-5638870.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, the A's invested $10 million in new video boards at the Coliseum as part of the lease agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A's upgrading Coliseum with new video boards|url = http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb-news/4635103-oakland-athletics-as-coliseum-major-league-baseball-video-boards-daktronics-led-technology|website = Sporting News|access-date = 2016-02-03}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
Wolff is married to Jean Wolff and has three children and four grandchildren. They live in the [[Westwood, Los Angeles|Westwood]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.<ref name=MLBcom />
 
==References==▼
{{Reflist}}▼
 
==External links==
*[http://www.wolffurban.com/ Wolff Urban website]
*[http://www.MaritzWolff.com Maritz Wolff website]
 
▲==References==
▲{{Reflist}}
 
{{Oakland Athletics owners}}
{{San Jose Earthquakes}}
{{MLS owner navbox}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolff, Lewis}}
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[[Category:San Jose Earthquakes]]
[[Category:American hoteliers]]
[[Category:Jewish American philanthropists]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni]]
[[Category:Olin Business School (Washington University) alumni]]
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[[Category:Major League Soccer executives]]
[[Category:American soccer chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from St. Louis]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:People from Westwood, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Jewish American sports executives and administrators]]
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