Dan Gilbert

Daniel Gilbert is an American billionaire businessman who founded Rocket Mortgage in 1985 and serves as founder and chairman of its parent company, Rocket Companies, the largest retail mortgage lender in the United States, as well as majority owner of the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilbert launched the firm, initially named Rock Financial, with $5,000 in capital as a mortgage brokerage before pioneering online lending processes that scaled it into a major player originating over $100 billion in mortgages annually by 2024. Rocket Companies went public in 2020 under his leadership, with Gilbert retaining majority control through ongoing shareholdings estimated at 54% following a 2025 asset division. In 2005, he acquired a majority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, overseeing the franchise's operations and facilities amid efforts to revitalize downtown Detroit via billions in investments through his Rock Ventures holding company. As of 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $27.8 billion, positioning him among the top 100 wealthiest individuals globally, derived primarily from Rocket's valuation and Cavaliers ownership.

Daniel Gilbert was born on January 17, 1962, in Detroit, Michigan, to a Jewish family. His father, Sam Gilbert, owned Sakesy's, a bar in Detroit, while his mother was Shirley Gilbert. Gilbert's grandfather operated a carwash in the city, reflecting a lineage tied to modest Detroit-area enterprises.