Stuart Sternberg: A New Chapter for the Rays

Stuart Sternberg is an American Wall Street investor best known as the principal shareholder and managing general partner of the Tampa Bay Rays, a Major League Baseball team. Born in 1959 in Brooklyn, New York, Sternberg began his career in the financial services industry, trading equity options at the American Stock Exchange. He became the Rays' principal owner in November 2005, leading a group that purchased the team for $200 million. Under Sternberg's leadership, the Rays transformed from a perennially losing expansion franchise into one of baseball's most consistently competitive teams. He championed a data-driven, analytics-focused approach to player development and team management, prioritizing innovation and operational efficiency over traditional spending. During his tenure, the Rays made the playoffs nine times, won four American League East division titles, and reached the World Series twice, capturing American League pennants in 2008 and 2020. In 2021, the team achieved a franchise-best 100 wins. Sternberg was widely credited with turning the Rays into a model franchise despite maintaining one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball. He also played a central role in efforts to secure a new ballpark for the team, committing to cover half the cost of a proposed facility in St. Petersburg, though those plans were disrupted by Hurricane Milton and other challenges. In July 2025, Sternberg and his partners agreed to sell the Rays for $1.7 billion to a group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski. Sternberg's 48% stake in the team was valued at $800 million. As his ownership concluded, he was honored by the organization and expressed gratitude to fans and the community, reflecting on the team's achievements and the legacy he leaves behind.

Patrick Zalupski is the Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (DFH), a prominent homebuilding company listed on the Nasdaq. He founded the company in December 2008 and has led its growth from a small operation closing 27 homes in Jacksonville, Florida, in its first year to a major national builder with operations in 23 markets across 10 states, closing over 35,100 homes since inception through September 2024. Under his leadership, DFH completed an initial public offering in January 2021, with Zalupski serving as Chairman of the Board since then. Zalupski is deeply involved in the company’s overall operations, management, and investment activities, including the origination, underwriting, and structuring of all investments. He also serves on the investment committee of DF Capital Management, LLC, which focuses on land bank and land development joint ventures, and on the board of directors for Jet Home Loans, LLC, DFH’s mortgage banking joint venture. He holds a finance degree and began his career as a financial auditor at FedEx Corporation’s Internal Audit Department in Memphis, Tennessee, before working in real estate sales and construction as Managing Partner of Bay Street Condominiums, LLC from 2006 to 2008. Zalupski is known for his significant ownership stake in DFH, retaining full control of the company’s Class B shares and maintaining a majority of voting power and economic interest. He has never taken money off the table since founding DFH, reinvesting all proceeds from capital raises back into the business. In February 2023, he was appointed to the University of Florida Board of Trustees, where he continues to serve. His leadership and capital allocation decisions have been central to DFH’s growth and operational success.