Stephen Cloobeck


Stephen J. Cloobeck is an American businessman and substantial donor to the Democratic Party. He is the founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts International.

Personal life

In 1983, he graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Psychobiology.

Business activity

In April 2007, Cloobeck acquired the publicly traded company Sunterra Corporation and converted it into Diamond Resorts International. He is also the chairman of the board of the US Corporation for Travel Promotion. 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.

Charitable and political activity

Cloobeck was chairman of the board of the 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. He has also worked with a number of other charitable and educational groups.
In 2007, Cloobeck publicly considered running for governor of Nevada, but instead purchased Sunterra.
In June 2011, 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.
On June 3, 2016, Cloobeck donated $1,000,000 to Priorities USA Action, a pro-Hillary Clinton PAC.
In January 2017, he explored a plan to run for governor in the state of Nevada, intending to seed his campaign with $5 million of his own money. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he was conducting polling exploring a bid. In April 2017, Cloobeck endorsed incumbent U.S. Senator Dean Heller for re-election.
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.

Media

Cloobeck has appeared on the US edition of Undercover Boss twice. Cloobeck first appeared in Season 3, Episode 1, and again in Season 4, Episode 4.
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 Chuck Schumer| Schumer, I've talked to Ron Wyden| Wyden, I've talked to Nancy Pelosi| Pelosi and I've said if you use the term billionaire again, I'm done."