Early Life
Barry Stuart Sternlicht was born on November 27, 1960, in New York City. He grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, the middle child of three siblings. His father, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, instilled strong values of resilience and perseverance. Sternlicht's mother was a biology teacher and stockbroker. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1982 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1986.
Rise to Success
After graduating from Harvard, Sternlicht joined JMB Realty. However, he was laid off during the early 1990s recession. In 1991, he co-founded Starwood Capital Group with Bob Faith, initially focusing on acquiring apartment buildings. Sternlicht's strategic vision led to significant acquisitions, including Westin Hotels & Resorts in 1994 and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts in 1997, which helped Starwood become a leading hospitality company. He is credited with launching the W Hotels brand and the Westin Heavenly Bed, innovative concepts that redefined luxury hospitality.
Key Business Strategies
Sternlicht's approach involves opportunistic investing, shifting between asset classes and geographies based on risk-reward dynamics. He has demonstrated expertise in capital markets, guiding multiple IPOs. Under his leadership, Starwood Capital has structured deals totaling more than $260 billion in asset value since inception. Sternlicht has also utilized SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) to expand his investment portfolio.
Philanthropy
Sternlicht is actively involved in philanthropy, supporting various causes. He and his then-wife, Mimi, funded a $1 million grant to the Harvard Stem Cell Institute to support diabetes research. He has also supported education reform, environmental causes, and Jewish advocacy. In 2024, he stopped donations to Brown University after a disagreement over the university's handling of protests.
