| Net Worth: | $2.8 Billion |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth: | December 29, 1937 - March 23, 2018 (80 years old) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Businessperson, Entrepreneur |
| Nationality: | United States of America |
What is H. Wayne Huizenga’s Net Worth?
H. Wayne Huizenga was an American businessman, entrepreneur, and professional sports team owner who had a net worth of $2.8 billion at the time of his death in 2018. He founded AutoNation in 1996, and it has since grown to become the biggest automotive dealer in the country and a Fortune 500 corporation. The Miami Dolphins of the NFL, the Florida Panthers of the NHL, and the Miami Marlins of the MLB were all professional sports franchises that were formerly owned by Wayne Huizenga.
Early Life
Harry Wayne Huizenga was born on 29 December 1937 in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He was raised in a devout Dutch Reformed Christian home in Chicago’s Dutch neighborhood. Before the family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during his sophomore year, he spent his formative years at Chicago Christian High School with his younger sister, Bonnie.
He later enrolled in Pine Crest School, where he participated in football and held the position of senior class treasurer. Following his graduation in 1956, he returned to Chicago and enrolled at Calvin College. After three semesters, he made the decision to leave school, and the following years were spent doing a variety of low-paying jobs.
Waste Management Inc.
In 1962, Huizenga relocated back to Fort Lauderdale and established the Southern Sanitation Service, a trash collection company. Huizenga built the company into a huge success over the following ten years, finally renaming it Waste Management Inc. By acquiring other smaller trash haulers, he expanded the business. He had developed Waste Management into one of the biggest waste-disposal businesses in the country by the 1980s. In 1984, he quit his job.
Hotels and Sports
He also started working in the hotel and resort industry. He owned several hotel chains by the 2000s. He sold Boca Resorts, which includes a number of well-known luxury hotels in Florida and Arizona, to the private equity company Blackstone in 2004 for $1.25 billion. After giving Patrick Swisher, the creator of Swisher Hygiene, and his wife Laura more than $8 million in 2010, he acquired a majority ownership in the company.
Huizenga had a keen interest in professional sports as well, and over the years he either owned or co-owned a number of teams. He brought ice hockey and baseball to South Florida. The Florida Marlins and the Florida Panthers were founded by him, and he served as their original owner. To make sure that his teams’ games were broadcast, he also purchased the cable television channel SportsChannel Florida.
Humanitarian Services and Accolades
Huizenga engaged in philanthropy in addition to his commercial activities. He provided financial support for Nova Southern University in Florida’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. He also made significant contributions to the private prep school Pine Crest School.
Huizenga got a lot of honors and awards over his career. The American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award was given to him in 1991.
In recognition of the numerous scholarships he had supported all around the state of Florida, the Horatio Alger Association designated him a Distinguished American in 1992.
He was recognized as the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005. He received the Norman Vincent Peale Award in 2008 in honor of his contributions to the Horatio Alger Association.
Personal Life
Huizenga married Joyce, whom he had first met in high school, in 1960. Before getting divorced in 1966, they had two kids: Scott and Wayne Jr. He got married to Martha, his second wife, in 1972. She had previously worked as a secretary and did some administrative duties in one of his companies.
Huizenga died of cancer at the age of 80 on 23 March 2018 in his Fort Lauderdale, Florida, home.
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