Ken Griffin & Stephen Ross Launch $10M Campaign to Bring CEOs to Miami

What Is the Ambition Accelerated Campaign?

On February 3, 2026, the Florida Council of 100 announced "Ambition Accelerated," a $10 million national campaign designed to recruit CEOs, founders, and investors to relocate their businesses to South Florida.

The campaign is backed by two of America's most prominent business leaders: Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, and Stephen Ross, founder and chairman of Related Companies.

This isn't a government initiative. It's not a chamber of commerce brochure. This is two billionaires who've already made the move putting their own money behind a coordinated effort to bring more business leaders to Florida.

The initiative targets business decision-makers in traditional corporate hubs — New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the greater Northeast. It features direct-comparison advertising highlighting Florida's business advantages and offers concierge-level relocation services through the Florida Council of 100.

Who Are Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross?

Ken Griffin is the founder and CEO of Citadel, one of the world's largest hedge funds. Griffin relocated Citadel's headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022, making him one of the highest-profile corporate executives to move operations to South Florida. His personal net worth exceeds $35 billion.

Stephen Ross is the founder and chairman of Related Companies, one of the largest private real estate firms in the United States. Related Companies developed Hudson Yards in New York City and has significant development interests throughout South Florida.

Both executives have firsthand experience with Florida's business climate. This isn't theoretical for them — they've lived it. That lends significant credibility to the campaign's message.

Why Are CEOs Moving to Florida?

The Ambition Accelerated campaign highlights several competitive advantages that make Florida attractive to business leaders:

Tax Benefits: Florida has no state income tax, compared to top marginal rates of 13.3% in California and 10.9% in New York. For high-earning executives and business owners, this represents substantial annual savings — often seven figures.

Regulatory Environment: Florida ranks as the second-lowest state for business regulation per capita in the United States, reducing compliance costs and administrative burden for companies.

Economic Growth: Florida consistently ranks at or near the top nationally for GDP growth, new business formations, and talent attraction metrics.

Quality of Life: South Florida offers year-round warm weather, international accessibility, cultural amenities, and luxury lifestyle options that appeal to executives and their families.

Business Infrastructure: Miami's emergence as a financial hub has created a critical mass of professional services, talent, and institutional presence that supports corporate operations.

How CEO Relocation Affects Miami's Real Estate Market

Here's the thing most people miss: when a corporate headquarters relocates to Miami, the impact on luxury real estate extends far beyond a single home purchase.

Each CEO relocation typically creates demand from:

• C-suite executives and senior leadership teams
• Key employees offered relocation packages
• Board members seeking local residences
• Investors, advisors, and family office personnel
• Extended professional networks

This multiplier effect concentrates demand at the highest end of the residential market, particularly for luxury condominiums in Miami's Brickell financial district, where proximity to corporate offices is a primary consideration.

Since 2020, corporate relocations from firms including Citadel, Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, and numerous hedge funds and private equity firms have driven sustained demand for luxury residences in Brickell.

Now imagine what happens when Griffin and Ross actively recruit more of their peers.

What This Means for Pre-Construction Buyers

The Ambition Accelerated campaign has significant implications for buyers considering pre-construction luxury condos in Miami:

Supply-Demand Dynamics: Pre-construction development timelines typically span three to four years from groundbreaking to delivery. Demand from corporate relocations can accelerate much faster than new supply can come online, creating favorable conditions for early buyers.

Pricing Advantage: Pre-construction purchases are priced based on current market conditions. If the campaign succeeds in accelerating executive relocations, buyers who purchase during the pre-construction phase may benefit from appreciation before their units are delivered.

Product Alignment: The luxury pre-construction developments currently underway in Brickell are designed specifically for the demographic the campaign targets — successful executives who expect world-class architecture, premium amenities, and prestigious addresses.

Which Miami Pre-Construction Projects Are Best Positioned?

Several luxury pre-construction developments in Miami's Brickell district are positioned to capture demand from corporate relocations:

619 Brickell by Nobu + Foster + Partners: The most anticipated luxury development in Miami. Located in the heart of Brickell on the last waterfront site. WIRE Miami offers Friends & Family access with pricing advantages of approximately 20-30% below anticipated public release pricing.

St. Regis Brickell Residences: The St. Regis brand brings its signature white-glove service and luxury hospitality to Brickell, appealing to executives familiar with the brand from business travel.

Mandarin Oriental Residences: Another globally recognized hospitality brand entering Miami's luxury residential market, offering branded living with five-star hotel services.

Dolce & Gabbana Residences: Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana's entry into Miami luxury real estate, bringing fashion-forward design to the residential market.

These developments share common characteristics that appeal to relocating executives: internationally recognized brands, premium locations in Brickell, world-class amenities, and architectural distinction.

What Is Miami's Brickell District?

Brickell is Miami's primary financial district, located south of downtown Miami along Biscayne Bay. For executives relocating from New York or Chicago, it's the neighborhood that feels most familiar — dense, walkable, urban, but with waterfront views and year-round warm weather.

The neighborhood has transformed over the past decade into a dense urban center featuring:

• Corporate headquarters and regional offices for major financial institutions
• Luxury high-rise condominiums
• High-end retail at Brickell City Centre
• Restaurants, hotels, and nightlife
• Proximity to Miami International Airport

Brickell's walkability, urban density, and concentration of professional services make it the preferred location for executives who are accustomed to urban environments.

Is Miami's Growth Sustainable?

I've been selling real estate in Miami for 21 years. I've seen cycles. I've seen booms and corrections. So I understand the skepticism when people ask if this is sustainable.

Here's my take: the structural factors supporting Miami's growth are durable competitive advantages, not temporary trends.

• Florida's tax policy isn't changing
• The regulatory environment isn't getting more burdensome
• The business infrastructure that's been built isn't going anywhere
• The quality of life advantages are permanent

The $10 million Ambition Accelerated campaign represents institutional conviction in Miami's long-term trajectory from two of America's most successful business leaders. They're not making a $10 million bet on a fad.

"I don't sell anything I wouldn't buy. That's why I personally purchased unit 2C25D at 619 Brickell for $3.5M. When Griffin and Ross are spending $10 million to bring more executives to Miami, I want to own the building those executives will want to live in."

The Bottom Line

Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross just signaled — loudly — that they believe Miami's corporate migration is accelerating, not slowing down. They're putting $10 million behind that conviction.

For pre-construction buyers, the math is straightforward: demand is about to increase, supply takes years to deliver, and prices during the Friends & Family phase are 20-30% below where they'll be at public launch.

The window is open. It won't be open forever.