Ryan Smith (businessman)

S. Ryan Smith (born June 28, 1978) is an American billionaire businessman and chairman of Smith Entertainment Group. He is the executive chairman and co-founder of Qualtrics, an experience management company based in Provo, Utah. Smith is also owner of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL) in Salt Lake City, and co-owner of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) with sports investor David Blitzer.

Early life and education

Smith was born on June 28, 1978, in Eugene, Oregon. His father, Scott Smith, worked as a university professor and his mother, Nancy Smith Hill, holds a PhD in information systems. While he was attending Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business, he founded Qualtrics with his father, and his brother, Jared. During his junior year he dropped out of school to spend more time working on Qualtrics, though he returned to school and finished his degree in 2016.

Sports team ownership

Utah Jazz

On October 28, 2020, Smith bought a majority stake in the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from Gail Miller. The sale also included Delta Center, the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League, and management of the Salt Lake Bees. The sale was unanimously approved by the NBA on December 18, 2020.

Real Salt Lake

In January 2022, Smith and investor David Blitzer purchased Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) and America First Field, which included affiliate Real Monarchs and Zions Bank Stadium, from Dell Loy Hansen. The pair also reestablished the Utah Royals of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2023, with the original team becoming the Kansas City Current in 2020.

Utah Hockey Club

As early as 2022, Smith and his Smith Entertainment Group were heavily involved in discussions to land a National Hockey League (NHL) team in Salt Lake City, either via expansion or relocation. In January 2024, the Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) issued a formal request for the NHL to open an expansion process, stating they were "ready to welcome the NHL" to Salt Lake City. SEG officials also said that the team could play immediately at the Delta Center, and perhaps later in a new to-be-constructed arena in the Salt Lake City area.

On April 18, 2024, it was announced that Smith had purchased the assets (personnel, draft picks, roster) of the Arizona Coyotes from Alex Meruelo and would establish a new franchise in Salt Lake City.

Personal life

Smith lives in Provo, Utah, and is married with five children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent two years in Mexico as a missionary. In 2016, he was included in Fortune's "40 Under 40." As of September 2021, Forbes estimated Smith's net worth at $1.6 billion.

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