B arry Sternlicht is an American billionaire investor and a titan of the real estate and hospitality industries. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, a private investment firm with a global portfolio and one of the world's largest real estate investors. He is perhaps best known to the public as the founder of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

In the early 1990s, Sternlicht's firm acquired a struggling hotel group and used it as a platform to build a hospitality empire. He created and launched the iconic "W" hotel brand, pioneering the concept of the boutique lifestyle hotel. He also acquired major brands like Sheraton and Westin. He left Starwood Hotels in 2005 to focus on his private investment firm, Starwood Capital. Through his firm, he continues to be a major force in global real estate, investing in everything from hotels and office buildings to residential properties. He also launched the eco-luxury 1 Hotels and Baccarat Hotels brands.