Derek Stevens is an American businessman born on September 17, 1967, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He grew up in a family with deep industrial roots; his family founded Cold Heading Company, a leading supplier of auto fasteners, in the early 1900s.

Stevens initially studied to be an engineer at the University of Michigan but shifted his focus to business after spending time in Ann Arbor. He eventually earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance from Wayne State University. His first job was working as a valet along the Detroit River, but a late-1980s trip to Las Vegas sparked a lifelong obsession with the city’s gaming culture.

• Founding Asset: Cold Heading Company (Family business founded in 1900s).
• Education: MBA in Finance from Wayne State University.
• Origins: Detroit riverfront valet turned multi-billion dollar casino owner.

Derek Stevens’ career is defined by his ambitious gamble to revitalize Downtown Las Vegas. After taking over as CEO of Cold Heading Company in the early 1990s, he began investing his personal profits into Las Vegas gaming stocks.

In 2008, he and his brother Greg purchased a 50% stake in the historic Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, eventually acquiring the rest. He followed this in 2011 with the purchase of Fitzgeralds, which he transformed into The D Las Vegas. His most significant project, the Circa Resort & Casino, opened in 2020 as the first new hotel-casino built from the ground up in Downtown Las Vegas in four decades.

• Role: Owner of Circa, The Golden Gate, and The D; CEO of Cold Heading Company.
• Sports Focus: Launched Circa Sports, featuring the world's largest sportsbook.