J. Wayne Weaver is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire co-founder of the Nine West Group (former) and the first owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL). Born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1935, his career is rooted in retail and sales. His wife, Delores Barr Weaver, worked at his mother's dress shop where they met, marrying in 1955.

Weaver worked his way up the corporate ladder at the St. Louis-based clothing company, Brown Group, Inc. In 1978, he founded his own shoe corporation, successfully selling it in the 1990s. His career is defined by his deep expertise in retail management, high-volume sales, and his massive commitment to philanthropy and the Jacksonville community.

• Nine West Group (Former Co-founder): The core wealth generator, a major women's shoe retail corporation (assets now tied to Shoe Carnival and Nine West).
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Former Owner): The NFL expansion team he brought to Jacksonville in 1993. Sold for $760 million in 2012.
• Philanthropy: He and his wife are major philanthropists, honored for their passion for wanting to change the world (St. Johns Riverkeeper, etc.).
• Retail Strategy: His success is built on scaling shoe retail chains (e.g., Shoe Carnival).

J. Wayne Weaver's strategic genius was two-fold. Retail: He successfully founded and sold his own shoe corporation in the 1990s (tied to the Nine West Group and Shoe Carnival assets), securing his financial base. Sports: He led the ownership group that won the rights to an NFL expansion team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in 1993. His decision ensured that Jacksonville became an NFL city.

He served as the team's owner until 2011, when he announced the sale of the Jaguars to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan for $760 million. He and his wife were inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars in their final game as owners. His structural contribution is tied to the economic and civic stabilization of Jacksonville, Florida, and the development of the city's sports identity.