S teven Witkoff is a self-made American real estate developer and investor based in New York City. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Witkoff Group, a prominent privately held real estate firm. A lawyer by training, he began his real estate career in the 1980s, co-founding a firm to acquire and reposition apartment buildings in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood. He found great success in this niche and, in 1997, founded the Witkoff Group to pursue larger and more ambitious projects.

He has since built a reputation for developing high-profile residential, hospitality, and commercial properties in major U.S. markets, including New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles. Some of his notable projects include the luxury condominium conversion of the upper floors of the iconic Woolworth Building in downtown Manhattan and the development of several major hotels and resorts. He was also a close friend and business associate of former President Donald Trump. His career has been marked by both significant successes and the challenges of navigating volatile real estate cycles.