Dan Gilbert

Birthdate: January 17, 1962
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
High School: Southfield-Lathrup HS (Detroit)
Colleges: Michigan State University (1984)
Year Inducted: 2021

Dan Gilbert is chairman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, acquiring the NBA franchise in 2005. Under his leadership, the Cavs have won six Central Division championships, five Eastern Conference titles and the NBA Championship in 2016 – Cleveland’s first major professional sports championship in 52 years. 

The franchise has numerous off-the-court accomplishments, including local and national recognition for business operational excellence and community impact. Gilbert’s Cleveland sports investments and leadership also include the Cleveland Charge (the Cavaliers’ NBA G League affiliate), the Cavs Legion GC (an NBA 2K League affiliate), and the Cleveland Monsters (the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets). 

A highly successful businessman, investor, and philanthropist, Gilbert is founder and chairman of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), as well as the Rock Family of Companies, a portfolio of technology businesses and real estate investments. To date, the Rock Family of Companies have invested more than $2 billion in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. 

Gilbert established two Neurofibromatosis research clinics at the Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, D.C. and at the Dana Children’s Hospital at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also serves on the boards of the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation. 

In September 2016, he donated $5 million to Wayne State University Law School, from which he received his juris doctorate, and in October of that year, he also donated millions more to a renovation project for the Breslin Center renovation project at Michigan State University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. 

Dan and his wife, Jennifer, have five children and their family has long supported the game of basketball at the highest level.