Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Steve Witkoff

How Steve Witkoff built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate developer, investor, and founder of the Witkoff Group. He transitioned from a real estate attorney to a prominent property developer in New York and Miami. Since 2025, Witkoff has also served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for Peace Missions.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1983: Began Working at Dreyer & Traub

After graduating from law school in 1983, Steve Witkoff started working at the New York City real estate law firm Dreyer & Traub, where Donald Trump was one of his clients.

1985: Co-founded Stellar Management

In 1985, Steve Witkoff co-founded Stellar Management with Larry Gluck, shifting from law to real estate ownership and management.

1986: Practiced at Rosenman & Colin through 1986

Steve Witkoff practiced real estate law at the New York City law firm Rosenman & Colin through 1986.

1995: Expanded into lower Manhattan

In 1995, Steve Witkoff expanded his real estate ventures into lower Manhattan, purchasing several inexpensive office buildings.

1996: Secured financing for the purchase of 33 Maiden Lane

In 1996, Steve Witkoff secured financing from Credit Suisse First Boston for the purchase of 33 Maiden Lane, a 27-story tower.

1997: Founded the Witkoff Group

In 1997, Steve Witkoff left Stellar Management and founded the Witkoff Group, expanding into residential construction and land rehabilitation.

October 1998: Witkoff Group Operated 11 Million Square Feet

By October 1998, the Witkoff Group operated 11 million square feet of commercial and retail real estate.

2013: Purchased the Park Lane Hotel and Land in Tribeca

In 2013, Steve Witkoff and Harry Macklowe purchased the Park Lane Hotel. Witkoff and Fisher Brothers also purchased land in Tribeca to build 111 Murray Street.

2019: Witkoff Group Owned About 50 Properties

As of 2019, the Witkoff Group owned approximately 50 properties in the United States and internationally.

March 2020: Construction Stopped on The Drew

In March 2020, construction stopped on The Drew (Fontainebleau Las Vegas) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2020: Member of Great American Economic Revival Industry Group

In April 2020, Steve Witkoff was a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group, created to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 2021: Koch Real Estate Investments Purchased the Fontainebleau Las Vegas Property

In February 2021, Koch Real Estate Investments purchased the Fontainebleau Las Vegas property.

December 2023: Hotel opened under the original name

The Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel opened in December 2023, under its original name.

2023: Helped revive the One High Line Condominium Project

In 2023, Steve Witkoff helped revive the troubled One High Line condominium project in Manhattan, completing its transition to new ownership and development. The Witkoff Group also closed on a record-breaking loan for the redevelopment of the Shore Club Private Collection in Miami Beach.

July 2024: Gave Speech at Republican National Convention

In July 2024, Steve Witkoff gave a speech on night four of the Republican National Convention.

November 9, 2024: Chosen as Co-Chair of Presidential Inaugural Committee

On November 9, 2024, Steve Witkoff was chosen as co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Trump's upcoming second presidency.

November 12, 2024: Selected as Special Envoy to the Middle East

On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he had selected Steve Witkoff to be his Special Envoy to the Middle East.

November 2024: Reported as Smart, Personable, and Talented Negotiator

In November 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that peers in the real estate world describe Steve Witkoff as smart, personable, and a talented negotiator.

2024: Backed Expansion of Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art and Appointed to Board

In 2024, Steve Witkoff backed a $25 million expansion of Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art. He was also appointed to the museum’s board of trustees that year.

January 2025: Played Key Role in Negotiating Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas

In January 2025, Steve Witkoff played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. Brett McGurk and Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani were also involved in the negotiations.

January 29, 2025: Entry into Gaza to Oversee Ceasefire

On January 29, 2025, Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel and made a rare entry by an American official into Gaza to personally oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

February 11, 2025: Sent to Moscow for Prisoner Swap Negotiations

On February 11, 2025, Donald Trump sent Steve Witkoff to Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and negotiated a prisoner swap.

February 16, 2025: Witkoff rejects concerns about peace negotiations

On February 16, 2025, Steve Witkoff rejected concerns that Ukraine and Europe would be excluded from any future peace negotiations regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

March 2, 2025: Israeli Government Stopped Entry of Goods

On March 2, 2025, the Israeli government stopped the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, acting upon a proposal Steve Witkoff had originally presented.

March 3, 2025: Existence of "Witkoff-plan" was not confirmed by Washington

On March 3, 2025, the existence of a "Witkoff-plan" had not been confirmed by Washington.

March 2025: Main Channel of Communication to Russia

By March 2025, Steve Witkoff had become the main channel of communication between the Trump administration and the Russian presidency.

March 21, 2025: Witkoff discusses negotiations in podcast

On March 21, 2025, Steve Witkoff stated in a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson that the main issue in negotiations was the status of the Donbas, Crimea, Lugansk, and two other regions, where he claimed the Russian-speaking populations voted in referendums to be under Russian rule.

March 23, 2025: Witkoff blamed Hamas for renewed fighting

On March 23, 2025, Steve Witkoff blamed Hamas for renewed fighting in Gaza, stating that they had the opportunity to demilitarize.

April 12, 2025: Led High-Level Meetings in Oman

On April 12, 2025, Steve Witkoff led the first round of high-level meetings in Oman with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

April 2025: Meeting with Israeli Officials in Paris

In April 2025, Steve Witkoff had an unannounced meeting in Paris with two Israeli officials ahead of the US-led nuclear talks with Iran.

April 2025: Witkoff meets with Putin in Moscow

In April 2025, Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, relying on Kremlin-provided translators, a decision that drew criticism for deviating from standard diplomatic protocol.

May 2025: Net Worth Estimated by Forbes

As of May 2025, Forbes estimated Steve Witkoff's net worth at US$2 billion.

June 2025: Diplomatic Talks Suspended

Following the June 2025 Israeli strikes in Iran, diplomatic talks about nuclear energy between US and Iran were indefinitely suspended.

July 3, 2025: Appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions

On July 3, 2025, Steve Witkoff was appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions, expanding his role in geopolitical negotiations.

July 2025: Sold a Property on Miami Beach’s Waterfront

In July 2025, Steve Witkoff sold a property on Miami Beach’s waterfront for more than double its purchase price. He also partnered with Len Blavatnik and Barry Sternlicht on a stalled Miami Beach project.

August 1, 2025: Visit to GHS Distribution Center in Gaza

On August 1, 2025, Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the GHS distribution center in Gaza.

August 15, 2025: Alaska summit takes place

On August 15, 2025, the Alaska summit took place, marked by symbolic pageantry rather than substantive progress, with critics arguing that Witkoff's role compromised the talks by sidelining diplomatic expertise.

August 2025: Witkoff's talks with Putin lead to diplomatic confusion

In early August 2025, during another round of talks with Putin in Moscow, Steve Witkoff reportedly misinterpreted Putin's remarks, leading President Trump to pause new sanctions and extend an invitation to Putin for a summit in Alaska.

August 17, 2025: Witkoff claims Putin promised non-aggression pledge

On August 17, 2025, Steve Witkoff claimed that Putin had promised to enshrine a non-aggression pledge in Russia’s constitution during the Alaska summit, but his statements were dismissed as naïve and misguided.

October 2025: Worked to help push negotiations that led to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas

In October 2025, during Trump's second term, Steve Witkoff worked to help push negotiations that led to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.