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 the founder of the Witkoff Group. Since 2025, he has served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for peace missions. Witkoff has also served as a de facto envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1985: Co-founding Stellar Management

In 1985, Steven Witkoff co-founded Stellar Management with Larry Gluck, gradually transitioning from practicing law to owning and managing real estate.

1986: Meeting Donald Trump

In 1986, Steven Witkoff met Donald Trump through work at Dreyer & Traub, where Trump was a client. This meeting later evolved into a business relationship and personal friendship.

1995: Expansion into Lower Manhattan

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

1996: Purchase of the Daily News Building

In 1996, Steven Witkoff and Rubin Schron purchased the Daily News Building for $138 million, expanding Witkoff's real estate portfolio.

1996: Financing for 33 Maiden Lane

In 1996, Steven Witkoff secured financing from Credit Suisse First Boston for the purchase of 33 Maiden Lane.

1997: Founding the Witkoff Group

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

October 1998: Cancelled IPO and Dissolved Partnership

In October 1998, a planned $2 billion IPO of Steven Witkoff's company was canceled, and he and Larry Gluck dissolved their partnership.

2013: Purchase of Park Lane Hotel

In 2013, Steven Witkoff and Harry Macklowe purchased the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan for $660 million. That year, Witkoff and Fisher Brothers also purchased land in Tribeca, Manhattan to build a residential tower.

2019: Witkoff Group's Property Ownership

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

April 2020: Member of Economic Revival Industry Group

In April 2020, Steven Witkoff served as a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group, created by Donald Trump to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 2021: Sale of Fontainebleau Las Vegas

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

December 2023: Fontainebleau Las Vegas Hotel Opening

In December 2023, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel opened under its original name.

2023: Revival of One High Line Project

In 2023, Steven Witkoff helped revive the troubled One High Line condominium project in Manhattan. Also in 2023, the Witkoff Group and Monroe Capital closed on a loan for the redevelopment of the Shore Club Private Collection in Miami Beach.

July 2024: Speech at Republican National Convention

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

November 9, 2024: Co-chair of Presidential Inaugural Committee

On November 9, 2024, Steven Witkoff was chosen to be co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Donald Trump's second presidency, along with Kelly Loeffler.

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

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

November 2024: Reputation in the Real Estate World

In November 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Steven Witkoff was described by peers in the real-estate world as smart, personable, and a talented negotiator with a common touch.

December 2024: Negotiations for Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange

In December 2024, before Trump formally took office, Steven Witkoff worked to help push negotiations that led to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.

January 2025: Negotiating Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

In January 2025, Steven Witkoff played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, along with Brett McGurk and Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

January 29, 2025: Entry into Gaza to Oversee Ceasefire

On January 29, 2025, Steven 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: Meeting with Vladimir Putin

On February 11, 2025, Steven Witkoff met with President Putin in Moscow and negotiated a prisoner swap, leading to the release of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel in exchange for Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik. Witkoff claimed he developed a 'friendship and relationship' with Putin.

February 16, 2025: Witkoff rejected concerns about Ukraine peace negotiations

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

March 2025: De Facto Envoy to Vladimir Putin

By March 2025, Steven Witkoff had become the main channel of communication between the Trump administration and Russian president Vladimir Putin. His lack of formal diplomatic training and breach of protocol raised concerns.

March 21, 2025: Witkoff discusses negotiation issues in Ukraine

On March 21, 2025, in a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson, Steve Witkoff discussed the issues in negotiations surrounding the annexation of four Ukrainian regions by Russia, mentioning the referendums held there.

April 12, 2025: High-Level Meetings in Oman

On April 12, 2025, the first round of high level-meetings was held in Oman, led by Steven Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

April 2025: Witkoff meets with Putin in Moscow

In April 2025, Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow without bringing his own interpreter, which was considered a departure from standard diplomatic protocol.

April 2025: Unannounced Meeting with Israeli Officials

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

July 3, 2025: Appointment as Special Envoy for Peace Missions

On July 3, 2025, Steven Witkoff was appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions.

July 2025: Sale of Miami Beach Property

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

August 15, 2025: Alaska Summit took place

On August 15, 2025, the Alaska summit occurred, but it was criticized for being more about symbolic gestures than making substantive progress, with commentators questioning the use of a real estate executive instead of trained diplomats.

August 2025: Witkoff's Moscow talks and Misinterpretation of Putin

In early August 2025, Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow for talks with Putin, during which he reportedly misinterpreted Putin's remarks, leading to a pause in sanctions and an invitation for a summit in Alaska.

August 17, 2025: Witkoff's Claim About Putin's Non-Aggression Pledge

On August 17, 2025, Steve Witkoff claimed that Putin promised to enshrine a non-aggression pledge in Russia's constitution during the Alaska summit. However, these statements were dismissed as naive given Russia's history.

October 2025: Negotiations for Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange

In October 2025, Steven Witkoff worked to help push negotiations that led to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.

November 19, 2025: Report of Witkoff's drafted U.S. peace plan with Russian envoy

On November 19, 2025, it was reported that Steve Witkoff drafted a 28-point U.S. peace plan with a Russian envoy, which included significant Ukrainian concessions and raised concerns about potential war profiteering and unauthorized diplomacy.

November 25, 2025: Bloomberg publishes transcript of phone call between Witkoff and Ushakov

On November 25, 2025, Bloomberg published a transcript of a phone call on October 14, 2025, between Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, revealing Witkoff advising Ushakov on negotiating with President Trump, leading to condemnation and calls for Witkoff's dismissal.

2025: Appointment as Special Envoy

In 2025, Steven Witkoff began serving as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for peace missions. He also acted as a de facto envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2025.

2025: Secret Meeting with Reza Pahlavi

In 2025, Steven Witkoff held a high-level secret meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, to discuss the 2025-2026 Iranian protests. This marked the first contact between the Trump administration and the Iranian opposition since the protests escalated.

January 2026: Message from Iranian Foreign Minister

In mid-January 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly sent a personal message to Steven Witkoff stating that Iran had canceled the planned execution of 800 anti-regime protesters.

2026: Secret Meeting with Reza Pahlavi

In 2026, Steven Witkoff held a high-level secret meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, to discuss the 2025-2026 Iranian protests. This marked the first contact between the Trump administration and the Iranian opposition since the protests escalated.