History of Steve Witkoff in Timeline

Steven Charles Witkoff is an American lawyer and real estate investor. He is the founder and chairman of the Witkoff Group, a real estate development firm. Since 2025, he has 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

1940: Mother's census states her grandparents were born in the United States

In 1940, Steve Witkoff's mother's census stated that her grandparents were born in the United States, conflicting with some claims that his grandparents on both sides came to the United States from the Russian Empire.

March 15, 1957: Steven Witkoff's Birth

On March 15, 1957, Steven Charles Witkoff was born. He later became a real estate developer, investor, and the founder of the Witkoff Group.

Others born on this day/year

1980: B.A. in political science

In 1980, Steve Witkoff earned a B.A. in political science from Hofstra University.

1983: Graduation from Hofstra Law School

In 1983, Steve Witkoff graduated with a J.D. from Hofstra Law School.

1983: Started at Dreyer & Traub

In 1983, after graduating from law school, Steve Witkoff started working for the New York City real estate law firm Dreyer & Traub, where he became acquainted with Donald Trump.

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, initially purchasing inexpensive apartment buildings.

1986: Left Rosenman & Colin

Steve Witkoff worked at the New York City law firm Rosenman & Colin through 1986.

1995: Expansion into Lower Manhattan

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

1996: Financing for 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 Witkoff Group

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

October 1998: Canceled IPO and Dissolved Partnership

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

2011: Death of Son Andrew

In 2011, Steve Witkoff's 22-year-old son, Andrew, died of an OxyContin overdose at a sober living facility in California.

2013: Park Lane Hotel Purchase

In 2013, Steve Witkoff and Harry Macklowe purchased the Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South in Manhattan for $660 million.

2019: Witkoff Group's Property Ownership

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 on The Drew (Fontainebleau Las Vegas), a resort and casino project purchased by The Witkoff Group, was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada.

April 2020: Member of Great American Economic Revival Industry Group

In April 2020, during Donald Trump's presidency, Steve Witkoff became a member of the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group, established to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

February 2021: Sale of Fontainebleau Las Vegas

In February 2021, Koch Real Estate Investments acquired the Fontainebleau Las Vegas property from the Witkoff Group.

December 2023: Fontainebleau Las Vegas Hotel Opening

The Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel opened in December 2023 after Koch Real Estate Investments reinstated the original name and completed construction.

2023: Revival of One High Line Project

In 2023, Bloomberg reported that Steve Witkoff helped revive the One High Line condominium project in Manhattan, overseeing its transition to new ownership and development.

July 2024: Speech at Republican National Convention

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

September 15, 2024: Alleged Assassination Attempt on Trump

On September 15, 2024, while Steve Witkoff was golfing with Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump.

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

On November 9, 2024, Steve Witkoff was appointed as the co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for Donald Trump's second presidency, alongside Kelly Loeffler.

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

On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Steve Witkoff as his Special Envoy to the Middle East, despite Witkoff's lack of diplomatic experience.

November 2024: Report in The Wall Street Journal

In November 2024, The Wall Street Journal described Steve Witkoff as smart, personable, and a talented negotiator.

January 2025: Rejection of New Ceasefire Proposal

In January 2025, Israel proposed a new ceasefire plan, named the "Witkoff plan", which Hamas rejected as it differed from the original terms, as it involved an extension of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of captives, with Israel retaining the option of returning to war.

January 2025: Negotiating Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange

In January 2025, Steve Witkoff played a key role, along with Brett McGurk and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in negotiating a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, which led to a swap of 33 Hamas-held hostages for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and steps towards ending a 15-month war.

January 2025: Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange Negotiations

In January 2025, prior to formally taking office as special envoy, Steve Witkoff collaborated with President Joe Biden's team to facilitate negotiations leading to a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.

January 29, 2025: Entry into Gaza

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

February 11, 2025: Trip to Moscow and Prisoner Swap Negotiations

On February 11, 2025, Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow and met with President Vladimir Putin, negotiating a prisoner swap that led to the release of U.S. citizen Marc Fogel in exchange for Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik.

March 2, 2025: Israeli Government Action Based on Witkoff Proposal

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

March 3, 2025: Lack of Confirmation of 'Witkoff-plan'

As of March 3, 2025, Washington had not confirmed the existence of a "Witkoff-plan" related to the Gaza ceasefire.

March 2025: De Facto Envoy to Russia

By March 2025, Steve Witkoff became the Trump administration's de facto envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, serving as the main channel of communication between the two.

March 2025: Witkoff's Concerns About Middle East Destabilization

In March 2025, Steve Witkoff expressed concern that Israel's war in Gaza could destabilize Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He highlighted Egypt's high youth unemployment rate of 45% and its bankrupt state, emphasizing the country's need for substantial assistance.

March 2025: Witkoff on Netanyahu's Priorities

In March 2025, Steve Witkoff stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by renewing attacks on Gaza, was prioritizing the destruction of Hamas over the release of Israeli hostages.

March 2025: Witkoff on Syria's New Leader

In March 2025, Steve Witkoff suggested that Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, may have changed since his past association with Al-Qaeda.

March 21, 2025: Witkoff's Podcast Interview on Negotiations

On March 21, 2025, in a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson, Steve Witkoff discussed challenges in negotiations, citing the "so-called four regions: Donbas, Crimea, Lugansk...and there's two others". He claimed the populations in these Russian-speaking provinces wanted to be under Russian rule, referencing referendums that were largely condemned by the U.S., Ukraine, and the international community as a "sham".

March 23, 2025: Witkoff Blames Hamas for Renewed Fighting

On March 23, 2025, Steve Witkoff attributed renewed fighting in Gaza to Hamas, stating they had the opportunity to demilitarize and accept a bridging proposal for a ceasefire.

April 12, 2025: High Level-Meetings in Oman

On April 12, 2025, high level meetings were held in Oman, led by Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

April 2025: Unannounced Meeting and Nuclear Talks with Iran

In April 2025, Steve Witkoff held an unannounced meeting in Paris with Israeli officials ahead of US-led nuclear talks with Iran, and represented the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts.

April 2025: Witkoff Meets with Putin in Moscow

In April 2025, Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, relying on Kremlin-provided translators instead of bringing his own. This decision deviated from standard diplomatic protocol and raised concerns about potential language nuances being lost in translation, as noted by former U.S. ambassador Michael McFaul.

May 2025: Forbes Estimate of Net Worth

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

June 1, 2025: "Witkoff massacre"

On June 1, 2025, after the IDF killed at least 32 civilians at an aid center in Rafah, pro-Palestinian social media accounts referred to the incident as the "Witkoff massacre", because Witkoff had endorsed Israel's plan to take over aid delivery in Gaza.

June 2025: Suspension of Diplomatic Talks

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

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

On July 3, 2025, Steve Witkoff, while in office, was appointed Special Envoy for Peace Missions, adding to his involvement in key geopolitical negotiations beyond the Middle East.

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

On August 15, 2025, the Alaska summit took place, marked by symbolic pageantry rather than substantive progress. Steve Witkoff’s role was criticized as reinforcing a spectacle of false diplomacy. Commentators argued that entrusting these responsibilities to a real-estate executive undermined the talks and set a precedent for sidelining expertise in foreign policy negotiations.

August 2025: Witkoff's Moscow Talks and Misinterpretation

In early August 2025, Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Witkoff misinterpreted Putin’s remarks about a "peaceful withdrawal" as an offer to withdraw from regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. This misinterpretation led President Trump to pause new sanctions and extend an invitation to Putin for a summit in Alaska, drawing criticism that Putin was rewarded despite the diplomatic confusion.

August 17, 2025: Witkoff Claims Putin's Pledge

On August 17, 2025, Steve Witkoff claimed that Vladimir Putin had promised to enshrine a non-aggression pledge in Russia’s constitution during the Alaska summit. These statements were widely dismissed as naïve and dangerously misguided, given Russia’s history of using constitutional amendments to consolidate power and justify territorial expansion.

September 2025: Conflicts of Interest Allegations

In September 2025, questions arose regarding potential conflicts of interest, concerning Steve Witkoff's continued ownership in the Witkoff Group after becoming a special envoy, and his son Alex soliciting investments from the same governments Steve was negotiating with. A White House spokesperson stated Witkoff was in the process of "finalizing" his divestment from the firm.