$10 million new impetus: philanthropists Ken Griffin & Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence cover subject Stephen M. Ross launch national campaign to crown South Florida America’s new economic capital

In a bold and coordinated push to reshape the economic geography of the United States, two of the nation’s most influential billionaires—Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, and Stephen M. Ross, chairman of Related Ross—have joined forces to champion South Florida as the country’s next great engine of ambition and growth.

This week, the duo seeded a $10 million national campaign titled Ambition Accelerated, launched through the Florida Council of 100, a prominent pro-business organization representing the state’s leading chief executives.

The initiative, unveiled on February 2, 2026, deploys targeted advertising, direct outreach to CEOs, founders, and investors, and a compelling narrative that positions the Gold Coast—the sun-drenched corridor stretching from Miami through Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach—as the ideal environment to build and scale transformative companies in today’s challenging landscape.

Griffin, who relocated Citadel’s headquarters from Chicago, and Ross, who shifted much of his focus southward from New York, argue that traditional hubs no longer offer the same runway for explosive growth.

They point to Florida’s regulatory clarity, absence of state income tax, deepening talent pool, and exceptional quality of life as decisive advantages over the mounting costs and bureaucratic friction found in places like New York and Chicago.

As Ross has framed it, the old directive to “go West, young man” feels increasingly outdated; the new mantra, he suggests, is to head southeast to Florida.

Yet the campaign represents far more than clever marketing. It builds on years of substantial personal investment by both men in the region’s civic and human infrastructure—investments designed to create the very conditions that ambitious companies demand: a robust pipeline of skilled talent, world-class healthcare, excellent education options, and an appealing lifestyle that attracts and retains top performers.

Griffin has emerged as one of Florida’s most generous philanthropists. In 2024, he committed $50 million to the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a gift that is funding the construction of the state-of-the-art Kenneth C. Griffin Cancer Research Building—a 244,000-square-foot facility set to dramatically expand research capacity, accelerate therapy development, and broaden access to cutting-edge clinical trials.

That same year, he directed $25 million to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to support the creation of the Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower—a five-story, 127,000-square-foot addition that enhances pediatric care across critical areas, including brain health, cancer, heart conditions, and orthopedics.

Ross has matched this intensity of commitment.

He recently pledged $50 million to help bring Vanderbilt University’s ambitious new graduate campus to West Palm Beach, a project aimed at establishing a major hub for business, technology, and lifelong learning in Palm Beach County.

Through the Related Ross Foundation, he has also launched $10 million in charitable grants focused on economic mobility and neighborhood stability, reinforcing the social and economic fabric that underpins long-term regional prosperity.

Their combined philanthropic efforts extend to cultural and educational landmarks as well. Griffin has supported major restoration work at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, while both men have backed initiatives such as bringing Success Academy charter schools to Miami—moves that address persistent concerns among corporate leaders about educational quality and family-friendly environments.

Together, these actions form a coherent strategy: not merely relocating businesses, but deliberately constructing the ecosystem required to sustain them.

By investing hundreds of millions in education, healthcare, cultural institutions, and community stability, Griffin and Ross are addressing the very pain points—talent acquisition, quality of life, and future-readiness—that often deter companies from expanding or relocating.

The Ambition Accelerated campaign arrives at a moment when South Florida is already experiencing significant momentum, with financial firms, tech ventures, and high-growth enterprises increasingly establishing a presence along the Gold Coast.

Early signs suggest the effort is resonating; reports indicate several unnamed companies have already expressed serious interest in following in the footsteps of Griffin and Ross.

For these two titans of finance and real estate, the vision is clear and unapologetic: South Florida is not simply an alternative destination—it is emerging as the nation’s premier arena for the next generation of American ambition.

Through a potent blend of public advocacy and private investment, they are betting that the future of innovation, scale, and economic leadership will be written not on the coasts of yesterday, but along the sunlit shores of Florida’s Gold Coast.