Stephen Jay Ross (Stephen Jay Rechnitz) (1927 – 1992) was an American businessman and corporate executive credited with the founding of Warner Communications which would later merge with Time Inc. to form Time Warner Inc.
Born on April 5, 1927, Stephen Jay Ross came into the world as Stephen Jay Rechnitz. Born to Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York, Ross had his last name changed from Rechnitz at the start of the Great Depression, as his father felt the change would help him find work after losing everything.
Ross would go on to attend Paul Smith's College for only two years before leaving for a brief stint with the military. After leaving the Army, Ross met Carol Rosenthal, and the two were married when Ross was twenty-six years old.
Steve got his introduction into the world of business while working for Carol's father in his funeral home. Ross would later pilot the businesses evolution into Kinney National Services. In 1962 Ross became the CEO of Kinney National Services and directed the 400 million dollar buyout of Warner Communications. He would go on to pioneer Warner's growth from a low-end movie production company into one of America's largest entertainment groups. Ross would become CEO of Warner Communications in 1972, and would remain in that position through the additions of MTV and Nickelodeon to its programs. His role as chairman ended in 1992, two years after the company's merge with Time Inc. to form Time Warner Inc.
While president of Warner communications, Ross lead the firm into the world of sports ownership in the mid 1970's via the purchase of the then obscure New York Cosmos soccer club. While under the direction of Warner/Ross, the club emerged from a near media vacuum to become a major mainstream franchise in American sports. The growth of the club was largely due to Ross's acquisition of international superstars Pele, Giorgio Chinaglia, and Franz Beckenbauer. The addition of these well known figures to the club added not only notoriety but a level of skill to that point unheard of in America.
As part of his commitment to the development of American soccer, Ross also lobbied (unsuccessfully) to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 1986.
Steven Spielberg dedicated his film Schindler's List to Ross in the end credit roll.
Stephen Jay Ross died on December 20, 1992, following extended hospital stays due to complications caused by prostate cancer.