1. Robert Gary Sarver was born on October 31,1961 and is an American businessman, co-founder of Southwest Value Partners, a real estate development company, and the former owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team, Phoenix Mercury WNBA team and the RCD Mallorca La Liga Spanish football team.
Robert Sarver attended his first Phoenix Suns game when he was 8 years old after receiving tickets to his first basketball game on his 8th birthday from one of the team's original co-owners, Donald Diamond; this became a key point in his growing basketball and soccer fandom, including later team ownership within said sports.
Robert Sarver is a 1979 graduate of Sabino High School in Tucson, and a 1982 graduate of University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
In 1984, Robert Sarver founded the National Bank of Tucson.
In 1998, Robert Sarver led Zions Bancorporation's acquisition of Sumitomo Bank of California.
In 1990, Robert Sarver co-founded the real estate company Southwest Value Partners with Millard Seldin.
Robert Sarver has been criticized by employees and former employees, agents, and rival executives for his overly hands-on approach to business.
Robert Sarver has been accused in one account "of being of an interventionist owner with more authority than expertise, a front office marred by instability, an understaffed scouting department, and a dated facility that isolates the decision-makers from the players and coaches".
PayPal threatened to not renew its partnership with the Suns if Robert Sarver remained as owner.
Robert Sarver eventually accepted the purchase of both teams by United Wholesale Mortgage's CEO Mat Ishbia and his brother Justin for a record-high $4 billion purchasing price on December 20,2022, with the move being made official on February 7,2023.
Robert Sarver gave Suns team employees that have stayed with the organization for at least one year a bonus of $20,000 for each individual.
In 1996, Robert Sarver married Penny Sanders, a Kansas City, Missouri native; they live in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and have three sons named Max, Jake, and Zach.