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Micky Arison: The Tel Aviv Boy Who Built Carnival
Israeli Real Economy

Micky Arison: The Tel Aviv Boy Who Built Carnival

The Olam Editorial Team
Sep 4, 2026

Micky Arison, born in Tel Aviv, chairs Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator his father founded, and owns the Miami Heat, three-time NBA champions since 1995.

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Micky Arison, born June 29, 1949, in Tel Aviv, is chairman of Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise operator, which his father Ted Arison founded in 1972. Micky led Carnival as CEO from 1979 to 2013, and since 1995 has owned the Miami Heat, which has won three NBA championships under his ownership. Forbes has estimated his net worth near 10 billion dollars.

Who Is Micky Arison?

Micky Arison is an Israeli-American businessman who chairs Carnival Corporation and owns the NBA's Miami Heat. He is one of Florida's wealthiest residents and has held both roles since the 1990s.

At a Glance

BornJune 29, 1949, Tel Aviv, Israel
FatherTed Arison, Israeli businessman who founded Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972 after co-founding Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966
Carnival CorporationChairman since stepping down as CEO in 2013, after leading the company as president from 1979 and CEO from the late 1980s. Holds roughly 7 to 9 percent of the company
Miami HeatTook control in 1995 after his father co-founded the franchise in 1988. Three NBA championships: 2006, 2012, 2013
SisterShari Arison, one of Israel's wealthiest citizens, based in Israel
Net worthApproximately 10 billion dollars per recent Forbes and Bloomberg estimates

How Did Ted Arison Build Carnival Cruise Lines?

Ted Arison, born in Tel Aviv in 1924, served in the IDF and British Army before entering the shipping business. In 1966 he co-founded Norwegian Caribbean Line with Knut Kloster, but a dispute over profit-sharing led Arison to leave and found Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972, initially with a single ship. Micky Arison dropped out of the University of Miami that same year to help his father run the fledgling company as a sales representative.

Micky rose to president of Carnival in 1979 and became CEO roughly a decade later, guiding the company through financial turbulence into its position today as the world's largest cruise operator, running more than 90 vessels across nine sub-brands. He stepped down as CEO in 2013 after more than three decades at the helm, remaining chairman.

How Did Micky Arison Come to Own the Miami Heat?

Ted Arison and a group of investors were awarded the NBA's Miami Heat expansion franchise in 1988. Micky Arison took full control of the team in 1995 and has overseen three NBA championships, in 2006, 2012 and 2013. His son Nick Arison has served as the Heat's chief executive officer since 2011, managing daily operations of the franchise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Micky Arison?

Micky Arison is an Israeli-American businessman, born in Tel Aviv, who chairs Carnival Corporation and owns the NBA's Miami Heat, which he has controlled since 1995.

Who founded Carnival Cruise Lines?

Ted Arison, Micky Arison's father, founded Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972 in Miami after earlier co-founding Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966.

How many NBA championships has the Miami Heat won under Micky Arison?

The Miami Heat has won three NBA championships under Micky Arison's ownership, in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

What is Micky Arison's net worth?

Recent Forbes and Bloomberg estimates place Micky Arison's net worth at approximately 10 billion dollars, derived mainly from his Carnival Corporation stake and cash holdings.

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מי הוא מיקי אריסון?

מיקי אריסון, יליד תל אביב 1949, הוא יושב ראש Carnival Corporation, חברת שיט התענוגות הגדולה בעולם שאביו טד אריסון ייסד ב-1972. מיקי ניהל את קרניבל כמנכ"ל מ-1979 עד 2013, ומאז 1995 הוא הבעלים של קבוצת הכדורסל מיאמי היט, שזכתה בשלוש אליפויות NBA תחת בעלותו. הונו מוערך בכ-10 מיליארד דולר.


The Olam Editorial Team | The Builders / הבונים