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
| Born | June 29, 1949, Tel Aviv, Israel |
|---|---|
| Father | Ted Arison, Israeli businessman who founded Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972 after co-founding Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966 |
| Carnival Corporation | Chairman 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 Heat | Took control in 1995 after his father co-founded the franchise in 1988. Three NBA championships: 2006, 2012, 2013 |
| NBA Board of Governors | Unanimously elected Chairman on July 14, 2026, effective September 2026, succeeding Larry Tanenbaum. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025 |
| Sister | Shari Arison, one of Israel's wealthiest citizens, based in Israel |
| Net worth | Approximately 10 billion dollars per recent Forbes estimates |
How Did Ted Arison Build Carnival Cruise Lines?
Ted Arison, born in Tel Aviv, 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, according to Forbes's profile of Micky Arison. 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. He stepped down as CEO in June 2013 after more than three decades at the helm, remaining chairman, per Wikipedia's entry on Arison.
How Does Carnival Compare to Royal Caribbean and Norwegian?
Carnival Corporation holds the largest share of any operator by passenger volume and revenue, with Royal Caribbean Group ranking second and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings a distant third. Carnival's portfolio spans nine brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard, and Costa, giving it broader market segmentation than its rivals.
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, along with multiple NBA Finals appearances. His son Nick Arison has served as the Heat's chief executive officer, Wikipedia's entry notes, managing daily operations of the franchise while Micky remains Managing General Partner.
What NBA Leadership Role Does Micky Arison Hold?
Arison has served on the NBA's Board of Governors for years and previously chaired the board, helping guide the league through the 2011 lockout. On July 14, 2026, the NBA announced Arison had been unanimously elected to a second term as Chairman of the Board of Governors, effective following the league's September 2026 meeting, succeeding Toronto Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.
What Philanthropic Work Does Micky Arison Do?
Micky and his wife Madeleine established the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation in 2006, with a focus on medical research, disaster relief, education, and community needs in South Florida. Arison has also directed giving toward the University of Miami and Jackson Health Foundation, and serves on the World Travel and Tourism Council.
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 estimates place Micky Arison's net worth at approximately 10 billion dollars, derived mainly from his Carnival Corporation stake.
Is Micky Arison the Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors?
Yes. The NBA unanimously elected Arison Chairman of the Board of Governors on July 14, 2026, with the term beginning after the league's September 2026 meeting, succeeding Larry Tanenbaum.
More From The Builders
- The Builders: Profiles of Jewish Business Builders
- The Israeli Billionaires
- The Strauss Family: From Nahariya to Israel's Largest Food Company
- Florida-Israel: coverage of the Florida corridor
Sources
Wikipedia, Micky Arison; Forbes, profile of Micky Arison.
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
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