William Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz was born on the 5th October 1952, in Chicago, Illinois USA, and is a businessman, best known to the world as the owner and chairman of the NHL club the Chicago Blackhawks. Also, he owns the Wirtz Corporation, which consists of companies in numerous industries, including real estate, banking and finance, among others. His career has been active since the mid-1970s
Have you ever wondered how rich Rocky Wirtz is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Rocky Wirtz`s net worth is as high as $500 million, an amount he has acquired through his career as a businessman.
Rocky Wirtz Net Worth $500 Million
Rocky is the son of the William “Bill” Wirtz, and also has a brother Peter. Rocky went to North Shore Country Day School, from which he matriculated in 1971, after which he enrolled at Northwestern University, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
Soon after graduation, Rocky ventured into business, gaining the management of the Judge & Dolph, Ltd, which is now a part of the Wirtz Corporation. He stayed in that position until 2007, when his father died after a short battle with cancer, immediately after which Rocky became the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and also the chairman of the Wirtz Corporation.
Since becoming the owner, Rocky started implementing his managerial skills in the Blackhawks. He brought TV station to air home games, choosing the Comcast SportsNet Chicago, as he already owned a stake of the network. Also, he hired John McDonough as the President of the team, believing that it would help bring more fans to the team. Rocky was right, and the Blackhawks were among most watched teams in the NHL 2008-2009 season. This certainly increased his net worth.
Furthermore, he improved the Blackhawks roster, which brought better results; beginning in 2009, they reached the Western Conference finals, however they lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
Nevertheless, with every season the Blackhawks were becoming more and more competitive, which was crowned by the Stanley Cup trophy in 2010, by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers. Their next title came in 2013, also winning the Stanley Cup, this time defeating the Boston Bruins. The club`s success and improvement didn`t stop there, as they reached yet another Stanley Cup final in 2015, and again were victorious; defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. This certainly increased Rocky`s net worth.
As the CEO and chairman of the Wirtz Corporation, this has been the main source of his net worth. The company is one of the most successful conglomerates with stakes in companies that operate in different industries, such as real estate, finance, insurance and banking. Some of the companies that are the part of the Wirtz Corporation include Ivanhoe Nursery, First National Bank of South Miami, First Security Trust and Savings Bank, Banner Collective, Benefit Services Group, Inc, and Wirtz Insurance Agency, among others.
Regarding his personal life, Rocky is married to Marilyn, with whom he has three children. Their current residence is in Chicago, more precisely, the northern suburbs of the city.
Rocky has also been recognized as philanthropist, donating to several causes, including health and education. He has donated mostly to his alma mater, Northwestern University, starting several programs, including the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, among others. Furthermore, he is a Trustee at The Field Museum of Natural History, and is a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
