Ross Perot Jr.

Ross Perot Jr.
Ross Perot Jr.
Born	Henry Ross Perot Jr.; November 7, 1958 (age 68); Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, real estate developer
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Creating Alliance, Texas; first helicopter flight around the world; chairman of The Perot Group and Hillwood; former owner of Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise

Henry Ross Perot Jr. (born November 7, 1958) is a prominent American entrepreneur and real estate developer, best known for creating Alliance, Texas, an inland port situated near Fort Worth, Texas, and for achieving the first helicopter flight around the globe at the age of 23.

He serves as chairman of multiple enterprises, including The Perot Group and Hillwood. Perot is the eldest son of billionaire businessman and former U.S. presidential contender Ross Perot.

Early life and education

Perot was born in Dallas to Margot (née Birmingham) and Ross Perot. He completed his secondary education at St. Mark's School of Texas in 1977. Following that, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University and subsequently dedicated over eight years to service in the United States Air Force.

Career

In 1982, Perot co-piloted the inaugural helicopter circumnavigation of the earth aboard a Bell 206 L-1 Long Ranger II, concluding the expedition on September 30.

As head of The Perot Group, he oversees family investments spanning real estate, oil and gas, and financial sectors. He played a pivotal role in developing Fort Worth Alliance Airport and stands as a leading figure in real estate development. Hillwood's residential initiatives include Harvest—a $1 billion project covering 1,150 acres in Northlake and Argyle—as well as recent ventures like Pomona in Manvel (1,006.5 acres) and Union Park in Little Elm (787 acres).

Between 2002 and 2003, Perot chaired the Texas Governor's Task Force for Economic Growth. In 2007, he contributed to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign by joining Romney’s Texas finance committee.

His board memberships have included Dell Inc, and he currently serves on Guide IT’s board. Perot chairs the United States Air Force Memorial Foundation and co-chairs the EastWest Institute. Additionally, he holds board positions at St. Mark's School of Texas, Southern Methodist University, and Vanderbilt University. Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.7 billion as of 2024. In recognition of his aviation achievements, he was awarded the Langley Gold Medal by the Smithsonian Institution in 1983.

In April 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the Strike Force to Open Texas, a group responsible for overseeing the state's safe reopening during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dallas Mavericks ownership

In March 1996, Perot acquired ownership of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise from its original proprietor Don Carter. Throughout his four-year stewardship, the team's performance showed minimal improvement compared to Carter's later years and significantly less success than under subsequent owner Mark Cuban. Often viewed as inexperienced or disengaged with basketball, Perot primarily used his ownership to support development projects such as Victory Park, centered around the American Airlines Center, which opened in 2001. He sold the franchise to Cuban in January 2000. Under Cuban’s leadership, the Mavericks avoided losing seasons for 15 consecutive years and secured two Western Conference titles along with the 2011 NBA championship.

In May 2010, despite retaining a 5% stake, Perot filed a lawsuit against Cuban alleging that the franchise was insolvent. Cuban responded by asserting that Perot sought funds to cover $100 million in losses related to Victory Park’s real estate ventures. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2011, partially due to Cuban’s proven effective management exemplified by the team’s 2011 championship victory. The dismissal was upheld by the 5th Circuit Court in 2014. Subsequently, Perot attempted to limit fan access to parking areas under his control near the American Airlines Center. He continues to maintain a minority ownership interest alongside Don Carter’s estate.

Major League Cricket ownership

In 2023, Perot acquired ownership of the Major League Cricket franchise known as the Texas Super Kings.

Political activity

Perot donated $660,000 to support Donald Trump's 2020 presidential bid.

Throughout the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, he backed former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and partnered with Harlan Crow to organize fundraising efforts in Texas for her campaign.

Honors

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan presented Perot with the Gold Medal recognizing Extraordinary Service.
The American Academy of Achievement honored him with the Golden Plate Award in 1983.
In 2007, he was awarded both the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
Together with his father, H. Ross Perot, he received the H. Neil Mallon Award from the World Affairs Council - Dallas/Fort Worth in 2008.
Perot was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor in 2012.
The National Business Aviation Association bestowed upon him the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award in 2019.
In 2022, he earned the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the National Eagle Scout Association.

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