Patrick Zalupski

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Patrick Zalupski is an American real estate developer. He founded and serves as chief executive officer of Dream Finders Homes. He is currently the principal shareholder of the ownership group that owns the Tampa Bay Rays and acts as the team's Managing Partner since September 2025. [1] [2]

Career

Zalupski was born in suburban Detroit. He lived in Belgium when he attended high school as his father worked there for General Electric. Zalupski graduated from Stetson University with a degree in finance. After working for FedEx conducting internal audits, he moved to Jacksonville, where his mother worked as a real estate agent, and he became involved in the business. He began flipping houses in 2004. [3]

Zalupski co-founded Dream Finders Homes in 2008. [3] [4] He bought out his co-founder in 2013. [5] The company went public in 2021. [3] In 2023, Florida governor Ron DeSantis appointed Zalupski to the board of trustees for the University of Florida. [6] [7]

In 2025, Zalupski led a group of investors that entered into negotiations to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Other investors include Ken Babbey, who owns two Minor League Baseball teams, and Bill Cosgrove, the CEO of Union Home Mortgage. [8] The deal is reportedly for $1.7 billion and was expected to be completed in September. [9] MLB owners approved of the sale on September 22, 2025. [10] Zalupski intends to keep the team in the Tampa area. [11]

References

  1. Behrmann, Emma (September 30, 2025). "New Rays ownership takes helm, faces looming stadium decision for team's future". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  2. "Tampa Bay Rays Sold To New Ownership Group". MLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Kirsch, Noah (May 20, 2021). "How To Get Rich In Real Estate Without Buying A Ton Of Property". Forbes.
  4. "Investors". Dream Finders Homes, Inc. September 2, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  5. Hawkins, Carole (December 15, 2014). "Following his dream". Jax Daily Record. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  6. Turbeville, Ryan Wyatt (February 2, 2023). "Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints new member to UF Board of Trustees". WCJB.com.
  7. "Patrick Zalupski - Board of Trustees". University of Florida . Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  8. Badenhausen, Scott; Soshnick, Kurt (June 18, 2025). "MLB's Rays in Advanced Talks for $1.7B Sale to Florida Home Builder". Sportico.
  9. Drellich, Evan; Rosenthal, Ken (July 14, 2025). "Sale of Rays expected to be final by September, team likely to stay in Tampa area: Source". The Athletic .
  10. Topkin, Marc (September 22, 2025). "Rays sale approved by MLB owners; Zalupski-led group 'good to go'". Tampa Bay Times.
  11. Moske, Nina (September 8, 2025). "Could Hillsborough College be home to a new Rays stadium?". Tampa Bay Times.