Steve Sarowitz

Last updated
Steve Sarowitz
Born1965or1966(age 59–60) [1]
NationalityAmerican
Education University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
OccupationBusinessman
Known forFounder of Paylocity
SpouseJessica Sarowitz

Steve Sarowitz (born 1965/1966) is an American billionaire businessman, and the founder of Paylocity.

Contents

Early life

Sarowitz earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. [1]

Career

Sarowitz owned 44% of Paylocity at its IPO in March 2014, and 28% in April 2019. [2]

Sarowitz has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charity and plans to donate most of his wealth in the next decade. [3]

It Ends with Us controversy

On December 31, 2024, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, and others based on allegations regarding sexual harassment and retaliation related to the 2024 film It Ends with Us . [4]

Lively filed an amended complaint on February 19, 2025 which included a statement by Sarowitz that: "I will protect the studio like Israel protected itself from Hamas. There were 39,000 dead bodies. There will be two dead bodies when I’m done. Minimum" [5]

On January 16, 2025, Sarowitz, along with Baldoni and other associates, filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist. They alleged that Lively's claims were false and amounted to civil extortion. [6]

On January 20, 2025, Sarowitz, along with Baldoni and other associates filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times , alleging that a Times article about the dispute defamed them by misrepresenting communications and spreading a “categorically false” narrative. [7]

Sarowitz's lawsuits against Lively, Reynolds and The New York Times were dismissed in June 2025. [8] Lively's case against Sarowitz, Baldoni, and others is scheduled to be heard starting on March 9, 2026. [9]

Personal life

Sarowitz is married to Jessica; the couple lives in Highland Park, Illinois. [2] He was raised Jewish, but later embraced the Baháʼí Faith. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Forbes profile: Steven Sarowitz". Forbes. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "The city's newest billionaire doesn't plan to die one". Crain's Chicago Business. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  3. ↑ Billionaire Steve Sarowitz on Wealth, Philanthropy and Ethical Success on YouTube
  4. ↑ Wright, Tracy (January 1, 2025). "Blake Lively files official federal lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, looks forward to day in court". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, alleging Hollywood power couple sought to 'destroy' him". People. February 19, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Justin Baldoni's It Ends With Us Producer Likened Dispute with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds to Israel-Hamas War". Variety. January 16, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, and Others File $250 Million Libel Suit Against The New York Times". December 28, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill. "Latest In Justin Baldoni-Blake Lively Feud: Lively Shares 'Gratitude' After Baldoni's Lawsuit Is Dismissed". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  9. ↑ "Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends with Us' legal battle: A timeline". ABC News. June 9, 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-11.


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