Honestly, if you’ve been following the mess with the Arizona Coyotes over the last couple of years, you probably have a very specific image of Alex Meruelo in your head. Maybe you see him as the guy who couldn't get an arena deal done, or perhaps as the billionaire who walked away with a massive billion-dollar payout from the NHL. But when we talk about alex meruelo net worth, the story goes way deeper than a failed hockey experiment in the desert.
He isn't just a former sports owner. He’s a guy who started with a pizza shop and built a massive, diversified empire that spans from the Las Vegas Strip to the radio airwaves of Los Angeles.
Most people look at the $1 billion he received for the Coyotes and think that’s the whole bank account. It’s not. As we move into 2026, his portfolio is shifting toward massive redevelopment projects in Northern Nevada and maintaining a stranglehold on niche media markets.
Where Does the Money Actually Come From?
Alex Meruelo is a billionaire. Let's get that out of the way. Back in 2018, various reports already pegged him at the $2 billion mark. Since then, he’s sold a professional sports franchise for a massive profit, even if the "exit" was messy.
To understand the current state of alex meruelo net worth, you have to look at the Meruelo Group. This isn't just a small family office; it’s a holding company that touches everything.
- The Casino Gems: He owns the Sahara Las Vegas and the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) in Reno. The GSR is currently the crown jewel of his holdings. He bought it for around $42 million back in 2011—basically a steal—and has since poured hundreds of millions into it.
- Media Empire: If you live in LA, you’ve heard his stations. KPWR (Power 106) and 95.5 KLOS are massive revenue generators. He also owns KWHY-TV.
- Construction and Infrastructure: Companies like Doty Bros and Neal Electric might not be "glamorous," but they provide the steady, boring cash flow that fuels his more speculative bets.
- Banking: He’s the majority owner of the Commercial Bank of California.
It's this diversification that kept him afloat when the Coyotes were bleeding money at Mullett Arena.
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The Billion-Dollar Hockey Exit
The drama in Arizona was exhausting for everyone involved. Meruelo bought the Coyotes for about $300 million in 2019. In 2024, he sold the hockey operations—the players, the coaches, the "soul" of the team—to Ryan Smith (who moved them to Utah) for $1.2 billion.
After the NHL took its $200 million relocation fee, Meruelo walked away with a cool $1 billion.
That is a $700 million profit on a team that was basically homeless. You can criticize his management, but from a purely "business net worth" perspective, it was a masterstroke. He initially kept the "Coyotes" branding and a right to reactivate the team if he built an arena, but by late 2024, he officially relinquished those rights. He basically took the cash and moved on to Reno.
The $1 Billion Bet on Reno
Right now, Meruelo is doubling down on Northern Nevada. He recently broke ground on a $1 billion expansion of the Grand Sierra Resort.
This isn't just adding a few hotel rooms. We're talking about a 10,000-seat arena that will house the University of Nevada, Reno’s basketball team. He’s also looking at a new hotel tower and an "aqua driving range."
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Why Reno? Because the competition is thinner than in Vegas, and he already owns the land. By turning GSR into a "destination resort," he’s significantly inflating the value of his most stable asset. If that project succeeds, alex meruelo net worth could see another massive jump as the property value of the GSR skyrockets.
Banking and Pizza: The Foundation
People forget he started with La Pizza Loca. He founded it in 1986, targeting the Latino community with toppings like chorizo. It grew to over 50 locations. That was the seed money.
He then moved into real estate, famously making his first million in his 20s by selling land to Walmart.
His involvement in the Commercial Bank of California is also a major factor. As a majority shareholder, he has direct access to the levers of finance. When you own the bank, it’s a lot easier to fund your $435 million arena projects.
Reality Check: What is He Worth in 2026?
Estimating a private individual's net worth is always a bit of a guessing game because we don't see his tax returns. However, based on the $1 billion cash infusion from the NHL sale, the ownership of two major Nevada casinos, a dominant LA media group, and a construction empire, most analysts place him comfortably between **$2.5 billion and $3.5 billion**.
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The volatility comes from the debt associated with his massive construction projects. If the Reno arena doesn't draw the crowds he expects, or if the Sahara continues to struggle against the titans on the South Strip, those numbers could shift.
But for now, Meruelo is flush with cash. He’s no longer "the guy losing money on hockey." He’s the guy with a billion dollars in his pocket looking for the next big deal.
Actionable Insights for Investors and Observers
If you're looking at Meruelo’s trajectory to understand how high-level wealth is built and maintained, here are the key takeaways:
- Buy Distressed, Sell Premium: Meruelo’s best moves—the GSR and the Coyotes—were buying assets that others thought were broken and holding them until the market (or a desperate league) was willing to pay a premium.
- Vertical Integration is King: He doesn't just own a casino; he owns the media companies that advertise the casino and the construction companies that build the casino's new wings.
- Liquidity Matters: The Coyotes deal was a mess, but it provided him with $1 billion in liquid capital. In a high-interest-rate environment, having that much cash makes him one of the most powerful "predators" in the real estate market.
Watch the Reno development closely over the next 18 months. That project is the new barometer for his financial health.