Gail Miller (businesswoman)


Gail Miller is an American billionaire businesswoman, the wealthiest person in Utah, the widow of Larry H. Miller, chairwoman of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, and chairwoman of the Salt Lake Community College. She also is the owner of the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was born Karen Gail Saxton in Sandy, Utah, on October 14, 1943. In 2009, when Larry H. Miller died, Gail Miller assumed 100% ownership of their businesses, consisting of 54 car dealerships, a movie theater chain and the Utah Jazz basketball team. In 2018, Gail Miller ranked #1867 on the Forbes World's Billionaires list, with wealth listed at US $1.2 billion

Utah Jazz

Miller's husband originally became part-owner of the Utah Jazz in 1985 and purchased complete control in 1986. Gail Miller assumed ownership upon her husband's death. In 2017 she announced ownership of the Utah Jazz and Vivint Smart Home Arena had been transferred into a Legacy Trust in order to keep the franchise in Utah for generations. Miller was drawn into racial controversy in 2019 when a fan verbally abused NBA player Russell Westbrook. Miller later addressed the home crowd to speak out against the boorish behavior and proclaimed, ‘This should never happen. We are not a racist community.’

Philanthropy

In 2000, Brigham Young University announced that the Millers had made a significant financial contribution towards the new 4,000-seat, $7 million baseball and softball complex. Built on campus the project was named Miller Park and the softball field was christened Gail Miller Field and the baseball field is called Larry H. Miller Field. In 2011 the Joint Leadership Commission of the Congressional Award Foundation and its board of directors presented Miller the Horizon Award in a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. recognizing her work in the community and with young people.
In 2013, Miller partnered with former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and former First Lady Norma Matheson to create "Count My Vote", a bipartisan effort to push for state electoral reform.

Personal life

Miller is married to Kim Wilson. She has five children from her first husband, Larry H. Miller, whom she married on March 25, 1965. Miller is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.