Howard D. Schultz (born July 19, 1953) is an American businessman and author, best known for his roles as the chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks during multiple tenures: from 1986 to 2000, from 2008 to 2017, and as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023. Schultz also owned the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team from 2001 to 2006. His career at Starbucks began in 1982. He left the company to start Il Giornale, a specialty coffee shop that later merged with Starbucks in the late 1980s. Under Schultz’s leadership, Starbucks grew into a vast network of coffee houses that significantly influenced coffee culture in Seattle, across the U.S., and around the world. After initiating major distribution deals, Starbucks emerged as the largest coffee-house chain globally. Schultz led the company through its public offering in 1992, leveraging a $271 million valuation to aggressively expand the number of stores. He first stepped down as CEO in 2000, handing the reins to Orin Smith.

Described as the “Ray Kroc of his generation” due to his transformative impact on the coffee industry, Schultz returned to the CEO role during the 2008 financial crisis to lead a significant restructuring, which included massive layoffs and store closures. He spearheaded acquisitions in both American and Chinese beverage markets, launched a national loyalty program, and implemented fair trade standards. His strategic expansion into China successfully integrated coffee consumption into the country’s traditional tea culture. Schultz was succeeded by Kevin Johnson as CEO in April 2017 and Myron Ullman as chairman in June 2018.

Schultz has authored four books on business and is known for his neoliberal economic stance. He has flirted with the idea of running for the U.S. presidency as an independent in 2012, 2016, and 2020 but ultimately opted out of each race. His political views are characterized by socially liberal and fiscally moderate positions, with a foreign policy approach that leans towards American interventionism. As of October 2020, Forbes listed him as the 209th-richest person in the U.S. with a net worth of $4.3 billion. In 2022, Schultz briefly returned as interim CEO of Starbucks following the retirement of Kevin Johnson, before stepping down early from the role in March 2023. He also founded the Schultz Family Foundation, which focuses on supporting military veterans and combating youth unemployment.