Stefan Soloviev: The Man Who Dreamt Big and Built Bigger

Stefan Soloviev’s story is one of determination and personal growth. He began his journey in the heart of New York, poised to inherit his family’s prestigious real estate empire. 

During his teenage years, Stefan started working with his father, Sheldon Solow, a New York real estate mogul, in his buildings. Rising from the bottom rung, Stefan navigated a challenging relationship with his father, who was often perceived as a difficult figure. Disagreeing with his father’s business practices and treatment of others, Stefan distanced himself from New York, despite occasional visits for collaborative endeavors. However, a decisive argument prompted him to shift his focus to commodity trading, a pursuit he had enjoyed since his early teens. 

To understand this exceptional man, we need to know more about Stefan Soloviev and his incredible journey from New York real estate to farmer.  In 1999, Stefan embraced his Russian heritage, discarding the Americanized Solow for Soloviev, and ventured West with his wife, determined to forge his path. After trading in grain, Stefan Soloviev noticed opportunities in agriculture. Early in his journey, Soloviev realized that to do even better in trading commodities, he needed to control the actual grains. So, he bought his first piece of land, a 309-acre field in Sumner County, Kansas, with the help of a federally subsidized farm credit loan. As someone from New York City, farming was new to him. He spent a lot of time in central and western Kansas, where he met fantastic farmers who kindly taught him about different wheat types and general farming methods. About a year after moving to the West, he planted his inaugural crop on the 309 acres, marking the commencement of a transformative chapter.

What initially started as a venture in grain trading evolved into a deeply meaningful connection to agriculture, leading Stefan to immerse himself in finding solutions to industry challenges.

Stefan Soloviev possesses a distinctive blend of values, vision, and a people-centric leadership style that empowers him to accomplish remarkable feats.

One of the biggest challenges that the entrepreneur faced was transporting his grains to market. To address this problem, Stefan Soloviev purchased a defunct railroad and used the infrastructure to move his and his neighbors’ grains. repurposing it as vital infrastructure for transporting not only his grains but also those of neighboring farmers. This visionary initiative not only facilitated local farmers in bringing their produce to market but also generated employment opportunities for numerous families working on the railroad. Stefan’s commitment to community welfare has earned him respect from both peers and employees.

His personal philosophy and innovative leadership are evident across all ventures. As the chairman of the Soloviev Group, which encompasses the Colorado Pacific Railroad and significant land holdings in Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico, Stefan’s reach spans various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, real estate, farming, ranching, and renewable energy. In all his pursuits, Stefan ensures a steadfast focus on people and sustainability. Stefan is a unique and somewhat mysterious character who has people cheering him on in everything he does, and wanting to know more about Stefan Soloviev.  

Following the passing of his father, Sheldon Solow, in 2020, Stefan inherited the real estate empire, including iconic assets like 9 West 57th Street and an undeveloped parcel competing to become New York City’s inaugural developed casino. With plans to expand the empire and optimize the value of his 1,000-acre holdings on Long Island’s North Fork, Stefan envisions a future marked by growth and innovation. 

Beyond this, Stefan is set to realize an ambitious development on a 6.7-acre Midtown East parcel, following the acquisition of a casino license in New York. The project envisages a 1,000-room hotel, a 4-acre park, an office tower, and residential buildings featuring over 4,000 apartments. While the vision may seem colossal, there’s a collective confidence that Stefan Soloviev will not just build it; he will build it bigger.