Benjamín León Jr. (born December 4, 1944) is a Cuban-American businessman and horse enthusiast who is serving as the United States ambassador to Spain.[3][4]
Benjamin Leon | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2026 | |
| United States Ambassador to Spain | |
| Assumed office February 18, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1944[1] |
| Citizenship | Cuba • United States |
| Spouse | Mavileibys Campa Felipe [2] |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Businessman • Diplomat |
Early life and career
editBenjamin Leon was born in Oriente, Cuba in 1944,[1] and in 1961, he migrated to Miami, Florida.[1][5] He is of Spanish descent through his great grandparents who were from the Canary Islands that settled in Cuba.[6] Leon's father founded Clinica Cuba in 1964 in order to help meet the healthcare needs of newly immigrated Cubans.[1] Leon and his father Leon Sr. also founded Clínica Asociación Cubana (CAC), one of the first health maintenance organizations in the United States.[7] In 1994, Leon sold CAC to UnitedHealthCare for $500 million.[7] In 1996, Leon founded Leon Medical Centers, which provides healthcare to Medicare patients.[8] Leon Medical Centers is currently led by Leon's son, Benjamin Leon III, who serves as the company's CEO.[9]
Besilu Stables
editIn the 1980s, Leon established Besilu Stables, and began to show and breed Paso Fino horses.[5] In 2008, Leon bought his first Thoroughbred, and soon after started racing horses.[5] In 2011, Leon bought Royal Delta for $8.5 million. She would win the Eclipse Award for American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 2011 and again in 2012 and 2013 as the American Champion Older Dirt Female Horse.[7]
Political activity and philanthropy
editIn 2008, Leon donated $10 million to establish the Florida International University Family Center for Geriatrics Research and Education.[10]
In 2015, Leon donated $2.5 million to the presidential campaign of Marco Rubio.[11] Leon has also donated to the Republican Party of Kentucky and Mitch McConnell.[12] He was also a major donor to Donald Trump's reelection campaign.[13]
In 2025, Leon was one of the donors who funded the White House's East Wing demolition, and planned building of a ballroom.[14]
In December 2025, the Senate confirmed Leon's nomination to be Ambassador to Spain.[15]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "About Our Founder". Leon Medical Centers. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ https://www.islandernews.com/news/keybiscayne/miami-entrepreneur-le-n-nominated-as-new-us-ambassador-to-spain/article_7ff3e2a4-cd69-11ef-a39e-2b676b4d700c.html
- ↑ Wehner, Greg (January 2, 2025). "Trump taps team to work with US Treasury nominee Scott Bessent". Fox News. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Trump nominates Florida businessman Benjamin León Jr. as US ambassador to Spain". www.msn.com. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Novak, Claire (11 March 2012). "Patience a virtue for Benjamin Leon". ESPN. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Leon, Jr., Benjamin – Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra – June 2025". state.gov. June 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Genaro, Theresa (27 August 2013). "The $8.5 Million Mare, Royal Delta Keeps On Winning". Forbes. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Benjamin Leon Jr". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Gale, Kevin (27 July 2012). "Leon Medical Centers offers model for health care reform". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "FIU College of Medicine receives major gift to establish the Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education". Florida International University. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Nehamas, Nicholas (1 August 2015). "Top donors to political committees backing Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio hail from Miami". Miami Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ Loftus, Tom (20 July 2014). "Wrestling promoter Vince McMahon gives big to Ky GOP". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Miami's Benjamin Léon Jr. in the middle of faltering U.S.-Spain relations". The Miami Herald. March 20, 2026.
- ↑ Maher, Kit; Tapper, Jake; Jaramillo, Alejandra. "White House releases list of donors for Trump's multi-million-dollar ballroom". CNN. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ↑ "PN55-26 - Nomination of Benjamin Leon Jr. for Department of State, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". www.congress.gov. 2025-12-18. Retrieved 2026-05-18.