Bill DeWitt Jr. is Chairman and Principal Owner of the St. Louis Cardinals, a role he’s held since buying the team in 1995. But 2026 brought a significant succession step: his son, Bill DeWitt III, was promoted to CEO in June, now overseeing both baseball and business operations.
The elder DeWitt, 84, isn’t stepping away entirely — he remains chairman and stays involved in significant team matters — but this is a clear signal of generational transition underway.
Quick Facts
| Team | St. Louis Cardinals |
|---|---|
| Chairman & Principal Owner | Bill DeWitt Jr. |
| CEO (since June 2026) | Bill DeWitt III (son) |
| Ownership Since | 1995 |
| Founded | 1882 |
| League | MLB (NL Central) |
| Home | Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1882 | Cardinals founded, one of baseball’s oldest continuously operating franchises |
| 1953-1995 | Owned by Anheuser-Busch, the beer company, which used the team partly as a marketing vehicle for its Busch beer brand |
| 1995 | Bill DeWitt Jr. leads an investor group to purchase the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch |
| 2008 | Bill DeWitt III becomes team president, beginning a long apprenticeship in the family business |
| June 2026 | Bill DeWitt III is promoted to CEO, with expanded authority over both baseball and business operations, while Bill DeWitt Jr. remains chairman and principal owner |
Key Ownership Highlights
- The DeWitt family has owned the Cardinals for over three decades, one of the more stable ownership tenures in MLB.
- The 2026 succession move — installing Bill DeWitt III as CEO — was explicitly framed by the family as a “natural progression” rather than a full exit by Bill DeWitt Jr.
- Cardinals ownership transitioned from a corporate owner (Anheuser-Busch) to a family ownership group in 1995, a reversal of the trend seen at many other franchises.
FAQ
Who owns the St. Louis Cardinals?
Bill DeWitt Jr. remains Chairman and Principal Owner, a role he’s held since 1995. His son, Bill DeWitt III, became CEO in June 2026.
Did Anheuser-Busch used to own the Cardinals?
Yes, from 1953 until the DeWitt-led group purchased the team in 1995.
