
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, suffered a stroke in May 2019 and was hospitalized for nearly a month. After his release, he continued his recovery at an in-patient rehabilitation center, where he underwent intensive rehab and worked with physical and occupational therapists. As of 2024, five years after his stroke, Gilbert has made progress and can walk with a cane, but he still uses a wheelchair due to complications and has a long road to full recovery. While his health has impacted his business decisions, Gilbert remains active in his ventures and has returned to work, slowly but surely.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of stroke | May 26, 2019 |
| Age at stroke | 57 |
| Hospitalized in | Suburban Detroit |
| Discharge date | June 21, 2019 |
| Current health status | Recovering, can walk with a cane, but still uses a wheelchair and struggles to move his left arm |
| Recovery plan | Spends 3-4 hours a day working with physical and occupational therapists at home |
| Time spent in hospital | Nearly a month |
| Current work status | Returns to his Detroit office one or two days a week |
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What You'll Learn

Dan Gilbert suffered a stroke in May 2019
Dan Gilbert, an American billionaire, businessman, and philanthropist, suffered a stroke in May 2019. Gilbert is the co-founder and majority owner of Rocket Mortgage and the founder of Rock Ventures. He also owns several sports franchises, including the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
On May 25, 2019, Gilbert began exhibiting intermittent symptoms associated with a stroke, including facial asymmetry, arm drift, and speech difficulty. The following day, on May 26, he was hospitalised and diagnosed with an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery and cuts off blood supply to the brain. In Gilbert's case, the stroke affected the right side of his brain, causing temporary paralysis of his left arm and leg.
Gilbert underwent an emergency catheter procedure, during which doctors implanted seven stents inside his carotid artery to restore blood flow. He was then moved to the Intensive Care Unit for recovery. At the time, it was reported that Gilbert was awake and responsive, and his doctors described his progress as "great."
Following his hospitalisation, Gilbert spent eight weeks at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the top-ranked stroke rehab center in the country. As of 2024, five years after his stroke, Gilbert continues to experience complications and uses a wheelchair for mobility. However, he has made significant progress in his recovery and can now walk with a cane. Gilbert has been open about his recovery journey and has urged people to prioritise their health and get regular check-ups to detect any potential warning signs.
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He was discharged from the hospital in June 2019
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, suffered a stroke in May 2019. He was 57 years old at the time. After being hospitalised, Gilbert underwent surgery for a catheter-based procedure. He was discharged from the hospital in June 2019, nearly a month after suffering the stroke, and continued his recovery at an in-patient rehabilitation centre.
Gilbert has been open about his long road to recovery. In 2024, nearly five years after the stroke, he revealed that he could walk with a cane but still struggled to move his left arm. He has urged people to get regular health checkups to prevent missing any warning signs of a stroke.
Gilbert has also invested in Detroit's infrastructure, including parks, museums, and universities. He has also funded medical facilities and research, including a $434 million effort with Henry Ford Health to help people recover from strokes and establish a research facility to find a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that his late son Nick suffered from.
In addition to his business ventures and investments, Gilbert is a prominent figure in the NBA as the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Monsters, and Cleveland Charge. His ownership of the Cavaliers has seen both success and controversy, including the team's first NBA championship in 2016 and the departure of LeBron James in 2018.
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He continues to recover and uses a wheelchair
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, suffered a stroke in May 2019. He spent eight weeks at a rehabilitation center in Chicago and was released from the hospital in June 2019. While he has made progress in his recovery, he continues to experience complications and uses a wheelchair for mobility.
Gilbert has been open about his recovery journey, sharing his experience with the public. As part of his recovery process, he spends time working with physical and occupational therapists at his home. In addition to his personal efforts, Gilbert has also invested heavily in medical facilities and research, demonstrating his commitment to advancing healthcare and helping others facing similar health challenges.
In March 2024, Gilbert made a public appearance at the annual Pancakes & Politics breakfast hosted by the Michigan Chronicle. He chose to use a wheelchair for this event, opting not to take any risks with his health in front of the audience. During his speech, he shared his insights and reflections on Detroit's future, emphasizing the importance of incentives to retain young professionals in the city.
Gilbert's health has naturally raised questions about the stability of his ownership of various sports franchises, including the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters. However, those close to him have assured that while his recovery journey is ongoing, his mind remains sharp and his personality intact.
As of 2023, Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer, have been actively involved in initiatives to support recovery from strokes and fight the genetic condition, neurofibromatosis, that affected their late son, Nick. They have committed significant funding towards establishing a rehabilitation facility and a research institute in partnership with Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences.
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Gilbert has urged people to get regular health checkups
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, has been very open about his recovery journey after suffering a stroke in May 2019. At the time, he was 57 years old. He spent eight weeks at a rehabilitation center in Chicago and has since been undergoing therapy at home. Gilbert has used a wheelchair due to complications from the stroke and is now able to walk with a cane.
Gilbert has been vocal about the importance of regular health checkups to ensure that warning signs of any health issues are not missed. He shared his insights at the annual Pancakes & Politics breakfast hosted by the Michigan Chronicle, where he emphasised the importance of enjoying and valuing every day and staying healthy. Gilbert's own stroke was caused by a blood clot in his carotid artery, which cut off the blood supply to his brain. He underwent surgery and had seven stents implanted to open the blocked blood vessel.
During his recovery journey, Gilbert has not let his health issues deter him from his business endeavours and investments. He has continued to be an active and vocal owner of several sports franchises, including NBA teams. Gilbert has also been involved in efforts to improve Detroit's infrastructure and bring major sporting events to the city. In 2023, Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer, announced a $434 million initiative with Henry Ford Health to help people recover from strokes and establish a research facility to find a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that their late son suffered from.
Gilbert's advocacy for regular health checkups is a powerful message that encourages people to take a proactive approach to their health. By sharing his own experience and the realisation that health issues can affect anyone, regardless of their background, Gilbert is helping to raise awareness and potentially prevent others from experiencing similar or more severe health crises. His story serves as a reminder that taking care of one's health is a priority and that early detection can make a significant difference in one's well-being and long-term health outcomes.
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He and his wife have donated $375M to fight strokes and neurofibromatosis
Dan Gilbert, the Detroit-based billionaire businessman and philanthropist, suffered a stroke in May 2019. In the years since, he has been open about his recovery process, which has involved the use of a wheelchair and a service dog. Gilbert has urged people to get regular health checkups and has spoken about the importance of investing in medical facilities and research.
In September 2023, Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer, announced a donation of $375 million to fight strokes and neurofibromatosis. The Gilbert Family Foundation, a private fund created by the couple, is helping establish a 72-bed physical medicine and rehabilitation facility in Detroit in partnership with Henry Ford Health System and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The facility will provide inpatient care for stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other conditions.
The foundation also announced the creation of the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute in Detroit, named in honor of their late son, Nick Gilbert, who passed away in May 2023 from neurofibromatosis. The research institute will work in partnership with Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University Health Sciences, and Chicago-based Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The institute will focus on finding a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow along nerves in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body.
The total cost of the two initiatives is estimated to be around $439 million over 10 years, with the Gilbert family's investment covering construction, medical equipment, and operational costs. The donation from the Gilbert Family Foundation is being praised as a significant and impactful contribution that will drive down health disparities in Detroit and provide access to the best healthcare and medical research for its residents.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Dan Gilbert was discharged from the hospital and continued his recovery at an in-patient rehabilitation center.
Dan Gilbert suffered a stroke in May 2019 and has been using a wheelchair due to complications. He has been undergoing rehabilitation and can now walk with a cane.
Dan Gilbert has been slowly returning to work and is in the office one or two days a week, accompanied by a service dog. He continues to be an active owner, speaking publicly about his teams and Detroit's future.








































