Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is facing criticism after a recently surfaced video shows him appearing upset about the short walk between his private jet and a waiting car.
The footage, posted on YouTube, captures the 85-year-old real estate billionaire gesturing toward a luxury SUV parked at a distance from the plane. Ross points to the space between the jet and the car, seemingly frustrated the vehicle wasn’t pulled closer to reduce his walk. The distance, according to the video, was roughly a 30-second stroll.
It’s unclear whether Ross was joking or serious, but the clip has triggered comments labeling his reaction as out of touch. Viewers online called the moment “hard to watch,” criticizing what they see as entitled behavior by the ultra-wealthy. One user commented, “Did he want the Denali parked on the wing?” while others called him “ungrateful” and a “crybaby.”
The backlash comes amid broader scrutiny of private jet use. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, carbon emissions from private jets increased by 25 percent between 2013 and 2023. A 2024 report found that private flights emitted more CO2 in a single year than the entire population of Tanzania did during the same period.
The BBC has reported that the ultra-rich increasingly treat private jets as a form of convenience travel, even for short flights that could be made using less polluting options. While private flights make up a small fraction of total air traffic, their environmental impact per passenger is significantly higher.
Ross, who made his fortune through property development including projects in Miami and beyond, has not commented publicly on the video. Though there’s no official statement from the Dolphins organization, the reaction online suggests the tone-deafness of the incident struck a nerve.
For South Floridians used to watching yachts idle in Biscayne Bay and jets streak overhead, the video isn’t shocking—but it does underscore a growing divide over climate responsibility and privilege. As rising sea levels and sweltering summers put the region on the front line of climate change, footage like this adds fuel to ongoing conversations about who bears the brunt and who flies above it.
