Carlos de la Cruz
Also known as: De la Cruz Collection
Chairman of CC1 Companies, Inc.
Known For
De la Cruz built a beverage distribution giant in the Caribbean while leaving a lasting mark on Miami through philanthropy, university leadership, and contemporary art patronage with his late wife Rosa.
About
Born in Cuba, de la Cruz launched his career as a Citibank financial analyst in 1963, contributing to the blueprint for bank-issued credit cards before relocating to Miami in the 1970s to pursue law school and acquire an Anheuser-Busch distributorship in 1984, later expanding into car dealerships sold to AutoNation in 1996. Profits fueled CC1's growth, with recent highlights including the 2025 purchase of Suiza Dairy in Puerto Rico to diversify beyond core Coca-Cola, beer, and distilling businesses. A Key Biscayne mainstay, he chaired the University of Miami Board of Trustees from 1999-2001 and United Way of Dade County from 1993-1995, while endowing key academic chairs at UM and Wharton. Alongside his late wife Rosa, he supported Miami's art scene through the De la Cruz Collection in the Design District, which closed in 2024 after her passing, with select works auctioned for $34.4 million to benefit family legacies.