# Carlos Rodriguez Jr.

> Carlos Rodriguez Jr. is the co-founder, president and CEO of Driftwood Capital, a hospitality investment, development and lending platform based in Coral Gables, Florida. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, and educated at Duke University, he began his finance career at LNR Property and helped build Driftwood’s sponsor-fund and direct-investment model. He became CEO in January 2026, with his father continuing as executive chairman.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, President and CEO at Driftwood Capital
- **Organizations:** Driftwood Capital, Driftwood Hospitality Management, Driftwood Acquisitions and Development, Casanovo Partners, LNR Property
- **From:** San Jose, Costa Rica
- **Education:** B.A., international business and economics; certificate in Markets & Management, Duke University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Driftwood Capital in 2015., Helped establish a sponsor-fund model enabling the firm to close transactions before offering deal participation to investors., Helped scale a platform reporting approximately $3.5 billion in hospitality assets under management as of January 2026.

## Career timeline

- **Childhood** — Moved from Costa Rica to Miami; later worked at the front desk of a family hotel.
- **2009** — Completed his studies at Duke University; began his professional finance career at LNR Property after college.
- **Before 2015** — Worked in hotel development, including as vice president of development at Driftwood Hospitality Management; implemented an EB-5 financing program.
- **2015** — Co-founded Driftwood Capital and served as president and COO.
- **2020** — Driftwood launched its hotel lending platform, as he recounted in his October 2025 interview.
- **2025** — Named to South Florida Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class.
- **2026-01** — Appointed CEO of Driftwood Capital; Carlos Rodriguez Sr. continued as executive chairman.
- **2026-06** — Recognized among GlobeSt.’s CRE Aspiring Leaders of 2026, according to Driftwood’s press page.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Driftwood Capital in 2015.
- Helped establish a sponsor-fund model enabling the firm to close transactions before offering deal participation to investors.
- Helped scale a platform reporting approximately $3.5 billion in hospitality assets under management as of January 2026.
- South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, 2025.
- GlobeSt. CRE Aspiring Leaders of 2026 recognition, reported by Driftwood Capital.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Driftwood’s press page reported his inclusion among GlobeSt.’s CRE Aspiring Leaders of 2026.
- **2026-04** — Discussed his CEO transition, team integration and selective international growth in an April 1 LODGING interview.
- **2026-01** — Appointed CEO; his father moved to executive chairman.

## Links

- Website: https://driftwoodcapital.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-rodriguez-jr-210a4521/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/carlos-rodriguez-jr
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Last updated: 2026-10-15