Gene Staples Net Worth 2026: CEO, Founder, Entrepreneur

No reputable outlet publishes a net worth figure for Gene Staples, and the $5 million figure on the older version of this page had no source, so we have removed it. Staples is a Chicago businessman and Navy veteran who, since 2020, has built IB Parks & Entertainment, a small chain of rescued amusement parks that started with Indiana Beach. He also invests in commercial property, and in 2026 a lender sued a company he leads over a $28 million office loan.

What is Gene Staples' net worth?

There is no reliable published estimate. IB Parks & Entertainment is private and does not publish revenue, and none of the outlets that cover his deals has estimated his wealth. Pages that give exact figures show no method.

The public record is a mix of purchases and debts. He has bought or taken over several parks, including Clementon Park in New Jersey for about $2.3 million. At the same time, a 2026 lawsuit alleges a Staples-led company defaulted on a loan for a Chicago office tower. Both sides matter for any honest view of his finances, and neither gives a total.

Where the money comes from

• IB Parks & Entertainment. His amusement park company, founded in 2020 and based in Chicago. Wikipedia lists five parks in 2026.
• Commercial real estate. The Buffalo News reported that before buying parks he worked for years in the telecom industry and most recently as a consultant with his family's real estate investment firm, E.A. Staples & Associates. Casino.org describes him as a Chicago commercial real estate developer.

The older page named a brokerage called Austin Affiliates and listed specific colleges. We could not confirm those details in any reliable source, so they have been removed.

The parks: what IB Parks owns and runs

Sources: Wikipedia, Theme Park Tribune, The Buffalo News.

Indiana Beach: the rescue that made his name

In February 2020 Apex Parks Group said Indiana Beach, open since 1926, would close for good. White County officials offered $3 million in incentives to any buyer, and in April 2020 Staples bought the park. When he took over, the new owners agreed to honor season passes that Apex had sold, after more than 200 complaints were filed with the Indiana Attorney General, WRTV reported.

Staples told reporters at the reopening that he bought the park to save it, not to make a fortune, according to People. He told The Buffalo News that his son Alex first flagged the closure to him. Since then the park has added rides, including the All American Triple Loop roller coaster in May 2024, and Casino.org reported that attendance rose about 25% under his ownership. Indiana Beach marked its 100th anniversary in June 2026.

Recent changes (2025–2026)

• 2025: Staples told Casino.org that a rumor he was buying the closed Desperado roller coaster in Primm, Nevada, was untrue, though talks had taken place.
• January 2026: IB Parks took over long-term operation of Lake Winnepesaukah, a family-owned park near Chattanooga that turned 100 in 2025.
• 2026: IB Parks canceled the 2026 season at Niagara Amusement Park and refunded season passes, saying attendance and revenue had not been enough to cover costs and rebuilding, per Theme Park Tribune.
• May–June 2026: The Real Deal reported that Bridge Investment Group sued a Staples-led company over a roughly $28 million loan on International Tower, a 302,000-square-foot office building near O'Hare. Staples bought it from Bridge with seller financing in 2023. The suit alleges missed payments since February and about $2.7 million in unpaid property taxes, and claims nearly $29 million is owed. Neither side commented, and the claims had not been ruled on at the time of the report.

Background and family

Staples is a U.S. Navy veteran from the Chicago area, according to The Buffalo News, which in 2021 reported that he has four sons, then aged 15 to 23, whom he uses as a sounding board for the business. He calls himself a lifelong fan of amusement parks who grew up going to them.

Age and education

His date of birth is not public, and we could not verify the schools listed on the older version of this page, so they have been removed. The height given there also had no source.

How he compares

For other founders and real estate investors on this site, see Chuck Whittall and Bart Blatstein. You may also like Adenike Ogunlesi and Dan Thurmon. Background on the Fantasy Island takeover is also in this WKBW report.

Why estimates differ

Staples's holdings are private and carry debt, so asset prices alone say little about his net worth. He has bought parks for low single-digit millions, rescued closed properties and taken on a large office loan that is now in dispute. Until he or a reputable outlet discloses his finances, no figure can be stated with confidence.