Entrepreneur Howard Schultz spotted wearing a Rolex

Howard Schultz, the billionaire entrepreneur and former Chairman and CEO of Starbucks, chose a remarkable timepiece for his Forbes magazine cover shoot: a stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6239 featuring the legendary 'Paul Newman' exotic dial. It is a choice that speaks volumes — this is not a watch worn to signal wealth casually, but one that reflects genuine horological knowledge or exceptionally refined taste in vintage collecting.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 was produced between approximately 1963 and 1969, representing the very first generation of the now-iconic Daytona line. It was powered by the Valjoux 72, a hand-wound chronograph movement known for its reliability and precision. The reference 6239 is distinguished by its pump pushers, engraved tachymeter bezel — here in steel rather than the gold variant seen on the ref. 6241 — and the highly coveted 'exotic' or 'Paul Newman' dial, characterized by its contrasting sub-dial panels, art-deco numerals, and red seconds track on a white chapter ring. This specific configuration is among the most desirable iterations.

The 'Paul Newman' designation itself carries a fascinating backstory. Actor and racing driver Paul Newman famously wore a Daytona with this exotic dial for decades, gifting it to his daughter's boyfriend Eli Ziff — that very watch sold at Phillips in 2017 for $17.75 million, shattering auction records. Since then, collector interest in all Paul Newman variants has intensified sharply, with stainless steel examples commanding the highest premiums due to their relative scarcity compared to gilt-dial counterparts.

Schultz built Starbucks from 11 stores into a multinational with over 30,000 locations, and his entrepreneurial legacy is well documented. His Forbes cover appearance places him among a long lineage of business figures photographed in iconic surroundings — and occasionally with iconic watches on their wrists.

On the current market, a stainless steel Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 Paul Newman in strong condition commands approximately $250,000, with exceptional examples regularly exceeding that figure at the major auction houses. This is a watch that has only appreciated with time, much like the career of the man wearing it.