We just spent a few days at the world-class Colorado Springs Broadmoor Hotel celebrating our 58th anniversary. The hotel was built in 1919 by Spencer Penrose. His wife, Julie, built a small chapel, named after her granddaughter. Pauline Chapel became part of the Roman Catholic diocese but by the early 2000s, it was no longer in use.
Philip Anschutz, a strong believer who lives in Denver, bought the Broadmoor in November 2011, under the condition that he could have access to Pauline Chapel. He wanted to offer weekly Sunday services there for the guests. His friend Peb Jackson (Peb’s father was called “Rock,” and Peb was just a “pebble.” You can’t make this stuff up.) was very well connected and recruited local pastors and leaders of local Christian organizations to preach the services. One of the pastors was our former pastor, John Stevens, who had retired. They also needed pianists, so John called me. I played for the first three services beginning in June 2012. The services continue today with a core of Broadmoor neighbors who consider it their ministry to serve the guests who attend.
I write that to say I met Mr. Anschutz at one of those services and talked with him briefly. It makes for a good story, one that I shared on a walking tour while we were guests earlier this month.
Here’s the point of the blog. Over our stay, at least two Broadmoor employees spoke highly of Philip Anschutz. At least one talked about his humility. I learned that he doesn’t have a special room when he stays there. He wants the best rooms reserved for guests. Previously, an employee told me that he often gets up in the wee hours, gets a couple dozen doughnuts, and visits employees on duty to thank them for their service.
Humble, serving doughnuts to employees on the midnight shift, aren’t typical characteristics of the wealthy. And Philip Anschutz is wealthy – the richest man in Colorado according to Forbes Magazine as reported in the Denver Post:
Philip Anschutz remains Colorado’s wealthiest resident with an estimated net worth of $19.3 billion, which ranked him the 60th highest in the U.S. and 143rd in the world. Anschutz built on early successes in oil and gas to purchase railroads, including the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad and Southern Pacific Railroad, and leveraged that investment to build a national fiber optic network, Qwest Communications.
Railroad ownership also opened the door to highly valuable land holdings in city centers. Anschutz Entertainment now owns more than 70 arena and concert venues around the globe, including Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
A big soccer fan, Anschutz cofounded Major League Soccer. He has significant stakes in the LA Galaxy, as well as the city’s hockey franchise, the LA Kings. Closer to home, Anschutz owns the Broadmoor Hotel and the Gazette newspapers in Denver and Colorado Springs.
Anschutz’s holdings have benefited from a surge in the value of entertainment assets and sports franchises, driving a 78% increase in his net worth since 2023. – Denver Post, September 16, 2026
Mr. Anschutz joyfully practices Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding the wealthy:
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. (1 Timothy 6.17 – 19, NIV)