To show how visible Miller has become, a 2004 Dan Jones & Associates poll asked Utahns to name a car dealer without giving them any other prompts. Some 34 percent mentioned a Miller dealership — far outdistancing second-place Ken Garff at 8 percent.

Higher visibility from the Jazz helped people think of Miller's name when they bought cars. He gave Jazz tickets as sales incentives, which also promoted the team. He advertised his other businesses at Jazz games. Each strengthened the other.

But have people ever punished Miller's other businesses when the Jazz team has had bad years, such as when the team has missed the playoffs during the past three seasons — a time that Miller says the team has lost tens of millions of dollars?

"It affects the Jazz itself and directly related businesses: the Delta Center, the concessions at the Delta Center and Fanzz stores," which sell sports apparel. "The rest of the businesses are not really affected," he says.

In fact, he says only the Fanzz stores in Utah — not those in other states — are affected by a bad Jazz season. "The Fanzz stores in Southern California do well if a California team wins in baseball, basketball or football. The Fanzz stores in Denver do well if the Broncos or Avalanche win" — which would seem to make Miller want to root for several Western teams.

Continuing good will seems to insulate his businesses from some other attacks, too, such as when gay-rights groups called for a boycott of all Miller businesses after he pulled the movie "Brokeback Mountain," about a gay love affair, from his theaters.

"The day the boycott began, I had 12 people call and say they chose to buy cars from us to show support. The next day, 27 called, and the next day 12," he says. "We had people call who wanted to bring big groups to the theaters" in a show of support.

In fact, Miller says, "I had the best February and March ever" after the boycott was called. He adds that he hesitates to mention that, saying he does not want to divide the community further on the issue. "I don't want to throw fuel on the fire. I pulled the movie because of social concerns over the family, that's all," he says.

But does the boycott backfiring show Miller has a Midas touch?

"I hate when people say I have the golden touch. I have my share of weaknesses and failures. I see my own warts. I've just been lucky that more of my deals have done well than those that haven't," he says.

The empire grows

With community good will and increasing revenues, Miller continued expanding with major projects or acquisitions every few months for years. He also moved into new areas — anywhere that opportunities presented themselves or the dreams of his heart beckoned.