Robert Earl Short (July 20, 1917 — November 20, 1982) was an American businessman, sport teams owner and politician.

Short graduated from the College of Saint Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas) in St. Paul, Minnesota before receiving his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, rising from Ensign in 1942 to commander before he resigned in 1946. He married the former Marion D. McCann in 1948 and they settled in Edina, Minnesota, where they raised 7 children.

Short practiced law for several years and started to invest in business ventures after buying an interest in a small trucking line, Mueller Transportation. He built the company into a major freight carrier known as Admiral Merchants Motor Freight. He later expanded into real estate and the hotel business. From these investments he later purchased two professional sports teams.

Short was a long-time supporter of the University of Notre Dame and served as a member of the school's Law School Advisory Council from 1974 until his death in 1982, when he was succeeded by his wife in both business and at Notre Dame (she also served nine years on the board of trustees of what became the University of Saint Thomas). He endowed the Robert and Marion Short Chair in Law at the Notre Dame Law School, where his son attended.