These 25 American men have earned their billions doing business in the real estate industry. Many of these men grew up with nothing. Others inherited their wealth and their businesses.
George Argyros – $2 billion
Resident of Newport Beach, California, George Argyros is a self-made man. Most of his wealth comes from real estate investments.
Richard Peery – $2.3 billion
Richard Peery is a self-made billionaire based in Palo Alto, California.
John Arrillaga – $2.3 billion
Resident of Portola Valley, California, John Arrillaga started his own real estate investment company.
Ty Warner – $2.4 billion
Ty Warner is a billionaire who works in more than one industry. In addition to the real estate market, he also makes plush toys. He’s responsible for Beanie Babies.
Mortimer Zuckerman – $2.6 billion
Mortimer Zuckerman made his money in both real estate and publishing. His father was a tobacco and candy salesperson.
Donald Sterling – $2.9 billion
Donald Sterling lives in Southern California, and made his money in real estate and law. He was the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers professional basketball franchise of the National Basketball Association.
Herbert Simon – $2.9 billion
Herbert Simon and his brother own about 228 shopping malls across the country. Their parents were tailors.
Jeff Greene – $3 billion
Jeff Greene's father lost almost everything at one one. He purchased one of the most expensive houses in the country, Palazzo di Amore in Beverly Hills, at auction for $35 million and then turned around and listed it for sale for $195 million.
Neil Bluhm – $3 billion
Neil Bluhm began his life living in a small apartment with his single mother and went on to attend law school, where he then became a very young partner at a prestigious firm. He then became very successful as a real estate investor.
Alfred Taubman – $3.1 billion
Alfred Taubman is the single biggest donor in the University of Michigan history, despite the fact that he is a college dropout. That being said, he had a very strong worth ethic throughout his entire life.
Jorge Perez – $3.1 billion
Jorge Perez is known for his high-end condo real estate in Miami, Florida.
Jeff Sutton – $3.2 billion
Jeff Sutton is one of the most fashionable landlords in all of New York City. He owns many of the buildings that house the most famous names in fashion, including Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Escada.
Edward DeBartolo Jr. – $3.5 billion
Edward DeBartolo Jr. took over his father’s company and merged it with the Simon Property Group, which owns shopping centers. He was also the owner of the San Francisco 49ers.
Sheldon Solow – $3.6 billion
Sheldon Solow's mother stayed home and his father laid bricks for a living. He dropped out of New York University and made his money in real estate.
Igor Olenicoff $3.6 billion
Igor Olenicoff was accused of hiding more than $350 million in off-shore accounts and was forced to pay $52 million in back taxes as well as perform community service and two years of probation. His company owns millions of square feet in states such as Florida, California and Nevada.
Jerry Speyer – $4 billion
Jerry Speyer owns some of the most famous buildings in the world, Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building both in New York City.
Edward Roski, Jr. – $4 billion
Edward Roski, Jr.'s company is all about industrial real estate. He took over the company from his father. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Donald Trump – $4.1 billion
Donald Trump always manages to bounce back from difficult situations. The bulk of his wealth comes from his real estate investments in New York and Miami, but he also has several other interests, such as television and beauty pageants. He is now poised to possibly becoming the 45th President of the United States.
John A. Sobrato – $4.7 billion
John A. Sobrato's mother is an immigrant. She her dead husband’s California restaurant back in the early 1950's and began investing in real estate property. Her son learned the business from her, and he’s since made it his own.
Ted Lerner – $4.8 billion
In 1952, Ted Lerner wanted to open a real estate business. He had no money to do so, so he borrowed $200 from his wife and opened his business. He made his wealth from real estate development.
Sam Zell – $4.9 billion
Most of Sam Zell's fortune was made in the real estate investment business.
Leonard Stern – $5.3 billion
Most of Leonard Stern's fortune was made in the real estate investment business.
Richard LeFrak – $6.4 billion
Richard LeFrak’s grandfather began developing properties in the early 1900s. He and his family are the largest landlords in New York City and they have real estate holdings all over the country, including Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Stephen Ross – $6.5 billion
Stephen Ross has a J.D. and a Masters of Law. He is the man behind one of the largest real estate development companies in the country. He is based in New York City.
Donald Bren – $15.2 billion
Donald Bren is a resident of Newport Beach, California. He’s responsible for the building and ownership of tens of thousands of shopping plazas, apartments and hotels.