The 5 Wealthiest Real Estate Investors all boast of traits exhibited by succesful people. These 5 commercial real estate powerhouses have amassed considerable (read: enviable) wealth in their careers. Here we look at their legacies: the companies they run—and in many cases, built.
1. Wang Jianlin
Jianlin is worth approximately $33.7 billion. The 64-year-old Chinese businessman serves as founder and chairman of Dalian Wanda Group. This global commercial property conglomerate earned $44 billion in revenue in 2015. In addition, the company touts itself as the world’s largest property company. It has amassed a portfolio totaling approximately 283 million sq. ft. of space. Last year, Bloomberg ranked him 37 on its “50 Most Influential” list. Forbes also rated him as #1 in its ranking.
Wang Jianlin
2. Lee Shau-Kee
With a net worth of $19.9 billion, Hong Kong’s Shau-Kee oversees global property and investment firm Henderson Land Development. It also has footholds in energy and hospitality sectors. In June 2015, Henderson Land Development reported it had 7.3 million sq. ft. of completed investment properties in mainland China, 10 million sq. ft. in Hong Kong and revenue of just over $900 million. Shau-Kee is 90 years old. Forbes also ranked him #2 on its real estate billionaires list.
Lee Shau-Kee
3. Donald Bren
As chairman of California-based commercial property investment giant Irvine Company since 1983, 86-year-old Donald Bren has built the company portfolio’s to its present-day size of 100 million sq. ft. The portfolio includes 500 office buildings, 41 retail centers, and 130 apartment communities. These are in Orange County, San Diego and Silicon Valley in California, as well as in Chicago and New York. Bren’s net worth is approximately $17.3 billion. Likewise, he is actively involved in philanthropy. He has reportedly donated $1.3 billion to date, according to Businessweek. Irvine Company is privately held. Forbes ranked Bren as #4 on its list.
Donald Bren
4. Hui Ka Yan
The founder and chairman of China-based Evergrande Real Estate Group, Hui Ka-Yan (60) is worth approximately $8.9 billion. Specializing in high-end residential buildings, Evergrande Real Estate Group is one of China’s largest home builders. Furthermore, it has developed more than 400 properties throughout China since Ka-Yan founded it in 1996. The company reported a $1.6 billion net profit for 2015. It was infused with $16 billion in credit lines from Chinese banks that year.
Hui Ka Yan
5. Stephen Ross
In 1972, Stephen Ross founded New York-based Related Companies, now one of the country’s largest developers of high-end mixed-use properties. The firm’s asset portfolio is valued at $20 billion, according to the company, including 9 million sq. ft. of commercial properties in the United States. Besides being a fixture in U.S. markets such as Palm Beach, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Boston and Chicago, Related has expanded internationally with Gulf Related and Related China. Moreover, Gulf Related, the company’s Middle East joint venture, has $1.7 billion in development projects. Related is privately held. The 78-year-old businessman is worth approximately $7.9 billion. Forbes ranked him as #9 on its list.
