Real estate investing is often seen as the key to wealth creation for those with enough funds and experience. Through investments such as commercial and residential real estate, passive income, tax advantages and diversification opportunities are available.
https://www.real-estate-investing.net/who-are-the-richest-real-estate-investors
Irvine Company chairman Donald Bren topped the list of richest property investors with an estimated net worth estimated at $15.37 billion, followed by Sun Hongbin and Reuben Brothers.
Lee Shau Kee
Lee Shau Kee was raised by a farmer father who instilled in him an intense work ethic. With little more than $1,000 he came to Hong Kong and has built an enormous real estate and property development empire known worldwide. Additionally, Lee is also renowned as an exemplary philanthropist, giving millions to education.
Henderson Land Development is a publicly-traded company owned by Henderson Lee who holds investments in properties, hotels and restaurants. Furthermore, Lee serves on the boards of Sun Hung Kai Properties and Hong Kong and China Gas Company and owns shares in Hong Kong Ferry Company.
Hui Ka Yan
Hui Ka Yan is Chairman of one of China's premier real estate developers Evergrande. For 26 years he and his company have been actively developing real estate as well as diversifying into other sectors such as soccer and bottled water production.
At its height, his net worth reached $42 billion according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index; however, that has since fallen drastically and now sits at just $3 billion.
Hui has not only been disinherited financially but is also being shut out politically from Chinese tycoons. Once an active participant in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference – comprised of government officials and business tycoons from across China – Hui was recently informed not to attend as reported by Bloomberg.
Sun Hongbin
At age 21, Sun Hongbin began building his fortune by investing his savings into purchasing a shophouse. By renting out his properties and renting them out to tenants, he became one of Singapore's wealthiest individuals and co-founder of Wilmar International (listed on Singapore Exchange), an agribusiness group which processes commodities such as palm oil.
Sino Group, owned and managed by his older brother Robert and son Daryl, operates out of Hong Kong as well.
The four Kwee brothers won seventh place and amassed their wealth through Pontiac Land, a private property company.
Sam Zell
As a global, opportunistic, often contrarian investor, Zell has earned his reputation for his global investment strategies that focus on market anomalies and emerging trends. He is known to turn around troubled assets and companies, lead industry consolidations and bring companies public. Zell currently chairs Equity Group Investments – a private investment firm established over 50 years ago that invests in logistics, transportation manufacturing energy real estate.
Zell, son of Polish immigrant parents, launched his entrepreneurial ventures by purchasing and leasing student apartment buildings while at University of Michigan. Soon thereafter he co-founded EGI's predecessor company alongside Robert Lurie – convincing both men to join his enterprise.
Stephen Ross
Stephen Ross started off his career as a tax attorney, before opting to use his expertise in real estate development instead. Through Related Companies – initially an affordable housing developer- now boasting properties from California to Abu Dhabi to Shanghai; with Hudson Yards opening as the most recent project this March. Ross also owns the Miami Dolphins NFL team as well as having stakes in Equinox Fitness and SoulCycle.
Although fired from his positions at Laird Properties and Bear Stearns, Max Fisher took what he learned to create his business plan. Max Fisher served as an important mentor.
David and Simon Reuben
The Reuben brothers own an expansive real estate portfolio that spans shopping centers, offices, hotels and residential developments across London and New York City. Their wealth is earned through metal trading, venture capital investments and stakes in tech startups – these investments form the basis of their wealth.
Their philanthropic arm donated 80 million pounds to Oxford University in 2020 in order to establish its new graduate college and expand the undergraduate scholarship programme. They also purchased London property called The Chesterfield in June with plans of turning it into a luxury hotel, private members club and apartments.
Donald Bren
He is chairman of The Irvine Company, a real estate holdings company which holds more than 129 million square feet across America with the majority located in Southern California. Bren's portfolio comprises hotels, marinas and golf courses as well as office buildings, apartment complexes and more than 40 shopping centers – not forgetting over 500 office buildings alone! Additionally, Bren is an ardent philanthropist dedicated to education, conservation and research: Donating funds to UC Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Science and Management as well as funding endowed professor chairs at University of California Caltech Chapman University Marine Corps University among others.