#16 Donald Bren
$12,000 million
Orange County real estate tycoon's fortune flat despite meltdown thanks to new information previously unavailable. Attended U. of Washington on skiing scholarship; dropped Olympics bid after injury 1956. Joined Marines, then built first house on $10,000 loan 1958. Planned and developed 10,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo in California, sold to Philip Morris 1967. With partners, bought 145-year-old real estate master planner and developer Irvine Co. for $337 million 1977. Became firm's principal owner 1996. Developed central Orange County, Irvine and half of Newport Beach. Today owns 475 office buildings, 115 apartment communities, 41 retail centers, resort properties, new housing communities in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley. Has permanently protected more than half of 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch, creating public parks and trails.
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