Donald Bren No:26 Billionaire 2009

Net Worth:$12.0 bil
Fortune:self made
Source:real estate
Age:76
Country Of Citizenship:United States
Residence:Newport Beach, California
Industry:Real Estate
Education:University of Washington, Bachelor of Arts / Science,
Marital Status:married, 7 children



Attended U. of Washington on skiing scholarship; halted 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 in 1996. Developed central Orange County, Irvine and half of Newport Beach. Today owns 400 office buildings, 90 apartment communities, 40 retail centers, resort properties and new housing communities in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. Company has permanently protected more than half of the 93,000-acre ranch creating public parks and trails. Conservation program comprises more than 50,000 acres, protecting a wide range of endangered plant and animal species. Has given away more than $1.3 billion to charity.