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The Richest in Real Estate Top 100

#25 Sam Zell

The Basics

Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $4.80 B

Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $4.80 B

Sam Zell

Through decades of smart deals and accumulation of property, Sam Zell has earned a reputation for buying distressed real estate and turning a hefty profit in the process. His sale of Equity Office Properties Trust to Blackstone made headlines in 2007 for its $39B price tag.

Foreseeing a slowdown for the American economy in the coming months, Sam’s been chucking property recently, including disposing of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago for $112M and the Illinois Center for $376M last year. His Equity Group Investments bought a majority share in Ardent Health Services in 2015 for $475M. Sam likes to ski, play racquetball and ride motorcycles.

    Robert Rowling
    #23
    Robert Rowling
    Location: Dallas/Fort Worth | Net Worth: $4.90 B +
    Jim Davis, New Balance
    #24
    Jim Davis, New Balance
    Location: Boston | Net Worth: $4.90 B +
    Bob Kraft
    #26
    Bob Kraft
    Location: Boston | Net Worth: $4.80 B +
    The Glazer family
    #27
    The Glazer family
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $4.70 B +
    Leon Black
    #28
    Leon Black
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $4.50 B +
    Donald Trump
    #29
    Donald Trump
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $4.50 B +
    Jerry Speyer
    #30
    Jerry Speyer
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $4.40 B +
    Jeffery Hildebrand
    #31
    Jeffery Hildebrand
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $4.20 B +
    Leonard Stern
    #32
    Leonard Stern
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $4.10 B +
    H Ross Perot
    #33
    H Ross Perot
    Location: Dallas/Fort Worth | Net Worth: $3.90 B +
    Sheldon Solow
    #34
    Sheldon Solow
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $3.90 B +
    Pohlad family
    #35
    Pohlad family
    Location: Minneapolis | Net Worth: $3.80 B +
    Haim Saban
    #36
    Haim Saban
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $3.50 B +
    Jorge Perez
    #37
    Jorge Perez
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $3.50 B +
    Larry Silverstein
    #38
    Larry Silverstein
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $3.50 B +
    Rick Caruso
    #39
    Rick Caruso
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $3.50 B +
    Edward DeBartolo Jr.
    #40
    Edward DeBartolo Jr.
    Location: Tampa | Net Worth: $3.30 B +
    Neil Bluhm
    #41
    Neil Bluhm
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $3.40 B +
    Jeff Sutton
    #42
    Jeff Sutton
    Location: Brooklyn | Net Worth: $3.40 B +
    John Catsimatidis
    #43
    John Catsimatidis
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $3.40 B +
    Dan Friedkin
    #44
    Dan Friedkin
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $3.50 B +
    Brian Chesky + Joe Gebbia
    #45
    Brian Chesky + Joe Gebbia
    Location: SFO | Net Worth: $3.30 B +
    Jeff Greene
    #46
    Jeff Greene
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $3.30 B +
    JB Pritzker
    #47
    JB Pritzker
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $3.20 B +
    Karfunkel Family
    #48
    Karfunkel Family
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $3.20 B +
    Edward Roski, Jr
    #49
    Edward Roski, Jr
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $3.10 B +
    Donald Sterling
    #50
    Donald Sterling
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $3.10 B +
    Milstein Family
    #51
    Milstein Family
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $3.10 B +
    Igor Olenicoff
    #52
    Igor Olenicoff
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $2.90 B +
    Bernard Saul II
    #53
    Bernard Saul II
    Location: Chevy Chase, MD | Net Worth: $2.80 B +
    Herb Simon
    #54
    Herb Simon
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $2.80 B +
    Thomas Pritzker
    #55
    Thomas Pritzker
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $2.70 B +
    Stephen Bechtel
    #56
    Stephen Bechtel
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $2.70 B +
    Riley Bechtel
    #57
    Riley Bechtel
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $2.70 B +
    Mortimer Zuckerman
    #58
    Mortimer Zuckerman
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $2.50 B +
    Shea Family
    #59
    Shea Family
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $2.50 B +
    Steve Wynn
    #60
    Steve Wynn
    Location: Las Vegas | Net Worth: $2.50 B +
    Ty Warner
    #61
    Ty Warner
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $2.40 B +
    Tilman Fertitta
    #62
    Tilman Fertitta
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $2.30 B +
    Penny Pritzker
    #63
    Penny Pritzker
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $2.30 B +
    Collier family
    #64
    Collier family
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $2.30 B +
    David Rubenstein
    #65
    David Rubenstein
    Location: Washington DC | Net Worth: $2.30 B +
    Brad Kelley
    #66
    Brad Kelley
    Location: Franklin, TN | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Elghanayan Family
    #67
    Elghanayan Family
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Jay Paul
    #68
    Jay Paul
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Paul Singer
    #69
    Paul Singer
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Soffer Family
    #70
    Soffer Family
    Location: Miami | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Joshua Harris
    #71
    Joshua Harris
    Location: Philladelphia | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    Richard Peery
    #72
    Richard Peery
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $2.20 B +
    John Arrillaga
    #73
    John Arrillaga
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $2.10 B +
    GiGi Pritzker
    #74
    GiGi Pritzker
    Location: Chicago | Net Worth: $2.10 B +
    Anderson family
    #75
    Anderson family
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $2.10 B +
    David Walentas
    #76
    David Walentas
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.93 B +
    Denise DeBartolo York
    #77
    Denise DeBartolo York
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $1.90 B +
    George Argyros
    #78
    George Argyros
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $1.79 B +
    Sanford Diller
    #79
    Sanford Diller
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $1.76 B +
    Kelcy Warren
    #80
    Kelcy Warren
    Location: Dallas/Fort Worth | Net Worth: $1.74 B +
    Alexander Spanos and Family
    #81
    Alexander Spanos and Family
    Location: San Diego | Net Worth: $1.69 B +
    Alexander Rovt
    #82
    Alexander Rovt
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.47 B +
    Tony James
    #83
    Tony James
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.41 B +
    B Wayne Hughes, Jr
    #84
    B Wayne Hughes, Jr
    Location: California | Net Worth: $1.39 B +
    Jonathan Gray
    #85
    Jonathan Gray
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.38 B +
    Gerald Hines
    #86
    Gerald Hines
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $1.30 B +
    Toll Family
    #87
    Toll Family
    Location: Philadelphia | Net Worth: $1.30 B +
    Stephen Feinberg
    #88
    Stephen Feinberg
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.18 B +
    Anthony Ressler
    #89
    Anthony Ressler
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $1.17 B +
    Barbara Carlson Gage and Marilyn Carlson Nelson
    #90
    Barbara Carlson Gage and Marilyn Carlson Nelson
    Location: Minnesota | Net Worth: $1.12 B +
    Jack Manning
    #91
    Jack Manning
    Location: Boston | Net Worth: $1.10 B +
    George Marcus
    #92
    George Marcus
    Location: | Net Worth: $1.10 B +
    Joseph Cayre
    #93
    Joseph Cayre
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.10 B +
    Leon Charney
    #94
    Leon Charney
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.01 B +
    Steven Roth
    #95
    Steven Roth
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    Conrad Prebys
    #96
    Conrad Prebys
    Location: San Diego | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    Martin Selig
    #97
    Martin Selig
    Location: Seattle | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    David Simon
    #98
    David Simon
    Location: Indianapolis | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    Robert Sillerman
    #99
    Robert Sillerman
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    Stephen Karp
    #100
    Stephen Karp
    Location: Boston | Net Worth: $1.00 B +
    Sheldon Adelson
    #1
    Sheldon Adelson
    <p>Location: Las Vegas | Net Worth: $25.20 B</p> +
    Michael Dell
    #2
    Michael Dell
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $18.30 B +
    Paul Allen
    #3
    Paul Allen
    Location: Seattle | Net Worth: $18.10 B +
    Donald Bren
    #4
    Donald Bren
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $15.20 B +
    Charles Butt
    #5
    Charles Butt
    Location: Austin/San Antonio | Net Worth: $10.70 B +
    Eric Schmidt
    #6
    Eric Schmidt
    Location: San Francisco | Net Worth: $10.30 B +
    Tony Malkin
    #7
    Tony Malkin
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $10.00 B +
    Stephen Schwarzman
    #8
    Stephen Schwarzman
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $9.70 B +
    Philip Anschutz
    #9
    Philip Anschutz
    Location: Denver | Net Worth: $9.70 B +
    Stanley Kroenke
    #10
    Stanley Kroenke
    Location: Missouri | Net Worth: $7.70 B +
    Andrew Beal
    #11
    Andrew Beal
    Location: Dallas | Net Worth: $7.60 B +
    The Marriott Family
    #12
    The Marriott Family
    Location: Washington DC | Net Worth: $6.90 B +
    Stephen Ross
    #13
    Stephen Ross
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $6.70 B +
    Richard LeFrak
    #14
    Richard LeFrak
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $5.80 B +
    John A. Sobrato
    #15
    John A. Sobrato
    Location: Bay Area/San Francisco | Net Worth: $5.80 B +
    Richard Kinder
    #16
    Richard Kinder
    Location: Houston | Net Worth: $5.50 B +
    Ray Hunt
    #17
    Ray Hunt
    Location: Dallas/Fort Worth | Net Worth: $5.30 B +
    Durst Family
    #18
    Durst Family
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $5.20 B +
    Ted Lerner
    #19
    Ted Lerner
    Location: Washington DC | Net Worth: $5.20 B +
    Rudin family
    #20
    Rudin family
    Location: New York City | Net Worth: $5.10 B +
    Tamara Gustavson
    #21
    Tamara Gustavson
    Location: Los Angeles | Net Worth: $5.00 B +
    Jerry Jones
    #22
    Jerry Jones
    Location: Dallas/Fort Worth | Net Worth: $5.00 B +