George L. Argyros
Chairman, chief executive
Arnel & Affiliates,
limited partner
Westar Capital LLC
Born in Detroit
Age 74
Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)
Billionaire real estate investor, developer, more likely to be in headlines of late for philanthropy, politics.
Started real estate developer, investor Arnel & Affiliates 40 years ago. Owns apartments, offices, industrial buildings, shopping centers throughout Southern California.
Owns some 20 complexes totaling more than 5,000 apartments in OC. More than 2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space. Much in OC, also in City of Industry, Carlsbad.
Most prominent local holding: 52-acre Metro Pointe campus in Costa Mesa—280,000-square-foot shopping center, 300,000 square feet of offices, 300 apartments.
Founding partner of private equity firm Westar Capital, formed in 1987. Makes investments of $5 million to $25 million. Investments include Candle Lamp, a Riverside maker of food service equipment, San Diego home healthcare provider LifeCare Solutions.
Past investments include cooler maker Igloo Products of Texas, sold in 2008 to private equity firm J.H Whitney & Co., Texas pet products maker Doskocil Manufacturing, which does business as Petmate, sold this year to Chicago private equity firm Wind Point Partners.
Argyros’ wealth estimated at more than $1 billion from real estate, investments.
Director at First American Financial, where he’s an investor. Also on board of Costa Mesa’s Pacific Mercantile Bank, Kansas City-based business software maker DST Systems, early Westar investment.
Prolific Republican fundraiser, political heavy hitter. New Majority board member. President Bush’s ambassador to Spain, 2001 to late 2004. Dispatches on Spanish politics surfaced in recent WikiLeaks disclosures.
Second-generation Greek-American, speaks Greek. Born in Detroit, raised in Pasadena. First job mowing lawns. Was paper boy, grocery box boy, supermarket manager.
In 1962, started selling land to oil companies for service stations. Bid on state land as freeways were built in OC. Went on to buy land for restaurants, stores. Made initial fortune.
In 1981, paid $13 million for Seattle Mariners. Sold baseball team in 1989 for $89 million.
Bought AirCal with OC 50er Bill Lyon for $62 million in 1981. Sold to American Airlines five years later for $225 million.
One of county’s top arts patrons. South Coast Repertory stage named in wife’s honor.
Major giver to alma mater Chapman University, where business school, student center, Argyros Forum bear his name. Served more than 27 years as chairman of Chapman’s board, still trustee.
Gave $20 million for La Quinta’s George and Julia Argyros Health Center, 90,000-square-foot center that opened last year as part of Eisenhower Medical Center.
1993 winner of Horatio Alger Award; association’s treasurer, chairman emeritus. Received group’s Norman Vincent Peale Award in 2004.
In 2007, received Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Semper Fidelis Award.
Along with Chapman, alum of Michigan State. Majored in business, economics. Honorary doctor of laws degree from Pepperdine University. Honorary doctor of humane letters, Chapman. Honorary doctorate of sciences, City of Hope.
Recipient of Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Member, Bethesda, Md.-based Chief Executives Organization. Former chairman, current board member,
OC Council Boy Scouts of America. On Caltech board. Chairman, Beckman Foundation. Former chairman, Richard Nixon Library; founding chairman of Nixon Center in Washington, D.C.
Lives on Harbor Island with wife, Julia. Three children. Enjoys skiing, hunting, fishing, boating, golf, scuba diving, spending time with grandchildren.
—Mark Mueller
Donald L. Bren
Owner, chairman
Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles
Age 78
Lives in Newport Harbor
Southern California’s wealthiest man, state’s most influential real estate executive.
Longtime leader of Irvine Company, county’s largest landowner, landlord. County’s dominant businessman.
Shaped development here more than anyone. Oft-copied creator of master planned communities, said to have sculpted look of modern suburbia in California.
Sole shareholder of company, which he’s overseen since 1977. Remains active chairman.
Heads leadership team at Irvine Co. Runs office of chairman with group presidents (and OC 50ers) Richard Gilchrist, Dan Young, Greg Lindstrom, senior adviser Ray Wirta.
Real estate portfolio spans 95 million square feet of commercial space. Owns 484 office buildings, 41 shopping centers, 116 apartment complexes, three golf clubs, five marinas. Buying again after several years on sidelines.
Much of portfolio in OC. Substantial holdings in San Diego, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles. Recent office building buy in Chicago was first outside California. Said to be looking at more buys across country.
Wealthiest U.S. real estate developer, perhaps in world, according to Forbes. Wealth estimated by Business Journal at $12 billion.
Among few actually developing now. Aggressive Irvine homebuilding plan started in late 2009, seen best sales figures in state. Nearly 1,320 homes sold in past 15 months, projects nearly sold out.
Another 2,600 homes on tap with Stonegate, Laguna Altura projects, sales starting this year.
Marked return to housing development by paying homebuilders to put up houses on company land, instead of selling lots. Improving market led to resumed land sales, revival of company homebuilding arm Irvine Pacific Homes.
Finishing up $100 million reinvestment of Fashion Island shopping center.
More than $1 billion worth of office, apartment buys since late last year, including $625 million for Windy City’s 49-story Hyatt Center.
Closer to home, spent $213 million for Costa Mesa’s Pacific Arts Plaza, first office complex for company in Costa Mesa’s arts district. Paid another $125 million for Newport Center’s Pacific Financial Plaza, office complex that holds headquarters of bond fund manager Pacific Investment Management Co., others.
Also paid more than $200 million in October for Archstone Gateway apartment complex in Orange, first deal in Platinum Triangle area.
One of country’s most generous philanthropists. Bloomberg BusinessWeek puts lifetime giving at $1.3 billion.
More than $200 million in giving for education. Given more than $60 million to UC Irvine, including $20 million for law school that opened in 2009. Also given to UC Santa Barbara, Caltech, Chapman, local school districts. Awarded President’s medal from University of California, additional medal from UCI. Endowed more UC distinguished faculty chairs than any other individual donor.
Pledged some $10 million since 2006 to Think Together, Santa Ana nonprofit that offers after-school programs.
Custodian of historic Irvine Ranch, assembled by James Irvine more than century ago.
In 2001, set aside 11,000 acres as open space. Has committed $50 million to enhance land reserve, created nonprofit Irvine Ranch Conservancy to manage open space, improve public access.
Gave another 20,000 acres to Nature Reserve of OC last year as permanent open space.
More than half of 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch (50,000 acres) set aside for parks, open space. Most of land designated as national natural landmark in 2006, state landmark in 2008.
Twenty years of development left. Estimated 27,000 acres of developable land, enough for 29,000 housing lots.
Private, some insist shy. Shuns spotlight. Gentlemanly, sharp. Sets decidedly old-school tone. Suits required attire.
In 1958 founded homebuilder Bren Co., now California Pacific Homes. Later started Mission Viejo Co. with O’Neill-Moiso families, others. Sold stake to partners, who sold to Philip Morris in 1970s.
Part of 1977 group acquiring control of Irvine Co. Bought out most partners for $518 million in 1983. In 1991 paid $256 million court award to heiresses Joan Irvine Smith, mother Athalie Clarke for their shares.
Became 100% owner in 1996.
Among upper echelons of political influence. Key player in formation of moderate Republican group New Majority.
Involvement with boards of UCI Foundation, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, OC Museum of Art, Caltech boards.
Retired Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. Gave $1 million for chairs at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va. Did officer training at Quantico in 1957. In 1998 received Semper Fidelis Award for support of Marine Corps University Founda-tion, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Business administration, economics degree from University of Washington.
Mother Marion Jorgensen died in 2008, father movie producer Milton Bren. Mother later married steel magnate Earle M. Jorgensen, who died in 1999.
No talk of stepping back any time soon. Calls Jorgensen, Arnold Beckman idols. Both worked into 100s.
Irvine Co. set up to continue after Bren as private company controlled by independent board, which will choose new chairman. Beneficiaries will be a combination of public, private entities, Bren told Los Angeles Times in February.
Company “set up to operate in perpetuity,” he says.
Married to entertainment lawyer Brigitte Bren, runs international business consultancy. Son born in 2003. Has other children. Two sons involved in local real estate companies.
Splits time between Los Angeles, Newport. Accomplished skier, has Sun Valley ranch. Also windsurfs, sails, plays tennis.
—Mark Mueller
Kenneth L. Campbell III
Chief executive, president
Standard Pacific Corp.
Born in Hudson, Ohio
Age 54
Lives in Laguna Beach
Head of largest homebuilder based here, now one of California’s most active land buyers.
Turnaround specialist joined company from hedge fund MatlinPatterson Global Advisers, Standard’s dominant shareholder since 2008.
Named director in mid-2008, CEO later that year. Brought builder back from brink. Cut overhead costs by $150 million, reduced near-term debt that once threatened company with bankruptcy.
After three years of losses, posted small profit in 2010 before debt refinancing charges. Company now counts market value of more than $700 million, nearly double from 2009 low.
Buying land at discount in preparation for housing turnaround. Bought $315 million of land in 2010, primarily in California. Landed recent $210 million credit line for more deals.
Focused on projects targeting move-up buyers, more expensive homes. Sees fewer competitors in segment.
Realistic about pace of turnaround. Focused on preserving cash, improving profit margins that now are among best in industry. Awaiting signs of increased buyer demand. Told Wall Street Journal, “We’re not going to be in a lousy market forever.”
Centralized headquarters into no-frills office building. Tight-knit executive team. Some 750 workers, down from 2,500 at peak of market.
Partner since 2007 at MatlinPatterson, which saved Standard with $530 million investment in 2008.
Twenty years of experience reviving distressed companies. Says he still doesn’t think of himself as a homebuilder. “I’m ignorant.”
Restructuring jobs include Ohio’s Ormet, aluminum maker “everyone had written off,” New York-based Railworks, transit construction company. Began turnaround career at Kaiser Engineers of Virginia.
Spent time in former Czechoslovakia during Velvet Revolution.
Doesn’t expect to be at company five years from now: “I’m not a career homebuilder.”
Calls himself “small-town Ohio person.” Still has family, friends in Buckeye State.
Graduate of Connecticut’s Wesleyan University. Business master’s from Wharton.
Deadpan sense of humor. Moved to OC from New York on appointment, usually starts conference calls with Wall Street analysts giving updates on OC weather.
—Mark Mueller
Jonathan M. Jaffe
Chief operating officer
Lennar Corp.
Born in New York
Age 51
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Emile K. Haddad
Chief executive, president
FivePoint Communities LLC
Born in Beirut, Lebanon
Age 52
Lives in Laguna Hills (Nellie Gail)
Longtime partners at Lennar now running separate ships.
Duo behind county’s biggest recent land buys. Now moving ahead on some homebuilding plans, including at Irvine’s former El Toro Marine base.
Jaffe No. 3 at Miami-based Lennar, country’s third-largest homebuilder by revenue, yearly sales of $3 billion.
Runs much of Lennar’s daily operations from Aliso Viejo. Miami headquarters, Chief Executive Stuart Miller, President Rick Beckwitt handle Wall Street.
Haddad stepped down as Lennar chief investment officer in 2009 to take top spot at FivePoint, new company in charge of developing some of Lennar’s largest holdings in California, including 3,700-acre El Toro project.
Lennar owns majority of FivePoint. Haddad an investor, has final management say. Brought a few dozen Lennar employees with him to Aliso Viejo-based company.
In 2005, Jaffe, Haddad led $1 billion buy of former El Toro base, biggest local real estate deal in recent memory. Deal, others, propelled Lennar alongside Irvine Company, Rancho Mission Viejo, as one of largest developers here.
Moving ahead on plans for long-delayed El Toro housing project, now known as Great Park Neighborhoods, following financial reworking early this year. Haddad says deal takes project “out of quicksand of yesterday’s problems.”
Boston’s State Street Bank & Trust paid reported $153 million for a $775 million mortgage on property held by bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings.
Existing investors, including Lennar, Michael Dell, put in another $200 million in refinancing.
State Street then cut project’s outstanding mortgage from some $650 million to $200 million, gave Five Point $180 million line of credit.
Deal clears up worries about FivePoint losing control. Haddad calls restructuring hardest deal he’s worked on.
Goal now to have first Great Park homes sold, occupied in 2013. FivePoint hopes to have nearly 5,000 homes built, sold in eight to 10 years.
City of Irvine pushing ahead with its portion of redevelopment, 1,347-acre Orange County Great Park.
FivePoint also overseeing LandSource Communities Development land in Valencia taken out of bankruptcy last year, along with projects in San Francisco area. In all, projects could hold more than 30,000 homes.
Lennar second-largest builder in OC last year with 192 home sales.
Saw sales begin again last year at Irvine’s mothballed Central Park West development, continued sales of homes built on Irvine Co. land.
Big plans in Anaheim for condo towers, shops, restaurants still on hold. Paid close to $250 million for land near Angel Stadium of Anaheim during boom, prompted rush of other developers to pursue condo projects. Most of those built now operate as apartments after condo crash.
Jaffe led Lennar’s charge into California in 1995. Had to buy way into OC’s tight-knit homebuilding club, where big landowners, homegrown builders dominate.
Oversees homebuilding, land divisions in 15 states. Became executive officer with Lennar in 1994, vice president in 1999. Promoted to current post from Western region president six years ago.
On national advisory board of HomeAid America.
Undergrad degree from University of Florida, graduate studies in architecture at Georgia Tech University. Joined Lennar out of college.
Wife, Karen, three sons. Enjoys tennis, beach life, coaching Little League.
Haddad led land development in Southern California for Canada’s Bramalea, which Lennar bought in 1996.
Has civil engineering degree from American University of Beirut, California licenses in engineering, contracting. Member, Urban Land Institute.
Left troubled Lebanon with fiancée, now wife, Dina. Couple had engagement party in Lebanon, married in Vegas. Daughter, son.
On board of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business, USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.
—Mark Mueller
Richard I. Gilchrist
President, investment properties group
Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles
Age 63
Lives in Newport Coast
Gregory P. Lindstrom
Executive vice president, general counsel
Irvine Company
Born in Hollywood
Age 57
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Ray E. Wirta
Senior adviser
Irvine Company
Born in Coronado
Age 67
Lives in Irvine
Daniel H. Young
President, Irvine Community
Development Co.
Irvine Company
Born in Orange
Age 59
Lives in Coto de Caza
Key Irvine Company executives after Chairman Don Bren, stand-alone OC 50er.
Gilchrist focused on acquisitions at unit that manages offices, shopping centers, hotels, apartments, other investment properties.
Lindstrom oversees corporate functions—legal, finance, communications, HR, technology.
Wirta provides senior counsel.
Young in charge of housing development.
Four serve in Office of Chairman with Bren, handling land planning, development, real estate management, corporate finance, strategy.
Irvine Co. veteran Young became head of community development in 2007. Leading housing development charge in Irvine as most developers still shaking off downturn.
Irvine Co. initially financed building, paying builders to put up homes under “executive builder” program. Now selling some lots to builders, putting up next phases of homes with recently revived company-owned Irvine Pacific, dormant since 1980s.
Young joined in 1999. Up to 2007 promotion, was responsible for political affairs, getting projects approved by governments. Now oversees implementation. Graduate of Santa Ana High School. Eight years as Santa Ana’s mayor, 11 years on City Council. City’s soccer field named for him.
On board of Santa Ana’s Taller San Jose, which provides education, job skills for at-risk young adults. New Majority member.
Bachelor’s from Cal State Fullerton, master’s in public administration from USC.
Wife, Leslee, three children. Avid golfer.
Gilchrist took over dominant investment properties group in 2006. Managed portfolio during downturn, focused on filling space. Nearly 7 million square feet of office leases last year, including 5 million square feet in OC.
Group manages 484 office buildings, 41 shopping centers, 116 apartment complexes, three golf courses, three hotels, five marinas.
Recently completed $100 million upgrade at Fashion Island shopping center. Added Nordstrom last year.
Apartment division still growing. Opened 1,456-unit The Park, second big Irvine Spectrum complex.
Also oversees offices, apartments in San Diego, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles.
Joined as president of office properties, after brief time as consultant. Prior to Irvine Co., served as president, co-chief executive of Maguire Properties in Los Angeles. Held executive role with Commonwealth Atlantic Properties.
Chairman of Whittier College Board of Trustees, where he received bachelor’s. Law degree from UCLA.
Wife, Nina, four children, seven grandchildren.
Lindstrom went from consultant to insider in past three years, coming from San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins. Was one of Latham’s heavy hitters. Served as managing partner for OC, San Francisco offices. Specialized in antitrust, intellectual property, securities, unfair business practices.
Tried more than 30 lawsuits. Clients included Apple’s Steve Jobs, Oracle’s Larry Ellison.
Took over many duties handled by former Irvine Co. chief executive Michael McKee, former Latham colleague who left in 2008. Experience in real estate, land use, environmental law for landowners, developers, builders.
Counts long ties to Irvine Co., Bren. Served as legal adviser to company for more than 25 years. Handled Committee of 4000 litigation brought by land lease holders, landmark trial about title to Newport Back Bay islands.
Law degree from University of Chicago. Undergrad from UCLA. Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers. Grew up in OC, Foothill High grad.
Wife, Carol, vice chairman of Deloitte. Two daughters. Makes acclaimed Napa Valley cabernet.
Wirta joined company in mid-2010 as a senior adviser to Office of the Chairman. Provides strategic counsel, consults on special projects.
Prior to joining, spent eight years at CB Richard Ellis, six years as chief executive, during which time the company grew revenue in double digits. Previously with Koll Company for 16 years, seven years as president.
Grew up in San Diego. Has lived in Irvine since 2008. Bachelor’s in economics from California State University, Long Beach, business master’s from Golden Gate University.
Wife, Sandra, three sons, one daughter, five grandkids.
—Mark Mueller
William Lyon
Owner, chairman, chief executive
William Lyon Homes Inc.
Born in Los Angeles
Age 88
Lives in Coto de Caza
Iconic homebuilder, airman who helped shape landscape of Orange County, Southern California.
Built estimated 100,000 homes during career. Focused now on California, Nevada, Arizona.
Spent much of past three years shoring up namesake Newport Beach homebuilder amid industry downturn.
Cutting losses: $21 million in red ink for nine months through September, down from $349 million loss in 2007.
Making selective land buys in improving markets, including Irvine. Sold 139 homes in OC last year in Irvine, Tustin. Opening project in Santa Ana near South Coast Plaza this year.
Retired Air Force major general. Last year opened Lyon Air Museum, 30,000-square-foot collection of World War II planes, military vehicles, cars, other memorabilia next to John Wayne Airport. Calls museum labor of love.
Owns homebuilding company through family trusts. Turning over day-to-day operations to Bill Lyon, 37-year-old son.
Younger Lyon named president, chief operating officer in 2009. With company since 1997, director since 2000. Stanford grad.
Elder Lyon in homebuilding for five decades. Started Luxury Homes with brother Leon in Fullerton in 1954. Started William Lyon Co. in Newport in 1972. Named to California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame, 1985.
Started William Lyon Homes in 1993. In 1999, combined William Lyon, Presley creating William Lyon Homes, just in time for housing boom.
Owns majority of Lyon Communities, apartment developer, owner with more than 11,000 units.
Long history in aviation. Served as chief of Air Force Reserve, 1975 to 1979. Seventeen combat decorations. Pilot during World War II, Korea.
In 1981, he, OC 50er George Argyros paid $62 million to buy airline AirCal. Sold five years later for $225 million.
In late 1980s, formed Air/Lyon with former AirCal exec, provided ground services for airlines, private aircraft.
Avid car, plane collector. Has some 100 antique cars, including 10 rare Duesenbergs.
Politically connected. Board member, New Majority. Big giver to Republicans.
Attended Dallas Aviation School and Air College, USC. Honorary USC doctorate.
Director, Fidelity National Financial. Chairman, investor Commercial Bank of California.
Supporter of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Boy Scouts, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, where he’s founding chairman.
Funny. Droll, deadpan sense of humor. Frequent lunchtime visitor at Newport’s Pacific Club.
Lives with wife, Willa Dean, in mansion on 130-acre Coto estate. Five children.
—Mark Mueller
Anthony R. Moiso
Chief executive, president
Rancho Mission Viejo LLC
Born in West Los Angeles
Age 71
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Heads land development, real estate leasing company of Moiso, O’Neill, Avery families, county’s No. 2 landowner behind Irvine Co.
Family company behind creation of Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch. Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita named for Moiso.
He heads all aspects of historic ranch, which dates back to 1882. Along with development, leasing, oversees cattle, farming.
Ranch once covered 200,000 acres, stretching from Saddleback Mountain to Oceanside (including all of what’s now Camp Pendleton). Now spans 23,000 acres in county’s southeastern corner.
Planning 14,000 homes, 5 million square feet of commercial development on quarter of land. Delayed by downturn. Now said to be eyeing development again. Reportedly talking to builders about selling land for first phase of 1,200 homes. Could see homebuilding start in next year or two.
Majority of land, 17,000 acres, set for open space. Family to continue farming, ranching on land. Has 500 acres of citrus, barley, lemon, avocado, other crops, 450 head of cattle.
Family also owns shopping centers, golf courses, apartments, senior complexes, medical offices, other commercial buildings. Holdings include San Juan Capistrano’s El Adobe restaurant, Los Swallows Inn, Mission Promenade.
Started Mission Viejo Co. with fellow OC 50er Don Bren. Became Moiso-Avery-O’Neill clan’s top exec in 1967 after Bren left.
Philip Morris bought Mission Viejo Co. in 1972. Moiso revived family business as Rancho Mission Viejo in 1973.
Earned history degree (minor in political science) from Stanford, 1961. Served in Army.
Wife, Melinda. Four daughters (Katrina, Cristy, Anne Marie, Francesca), 13 grandchildren. Richard “Dick” O’Neill, Moiso’s uncle, family patriarch, died in 2009.
Devoted family man, loyal to friends. Believes “handshake is your bond.”
Longtime supporter of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Stepped down as Mission Preservation Foundation president in 2009. Remains on board. Hosts annual Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo (which has raised more than $1 million for local charities).
Bikes, hikes, rides horses, plays golf.
—Mark Mueller
Igor M. Olenicoff
Owner, chief executive
Olen Properties Corp.
Born in Mazandaran, Iran
Age 68
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Billionaire real estate developer. County’s second-largest commercial landlord after OC 50er Don Bren.
Owns more than 6 million square feet of commercial real estate, about 10,000 apartments in California, Nevada, Florida.
Trophy property: Chicago’s One South Dearborn tower. Forty-story tower bought in 2006 for reported $362 million.
Much of portfolio local. Counts close to 2,000 tenants, 380 buildings locally. Area holdings include low-rise offices, pair of office towers near airport, Olen Pointe office campus in Brea.
Owns 1,400 acres in Temecula, Nevada, Arizona, Florida.
Weathering commercial real estate downturn. No known give-backs of property or land. Said to have low debt, shielding Olen from issues facing other developers.
International exposure as part of high-profile tax case, ongoing lawsuit against Swiss bank UBS. Resolved tax issues with government in 2008. Sentenced to two years probation, $52 million in penalties in tax evasion plea deal. Former personal banker, Bradley Birkenfeld, in federal prison.
Olenicoff suing UBS, others including Birkenfeld, for $500 million, citing fraud, racketeering, other issues. Says would give any money from lawsuit to charity.
Involvement in UBS case led to global press, massive changes in secretive Swiss banking laws, affecting thousands of wealthy Americans.
Has headquarters in distinctive building: huge, museum-like structure on Corporate Plaza near Fashion Island. Decorated with czarist-era sculptures, paintings.
Born in northern Iran, then under World War II Soviet occupation. Parents left Soviet Union for Iran after Russian Revolution, due to ties with Czar Nicholas II. Family went to Iranian mining town, then came to U.S. when Olenicoff was 15.
Worked way through USC where he graduated with four degrees—bachelor’s in finance and engineering, business master’s, master’s in statistics, quantitative analysis. Remains close to fraternity brothers.
Fluent in English, Russian, Farsi.
Worked for Shell, Touche Ross, Motown Records. Bean counter for Berry Gordy. Founding partner in real estate syndicator Gemini Pacific. VP of operations at Dunn Properties before starting Olen in 1973.
Wife Jeanne. Daughter Natalia, USC grad, Olen’s director of asset management. Playing larger role after untimely 2005 death of son, heir apparent, Andrei. Restaurant opened in 2009 in late son’s memory.
Enjoys boating, snow, water skiing, off-road motorcycle riding. Owns waterfront home in Lighthouse Point, Fla.
—Mark Mueller
Henry T. Segerstrom
Managing partner
C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
Born in Orange County
Age 88
Lives in Newport Beach
Developer of Costa Mesa’s business district, namesake of county’s performing arts center.
Long the public face of family developer, owner of South Coast Plaza, office buildings, land in, around Costa Mesa. One of modern OC’s founding fathers.
Best known for ritzy South Coast Plaza, first U.S. shopping center to hit $1 billion in yearly sales. Said to have highest sales per square foot of any California mall. Some 23 million visitors a year. International destination.
Family part of group that owns, runs Costa Mesa office high-rises, including Plaza Tower, Center Tower, Park Tower. Plaza Tower, by architect César Pelli, considered among county’s premier buildings.
Offices holding up amid region’s commercial real estate troubles. But still sluggish real estate market keeping development plans for towers, luxury condos, hotel from moving ahead.
Focused more on arts of late. In January, Performing Arts Center renamed Segerstrom Center for the Arts amid glitzy ceremony.
Center, now 25 years old, includes 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall, 250-seat Founders Hall, 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall that opened in 2006.
Given more than $60 million, land to center over years.
In 2010, awarded Medal of Excellence by Carnegie Hall for support of arts.
Family business dates back to 1898. Grandfather C.J. Segerstrom was Swedish immigrant farmer. By 1950s, family was leading lima bean grower.
Now runs company with Sandra “Sandy” Segerstrom Daniels, his second cousin. She, her two sisters, brother are estimated to own half of company.
Henry Segerstrom’s stake estimated at quarter after factoring in divorce from his first wife.
Professional managers playing stepped up role in company, likely to run business for family in coming years.
Raised during Great Depression. Enlisted in Army, rose from private to field artillery captain fighting to liberate France. Received Purple Heart in World War II.
Business bachelor’s, master’s from Stanford. Presented with 2008 Arbuckle Award by Stanford Graduate School of Business Alumni Association. Honorary doctorates of law from Western State, Whittier Law School. Recently joined Carnegie Hall board of trustees.
Politically connected. Friend of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, featured in Segerstrom biography video for Carnegie Hall award.
Loves 1940s big band music.
Married to third wife, Elizabeth. Daughter Andrea, sons Anton, Toren from first wife. Anton, son-in-law David Grant involved in business.
—Mark Mueller
Charles J. Schreiber Jr.
Chief executive
KBS Realty Advisors
Age 59
Lives in Laguna Hills
Peter M. Bren
Chairman, president
KBS Realty Advisors
Age 77
Lives in New York
Duo behind one of county’s most active buyers of commercial real estate.
Newport Beach’s KBS Realty Advisors, affiliates responsible for more than $20 billion of property acquisitions, sales since 1992 founding.
Biggest splash made in past three years, with several billion dollars worth of headline deals. Among country’s largest real estate buyers of trophy office properties in past two years.
Buying prominent buildings across country, spending record prices to acquire stable, well-leased office, industrial buildings.
Goal is to buy “assets without leasing risk,” Schreiber says.
Prolific fundraisers. Company gets money from pension funds, individual investors. Runs stable of institutional, private funds, five privately traded real estate investment trusts.
Year of record-breaking deals in 2010. Paid $655 million for recently built, 1.3 million-square-foot skyscraper in Chicago. Tower, 300 North LaSalle St. now most expensive office in Windy City on per-square-foot basis.
Also paid $208 million for 40-story Union Bank Plaza tower in L.A., $115 million for 38-story office in Louisville, Ky., $150 million for Denver’s 31-story Granite Tower. All near record sales prices for each of the cities on per square foot basis, defying overall downturn in commercial real estate.
Busy this year too. Making deals for high-rises in West Palm Beach, Fla., Houston, as well as sizeable industrial buys on both coasts.
Portfolio now totals more than 45 million square feet, 150 buildings.
Company originally known as Koll Bren Schreiber, longtime area developer.
Former OC 50er Don Koll no longer involved.
Schreiber runs KBS operations from Newport Center headquarters. Bren works out of New York office, visits OC. Both count more than 30 years in real estate.
Prior to forming KBS, Schreiber served as executive vice president of Koll Investment Management Services, executive vice president of acquisitions, dispositions for Koll Co.
During 1980s, founded Pacific Development Co.
Graduated from USC with bachelor’s in finance, emphasis in real estate. Executive board member for USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
Bren real estate veteran. Previously president of real estate investor The Bren Company.
Also former senior partner of Lincoln Property, was president of European division.
Calls recession of 1989-1993 biggest real estate fiasco in recent times. “That was a bear,” he said at a San Diego State event last year. “What we are dealing with now is a cub.”
Younger brother of OC 50er, Irvine Co. Chairman Don Bren. No other known ties to Irvine Co.
Founding member of Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at UCLA Anderson School of Management.
—Mark Mueller
OTHER MEMBERS
Robert a. alter
Executive chairman, Aliso Viejo-based hotel investor Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.
Craig Atkins
Cofounder, chairman, City Ventures LLC, Santa Ana-based homebuilder with more than 3,500 lots across California
William R. Halford
Chief executive, president, Irvine-based Bixby Land Co., owner of 5 million square feet of office, industrial real estate
Michael F. Harrah
Owner, president, Caribou Industries Inc., owner of 4 million square feet of commercial space in downtown Santa Ana, around the Civic Center.
Michael K. Hayde
Chief executive, Irvine-based Western National Group, apartment developer, manager
Peter O. Shea Jr., Colm W. Macken, Roberto F. Selva
Chief executive, president, J.F. Shea Co.; chief executive, president, Shea Properties; Roberto F. Selva, chief executive, president, Shea Homes
H. Lawrence Webb
Partner, chief executive, Aliso Viejo-based New Home Co., homebuilder in Irvine
