LEGACY LEADERSHIP: James Irvine Sr., an Irish immigrant and California rancher, amassed a fortune in San Francisco during the Gold Rush by operating a grocery and supply store for miners. He invested that fortune in Northern California real estate before he and several partners headed south and in 1864 began acquiring Mexican and Spanish land grants totaling 110K acres. He bought out his partners a few years later and cultivated the land with grains, vegetables and other agricultural products.
OC SIGNIFICANCE: Irvine’s acquisition of the land grants formed about one-third of present-day Orange County. Much of that land has become what is now Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Tustin. Sold 1,000 acres of ranchland to the University of California system for exactly $1 to build UCI.
DEFINING MOMENT: In 1977, Donald Bren was part of a consortium that bought in the company. Later Bren bought out partners. Bren is widely regarded as the most influential developer in Orange County history. Company developed master-planned villages, office towers, shopping centers, apartments and resorts that became models for suburban planning nationwide. Owner of Irvine Spectrum and Fashion Island, among other properties. Since Bren assumed control, company has donated more than 55K acres for conservation.
QUOTABLE: “Often the best way to show warm sympathy is with cold cash.” —James Irvine
FUN FACT: Irvine Ranch once served as the world’s largest producer of lima beans.
