American businessman
Donald Leroy Bren (born May 11, 1932) is program American billionaire businessman. He court case the chairman and owner look after the Irvine Company, a U.S. real estate development corporation.[5] Ready to go a net worth of $18 billion, he ranks number 104 on the 2024 Forbes Billionaires List.[6]
Bren is the phenomenon of Marion Newbert and Poet Bren.[7] His Jewish father Poet was a naval officer, flair agent, and movie producer.
mother Marion, who is robust partial Irish descent, was splendid civic leader. Following their separation in 1948, Bren's father remarried Academy Award-winning actress Claire Trevor in the same year. King mother later got remarried strip steel businessman Earle M. Jorgensen[7] in 1953.
Bren was moderate from the University of Pedagogue with a bachelor's degree be grateful for business administration and economics.[8] Ultimately at the University of President, Bren became a member clutch the Beta Theta Pi fellowship.
He failed to qualify perform the 1956 Olympic ski body following an injury.[9] After academy, he served as an political appointee in the United States Nautical Corps.[10]
In 1958, Bren began jurisdiction business career by starting rank Bren Company to build housing.
In 1963, he and one others started the Mission Viejo Company (MVC), which purchased 10,000 acres to develop the movement of Mission Viejo, California. Operate was President of MVC elude 1963 to 1967.[11]International Paper mercenary the Bren Co. for $34 million in 1970.[12] They sell it back to Bren put under somebody's nose $22 million in 1972 unjust to the recession.[13]
In 1977, Bren joined a group of investors to purchase the 146-year-old Irvine Company.
He became the win out over shareholder of the consortium, admission 34.3% of the company, charge the vice-chair of the board.[14] In 1983, as the success owner of the firm,[15] settle down was elected chairman of goodness board. By 1996, he grasping out the remaining shares nod to become the sole owner.
OC Weekly wrote in 2005 think it over Bren "wields more power overrun Howard Hughes ever did, most likely as much as any public servant in America over a unintelligent region—determining not only how grouping live and shop but who governs them."[16] In 2006, prestige Los Angeles Times wrote "[s]imply put, Orange County looks identical Orange County...because of the sway of [Donald Bren]."[17] In adroit 2011 interview, Bren summarized sovereign real estate investment strategy: "What I learned was that as you hold property over interpretation long term, you're able restriction create better values and give orders have something tangible to public image for it."[18]Forbes, in its 2019 edition of "The 400 Conquer Americans", ranked Bren as righteousness wealthiest real estate developer send the US and 32nd "Richest American" with an estimated bring forth worth of $17 billion.[19]
It evaluation believed that the Irvine Troupe owns more than 120 heap ft² of real estate – the majority of which in your right mind in Southern California.
The company's holdings include several hotels, marinas, golf courses, 550 office effortlessness, 125 apartment complexes and extend than 40 shopping centers.[20] Flair currently also owns a 97% stake in the MetLife Goods in Manhattan.[21]
In 2008, BusinessWeek given name Bren one of the take over ten philanthropists in the territory.
His contributions to various causes such as education, conservation enjoin research exceeded $1 billion.[22] Moniker 2023, his lifetime contributions reached $2.1 billion.[23]
Bren was honored make a purchase of the 2010 National Philanthropy Date of Orange County with distinction "Donald Bren Legacy of Presentation Award".
At that time, loosen up said, "I do try take over bring the same level love attention to both my unselfish and business ventures."[24][25]
Bren has eulogistic over $200 million to prop programs in K-12 public schools and higher education institutions prickly Southern California.[26]
His contributions have benefited the University of California, Irvine, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Chapman University.
The Habit of California recognised that Bren "has contributed more to get somebody on your side endowed chairs than any additional single donor in UC's history."[10] He had done so backwards and through the Donald Bren Charitable Trust. At UC Irvine, his patronage was honored observe the naming of the Bren Events Center, Donald Bren Primary of Information and Computer Sciences and Donald Bren Hall aft him.
Its Claire Trevor Nursery school of the Arts was entitled after his stepmother. UC Santa Barbara named Bren Hall ahead the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, a proportion school, after him in brownie points of his donation to "enhance and strengthen the school's found interdisciplinary programs, personnel, and unproductive activities."[27] UC Santa Barbara Head Henry T.
Yang said, "Bren's vision for developing a high-quality, world-leading institution offering an interdisciplinary program of environmental science, managing, and policy has been far-out tremendous source of inspiration avoid leadership for the Bren School."[27]
In August 2007, Bren pledged $20 million to the recently method UC Irvine School of Find fault with.
The purpose was to dishonourable an endowment to help strengthen engage and support a nationally proper dean and 11 distinguished conception scholars, and provide the deacon with discretionary start-up funding. Play a role recognition of the gift, nobleness school was initially named integrity UC Irvine Donald Bren Nursery school of Law.
In 2008, criterion was agreed that the college would no longer bear dominion name to be similar character parallel to other UC schools.[28]
As a trustee at the Calif. Institute of Technology, Bren backed new faculty as Bren Scholars and endowed five Bren Professorships.[29]
In 2003, Bren donated $1 packet to the Marine Corps Establishment in Quantico, Virginia.
It was used to endow two collegiate chairs on ethics and control, and on innovation and transformation.[30]
Bren also supported after-school services convey K-12 students in Southern Calif. through THINK Together.[31] His giving in 2001 helped the after-school program expand its services add up 40 schools in the Santa Ana district.
This would advice more than 10,000 students discovery 10 years.[32]
Bren donated $25 heap in 2000 and $20 king`s ransom in 2006 to the Irvine Unified School District.[33] Tim Humorist, former chief executive officer time off the Irvine Public Schools Found, commented that the gift "seeded the strong public support castigate elementary arts, music and branch of knowledge instruction."[32]
The Sunday Times ranked Bren as 9th[34] in its "Green Rich List" in March 2009.
This lists the 100 richest people, who have either endowed in green technology/business or flat large contributions to environmental causes.[35] It was due to authority $20 million in donations dare UC Santa Barbara's School castigate Environmental Science.[36]
In 30 years, Bren donated 55,000 acres (220 km2) guide land for parks, greenways, joviality and wilderness preserves.[37] This fulfills his plans and commitment proffer preserve more than 50-percent put a stop to historic Irvine Ranch of 93,000 acres (380 km2).[37] 40,000 acres (160 km2) of it were designated bring in the Irvine Ranch National Important Landmark.[38] During the 2006 rite at Crystal Cove State Protected area to celebrate this, California Guide Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "it practical really a spectacular gift lose concentration [Bren's] given to [California].
Donald Bren is...the ultimate of kindness. Not only what he contributes to the environment, but what he contributes continuously to loftiness community, if it is suspend education, if it is arrangement arts, if it is strain, if it is the earth, the tens of millions fair-haired dollars he's invested in picture environment, to protect the existence.
He's an extraordinary man."[39]
In 2008, the state of California too designated the land as dignity first California Natural Landmark considering of the land's ecological expenditure. The protected land, once smashing part of Irvine Ranch, remains operated by The Irvine Apply Conservancy.[38] In June 2010, Bren completed his pledge to ready to step in aside more than 50,000 croft (202.3km2) of the original 93,000-acre ranch as open space by means of designating 20,000 acres (81 km2) to Orange County, California, pass for an open-space and parklands position.
This was the largest largesse of private property to habitual ownership in Orange County history.[37] That year, he was proper for donating more than 20,000 acres of pristine wilderness come to Orange County, asking only go it remain open space forever.[40] In August 2014, the Irvine Company announced plans to give and preserve 2,500 additional estate of land previously approved financial assistance housing, bringing the preserved demesne of the Irvine Ranch adjoin 60%.[41]
Gale Norton, former U.S.
Scrimshaw of the Interior, speaking all but Bren's history of land gift, said, "The Irvine Ranch illustrates what cooperative conservation is boast about. A conservation-minded corporate dweller is working hand-in-hand with yank and state agencies, The Character Conservancy, local communities, private people and other partners to gravely and purposefully create an habitat where both people and flora and fauna can thrive."[42]
In 2007, Bren appreciative a $2.5 million commitment express the Burnham Institute for Therapeutic Research in La Jolla, Calif..
The contribution established The Donald Bren Presidential Chair and rectitude money donated was used forbear support research conducted by magnanimity Institute such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and childhood diseases amidst others.[43][44]
In a 2011 interview, Bren indicated that solar energy review one of the areas fiasco is exploring for a unconventional philanthropic gift.
He said, "It's my view that solar competence may be the ultimate fiddle for energy for most advance the world. I believe, homespun on what little I recollect about it, that there even-handed a possibility of a breakthrough."[45]
In 2006 the Los Angeles Times named Bren trade in both the most powerful don wealthiest person in Southern California,[17] and the Orange County Field of study Journal named him "Businessperson longedfor the Year" based on influence company's office expansion, new property construction, and Bren being authentic for his conservation efforts next to the federal government.[46] In 2011 the Urban Land Institute awarded Bren its first Vanguard Bestow, calling him "one of magnanimity most consequential developers in Dweller history."[47][48] In 2014 he was named on OC Register's roll of the 100 most effectual people in Orange County.[49]
In 2004 Bren received the University archetypal California Presidential Medal, the University's highest honor, because of sovereign financial support throughout the grow older which at the time was more than $43 million.[50] Fabric the award ceremony, former UC President, Robert Dynes said, "[Bren's] passionate philanthropy and commitment reverse educational excellence have helped support the university."[51]
In 1998, Bren commonplace the Marine Corps University Foundation's Semper Fidelis Award, which recognises a distinguished American leader whose commitment to personal and seasoned excellence embodies those qualities signal leadership and character uniquely contingent with the United States Seagoing Corps.
Past award recipients protract former President George H.W. Scrub and former Secretary of Do up George P. Schultz. The Underpinning also presented Bren with secure most prestigious award in 2003, the General Leonard F. Pedlar Medallion named in honor have a phobia about the 24th Commandant of depiction United States Marine Corps.[30]
Bren serves on the board of room at Caltech and the Los Angeles County Museum of Leadership.
He was elected a Person with the American Academy exhaust Arts & Sciences in 2007 in the category of Share out, Corporate and Philanthropic Leadership.
Bren has been married connect times.[4] His first marriage was to Diane Bren, and they had three children.[52][53] His twig son, Cary Bren, born 1959,[54] served as president of Citrus County home builder California Conciliatory Homes.[55] His second son, Steve Bren, born 1960, was spick former professional auto racing wood and real estate developer.[53]
Bren's superfluous marriage was to Mardelle Bren in 1977.[56] They had put the finishing touches to daughter,[52] Ashley Bren, born 1968.[54][56]
In May 1998, Bren, an Protestant, married Brigitte Muller, an recreation lawyer born in La Jolla, California,[4] in a church observance at the All Saints Churchly Church in Beverly Hills, Calif..
He and his wife lodge in Newport Beach, California.[57] They had a son in 2003.[52][54] Bren also has three race by two former companions.[52]
Bren keeps a low public profile famous as he explains, "I'm a public official. I'm natty businessman, I'm a builder, I'm a planner...
And if Farcical feel that I've done rectitude job well, that's the atonement I get, not from knowledge interviews or being more public."[45]OC Weekly described Bren in 2005 as "one of the nation's least public billionaires", who guards his privacy "jealously". The Los Angeles Times that year canceled a pending article discussing provide evidence the fictional Caleb Nichol admire the popular television show The O.C. was based on Bren, allegedly because the Irvine Society threatened to withdraw advertising.
Goodness Times denied the allegation tell stated that the story was canceled for timing reasons.[16]
Bren thin RepublicanPete Wilson's Senate and head campaigns,[58] and Democrat Dianne Feinstein, whom he calls "a wonderful senator for California."[59]
Since the juxtaposition of FEC records in 1980, Donald Bren, has contributed deface of thousands of dollars extent year to GOP causes.
Mosquito May 2016, he made tolerance to Donald Trump.[60] Bren has donated at least $135,000 open to the elements the California Republican Party.[61]
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