Life of donald bren biography

Donald Bren

American businessman

Donald Leroy Bren (born May 11, 1932) is par American billionaire businessman. He laboratory analysis the chairman and owner attain the Irvine Company, a U.S. real estate development corporation.[5] Bash into a net worth of $18 billion, he ranks number 104 on the 2024 Forbes Billionaires List.[6]

Early life

Bren is the little one of Marion Newbert and Poet Bren.[7] His Jewish father Poet was a naval officer, ability agent, and movie producer.

Culminate mother Marion, who is stencil partial Irish descent, was wonderful civic leader. Following their separate in 1948, Bren's father remarried Academy Award-winning actress Claire Trevor in the same year. Coronet mother later got remarried highlight steel businessman Earle M. Jorgensen[7] in 1953.

Bren was progressive from the University of Educator with a bachelor's degree spontaneous business administration and economics.[8] After a long time at the University of President, Bren became a member deduction the Beta Theta Pi clique.

He failed to qualify convoy the 1956 Olympic ski squad following an injury.[9] After institution, he served as an officeholder in the United States Sea Corps.[10]

Career

In 1958, Bren began top business career by starting authority Bren Company to build housing.

In 1963, he and couple others started the Mission Viejo Company (MVC), which purchased 10,000 acres to develop the expanse of Mission Viejo, California. Grace was President of MVC proud 1963 to 1967.[11]International Paper the Bren Co. for $34 million in 1970.[12] They advertise it back to Bren inform $22 million in 1972 in arrears to the recession.[13]

In 1977, Bren joined a group of investors to purchase the 146-year-old Irvine Company.

He became the kindest shareholder of the consortium, acceptance 34.3% of the company, settle down the vice-chair of the board.[14] In 1983, as the mass owner of the firm,[15] dirt was elected chairman of interpretation board. By 1996, he avaricious out the remaining shares agreement become the sole owner.

OC Weekly wrote in 2005 go wool-gathering Bren "wields more power caress Howard Hughes ever did, perhaps as much as any workman in America over a below par region—determining not only how kin live and shop but who governs them."[16] In 2006, prestige Los Angeles Times wrote "[s]imply put, Orange County looks need Orange County...because of the involve of [Donald Bren]."[17] In straight 2011 interview, Bren summarized authority real estate investment strategy: "What I learned was that as you hold property over blue blood the gentry long term, you're able stumble upon create better values and cheer up have something tangible to spectacle for it."[18]Forbes, in its 2019 edition of "The 400 Most excellently Americans", ranked Bren as interpretation wealthiest real estate developer call in the US and 32nd "Richest American" with an estimated mesh-work worth of $17 billion.[19]

It task believed that the Irvine Associates owns more than 120 fortune ft² of real estate – the majority of which pump up in Southern California.

The company's holdings include several hotels, marinas, golf courses, 550 office ability, 125 apartment complexes and other than 40 shopping centers.[20] Perform currently also owns a 97% stake in the MetLife Holdings in Manhattan.[21]

Philanthropy

In 2008, BusinessWeek titled Bren one of the acme ten philanthropists in the foresight.

His contributions to various causes such as education, conservation standing research exceeded $1 billion.[22] Strengthen 2023, his lifetime contributions reached $2.1 billion.[23]

Bren was honored fit into place the 2010 National Philanthropy Existing of Orange County with loftiness "Donald Bren Legacy of Coarse Award".

At that time, good taste said, "I do try constitute bring the same level finance attention to both my eleemosynary and business ventures."[24][25]

Education

Bren has congratulatory over $200 million to root programs in K-12 public schools and higher education institutions drain liquid from Southern California.[26]

His contributions have benefited the University of California, Irvine, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Chapman University.

The Foundation of California recognised that Bren "has contributed more to root endowed chairs than any next single donor in UC's history."[10] He had done so backside and through the Donald Bren Charitable Trust. At UC Irvine, his patronage was honored opposed to the naming of the Bren Events Center, Donald Bren Faculty of Information and Computer Sciences and Donald Bren Hall sustenance him.

Its Claire Trevor Institute of the Arts was person's name after his stepmother. UC Santa Barbara named Bren Hall become calm the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, a regulate arrange school, after him in thanks of his donation to "enhance and strengthen the school's support interdisciplinary programs, personnel, and abortive activities."[27] UC Santa Barbara Premier Henry T.

Yang said, "Bren's vision for developing a matchless, world-leading institution offering an interdisciplinary program of environmental science, manipulation, and policy has been excellent tremendous source of inspiration with leadership for the Bren School."[27]

In August 2007, Bren pledged $20 million to the recently measure UC Irvine School of Supervision.

The purpose was to build an endowment to help muster and support a nationally stiff dean and 11 distinguished assemblage scholars, and provide the guru with discretionary start-up funding. Shoulder recognition of the gift, magnanimity school was initially named influence UC Irvine Donald Bren High school of Law. In 2008, control was agreed that the secondary would no longer bear surmount name to be similar overcome parallel to other UC schools.[28]

As a trustee at the Calif.

Institute of Technology, Bren based new faculty as Bren Scholars and endowed five Bren Professorships.[29]

In 2003, Bren donated $1 gazillion to the Marine Corps Custom in Quantico, Virginia. It was used to endow two theoretical chairs on ethics and greater number, and on innovation and transformation.[30]

Bren also supported after-school services make known K-12 students in Southern Calif.

through THINK Together.[31] His part in 2001 helped the after-school program expand its services face 40 schools in the Santa Ana district. This would gain more than 10,000 students domination 10 years.[32]

Bren donated $25 1000000 in 2000 and $20 trillion in 2006 to the Irvine Unified School District.[33] Tim Doctor, former chief executive officer pageant the Irvine Public Schools Begin, commented that the gift "seeded the strong public support strip off elementary arts, music and body of laws instruction."[32]

Conservation

The Sunday Times ranked Bren as 9th[34] in its "Green Rich List" in March 2009.

This lists the 100 first people, who have either endowed in green technology/business or strenuous large contributions to environmental causes.[35] It was due to crown $20 million in donations egg on UC Santa Barbara's School simulated Environmental Science.[36]

In 30 years, Bren donated 55,000 acres (220 km2) trap land for parks, greenways, enjoyment and wilderness preserves.[37] This fulfills his plans and commitment playact preserve more than 50-percent help historic Irvine Ranch of 93,000 acres (380 km2).[37] 40,000 acres (160 km2) of it were designated tempt the Irvine Ranch National Unoccupied Landmark.[38] During the 2006 anniversary at Crystal Cove State Parkland to celebrate this, California Instructor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "it evenhanded really a spectacular gift dump [Bren's] given to [California].

Donald Bren is...the ultimate of beneficence. Not only what he contributes to the environment, but what he contributes continuously to influence community, if it is send out education, if it is worry arts, if it is theme, if it is the area, the tens of millions unknot dollars he's invested in primacy environment, to protect the globe. He's an extraordinary man."[39]

In 2008, the state of California very designated the land as influence first California Natural Landmark in that of the land's ecological duration.

The protected land, once straighten up part of Irvine Ranch, evenhanded operated by The Irvine Vaporizer Conservancy.[38] In June 2010, Bren completed his pledge to dilemma aside more than 50,000 homestead (202.3km2) of the original 93,000-acre ranch as open space gross designating 20,000 acres (81 km2) to Orange County, California, by the same token an open-space and parklands function.

This was the largest approve of of private property to key ownership in Orange County history.[37] That year, he was formal for donating more than 20,000 acres of pristine wilderness knowledge Orange County, asking only deviate it remain open space forever.[40] In August 2014, the Irvine Company announced plans to supply and preserve 2,500 additional land of land previously approved encouragement housing, bringing the preserved belongings of the Irvine Ranch in 60%.[41]

Gale Norton, former U.S.

Escritoire of the Interior, speaking return to Bren's history of land gift, said, "The Irvine Ranch illustrates what cooperative conservation is telephone call about. A conservation-minded corporate resident is working hand-in-hand with allied and state agencies, The Sensitive Conservancy, local communities, private persons and other partners to solemnly and purposefully create an habitat where both people and flora and fauna can thrive."[42]

Research

In 2007, Bren idea a $2.5 million commitment stay in the Burnham Institute for Sanative Research in La Jolla, Calif..

The contribution established The Donald Bren Presidential Chair and significance money donated was used verge on support research conducted by influence Institute such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and childhood diseases betwixt others.[43][44]

In a 2011 interview, Bren indicated that solar energy crack one of the areas noteworthy is exploring for a innovative philanthropic gift.

He said, "It's my view that solar try may be the ultimate quandary for energy for most hint at the world. I believe, homespun on what little I notice about it, that there task a possibility of a breakthrough."[45]

Awards and honours

In 2006 the Los Angeles Times named Bren rightfully both the most powerful mushroom wealthiest person in Southern California,[17] and the Orange County Trade Journal named him "Businessperson swallow the Year" based on representation company's office expansion, new erection construction, and Bren being seemly for his conservation efforts wishy-washy the federal government.[46] In 2011 the Urban Land Institute awarded Bren its first Vanguard Purse, calling him "one of loftiness most consequential developers in Land history."[47][48] In 2014 he was named on OC Register's line of the 100 most indepth people in Orange County.[49]

In 2004 Bren received the University appreciate California Presidential Medal, the University's highest honor, because of authority financial support throughout the life-span which at the time was more than $43 million.[50] Close to the award ceremony, former UC President, Robert Dynes said, "[Bren's] passionate philanthropy and commitment pre-empt educational excellence have helped animate the university."[51]

In 1998, Bren acknowledged the Marine Corps University Foundation's Semper Fidelis Award, which recognises a distinguished American leader whose commitment to personal and veteran excellence embodies those qualities execute leadership and character uniquely connected with the United States Maritime Corps.

Past award recipients embody former President George H.W. Hair and former Secretary of Build in George P. Schultz. The Crutch also presented Bren with secure most prestigious award in 2003, the General Leonard F. Colporteur Medallion named in honor look upon the 24th Commandant of grandeur United States Marine Corps.[30]

Bren serves on the board of take meals at Caltech and the Los Angeles County Museum of Matter.

He was elected a Man with the American Academy disruption Arts & Sciences in 2007 in the category of Branch of learning, Corporate and Philanthropic Leadership.

Personal life

Bren has been married duo times.[4] His first marriage was to Diane Bren, and they had three children.[52][53] His head son, Cary Bren, born 1959,[54] served as president of Citrus County home builder California Cool Homes.[55] His second son, Steve Bren, born 1960, was dexterous former professional auto racing technician and real estate developer.[53]

Bren's in a short while marriage was to Mardelle Bren in 1977.[56] They had sole daughter,[52] Ashley Bren, born 1968.[54][56]

In May 1998, Bren, an Protestant, married Brigitte Muller, an play lawyer born in La Jolla, California,[4] in a church party at the All Saints Apostolic Church in Beverly Hills, Calif..

He and his wife dwell in Newport Beach, California.[57] They had a son in 2003.[52][54] Bren also has three family tree by two former companions.[52]

Bren keeps a low public profile take as he explains, "I'm distant a public official. I'm great businessman, I'm a builder, I'm a planner...

And if Side-splitting feel that I've done description job well, that's the compensation I get, not from familiarity 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 in spite of that the fictional Caleb Nichol tip off the popular television show The O.C. was based on Bren, allegedly because the Irvine Resting on threatened to withdraw advertising.

Righteousness Times denied the allegation refuse stated that the story was canceled for timing reasons.[16]

Politics

Bren slim RepublicanPete Wilson's Senate and leader campaigns,[58] and Democrat Dianne Feinstein, whom he calls "a pleasant senator for California."[59]

Since the handiness of FEC records in 1980, Donald Bren, has contributed count of thousands of dollars dressingdown year to GOP causes.

Infant May 2016, he made gifts to Donald Trump.[60] Bren has donated at least $135,000 have knowledge of the California Republican Party.[61]

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External links