Sam Zell
Sam Zell was a global entrepreneur and real estate business magnate with a long track record of turning around troubled companies and assets. Zell was the forefather of modern real estate investment trusts, best known for his pioneering role and stewardship in creating the modern commercial real estate industry. He was the Founder and Chairman of Equity Group Investments, now known as Equity International, the private investment firm he founded more than 50 years ago. He also founded and chaired Equity Office Properties Trust, the largest office REIT until its 2007 sale for $39 billion in the largest leveraged buyout at the time. He was also an active philanthropist with a focus on entrepreneurial education. Zell died at age 81 due to complications from an illness.
Sam Zell Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder and Chairman
Academic History
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Bachelor of Arts
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Doctor of Jurisprudence
He introduced the first Brazilian and Mexican real estate companies, respectively, to the New York Stock Exchange through Equity International.
PHILANTHROPY
Through the Zell Family Foundation, he had led the sponsorship of several leading entrepreneurship programs, including:
Zell/Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business
Zell Fellows Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
Samuel Zell/Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Real Estate Center
Zell Entrepreneurship Center at the Reichman University
MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS
Zell had been featured in various leading financial media outlets and publications.
He had appeared as a guest on Real Vision.