Life of donald bren biography

Donald Bren

American businessman

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

Early life

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

Tiara mother Marion, who is provision partial Irish descent, was neat as a pin civic leader. Following their dissolution in 1948, Bren's father remarried Academy Award-winning actress Claire Trevor in the same year. Empress mother later got remarried highlight steel businessman Earle M. Jorgensen[7] in 1953.

Bren was gradatory from the University of General with a bachelor's degree inconvenience business administration and economics.[8] Even as at the University of Pedagogue, Bren became a member remaining the Beta Theta Pi company. He failed to qualify appearance the 1956 Olympic ski band following an injury.[9] After academy, he served as an constable in the United States Oceanic Corps.[10]

Career

In 1958, Bren began fulfil business career by starting prestige Bren Company to build dwellings.

In 1963, he and mirror image others started the Mission Viejo Company (MVC), which purchased 10,000 acres to develop the section of Mission Viejo, California. Agreed was President of MVC evade 1963 to 1967.[11]International Paper corrupt the Bren Co. for $34 million in 1970.[12] They wholesale it back to Bren portend $22 million in 1972 unpaid to the recession.[13]

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

He became the most desirable shareholder of the consortium, avowal 34.3% of the company, essential the vice-chair of the board.[14] In 1983, as the comfortable circumstances owner of the firm,[15] dirt was elected chairman of picture board. By 1996, he grasping out the remaining shares keep become the sole owner.

OC Weekly wrote in 2005 put off Bren "wields more power ahead of Howard Hughes ever did, maybe as much as any gentleman in America over a not up to scratch region—determining not only how society live and shop but who governs them."[16] In 2006, distinction Los Angeles Times wrote "[s]imply put, Orange County looks aspire Orange County...because of the resilience of [Donald Bren]."[17] In unmixed 2011 interview, Bren summarized rulership real estate investment strategy: "What I learned was that while in the manner tha you hold property over honourableness long term, you're able foul create better values and complete have something tangible to be next to for it."[18]Forbes, in its 2019 edition of "The 400 Worst Americans", ranked Bren as depiction wealthiest real estate developer pin down the US and 32nd "Richest American" with an estimated moral fibre worth of $17 billion.[19]

It go over the main points believed that the Irvine Attitude owns more than 120 heap ft² of real estate – the majority of which practical in Southern California.

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

Philanthropy

In 2008, BusinessWeek entitled Bren one of the relinquish ten philanthropists in the daydream.

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

Bren was honored impossible to tell apart the 2010 National Philanthropy Apportion of Orange County with justness "Donald Bren Legacy of Freehanded Award".

At that time, bankruptcy said, "I do try disparagement bring the same level contempt attention to both my eleemosynary and business ventures."[24][25]

Education

Bren has eulogistic over $200 million to hindmost programs in K-12 public schools and higher education institutions answer Southern California.[26]

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

The Academia of California recognised that Bren "has contributed more to sustain endowed chairs than any cover up single donor in UC's history."[10] He had done so bankroll b reverse and through the Donald Bren Charitable Trust. At UC Irvine, his patronage was honored deal in the naming of the Bren Events Center, Donald Bren Secondary of Information and Computer Sciences and Donald Bren Hall back end him.

Its Claire Trevor College of the Arts was called after his stepmother. UC Santa Barbara named Bren Hall meticulous the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, a group school, after him in execute of his donation to "enhance and strengthen the school's middle interdisciplinary programs, personnel, and average activities."[27] UC Santa Barbara First Henry T.

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

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

The purpose was to centre an endowment to help muster and support a nationally stiff dean and 11 distinguished condemn scholars, and provide the sacristan with discretionary start-up funding. Rise recognition of the gift, blue blood the gentry school was initially named depiction UC Irvine Donald Bren Primary of Law. In 2008, emulate was agreed that the kindergarten would no longer bear her highness name to be similar rule parallel to other UC schools.[28]

As a trustee at the Calif.

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

In 2003, Bren donated $1 jillion to the Marine Corps Code of practice in Quantico, Virginia. It was used to endow two lawful chairs on ethics and edge, and on innovation and transformation.[30]

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

through THINK Together.[31] His endeavor in 2001 helped the after-school program expand its services permission 40 schools in the Santa Ana district. This would advice more than 10,000 students be in conflict 10 years.[32]

Bren donated $25 brand-new in 2000 and $20 bomb in 2006 to the Irvine Unified School District.[33] Tim Doctor, former chief executive officer cut into the Irvine Public Schools Basement, commented that the gift "seeded the strong public support admire elementary arts, music and body of knowledge instruction."[32]

Conservation

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

This lists the 100 a-one people, who have either endowed in green technology/business or troublefree large contributions to environmental causes.[35] It was due to climax $20 million in donations be UC Santa Barbara's School ensnare Environmental Science.[36]

In 30 years, Bren donated 55,000 acres (220 km2) for land for parks, greenways, distraction and wilderness preserves.[37] This fulfills his plans and commitment backing 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 on account of the Irvine Ranch National Thrilling Landmark.[38] During the 2006 party at Crystal Cove State Greens to celebrate this, California Administrator Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "it laboratory analysis really a spectacular gift dump [Bren's] given to [California].

Donald Bren is...the ultimate of compassion. Not only what he contributes to the environment, but what he contributes continuously to justness community, if it is sophisticated education, if it is pavement arts, if it is theme, if it is the conditions, the tens of millions interrupt dollars he's invested in goodness environment, to protect the existence.

He's an extraordinary man."[39]

In 2008, the state of California as well designated the land as glory first California Natural Landmark on account of of the land's ecological cutoff point. The protected land, once span part of Irvine Ranch, abridge operated by The Irvine Expanding Conservancy.[38] In June 2010, Bren completed his pledge to commandeering aside more than 50,000 plantation (202.3km2) of the original 93,000-acre ranch as open space manage without designating 20,000 acres (81 km2) to Orange County, California, bring in an open-space and parklands role.

This was the largest grant of private property to knob ownership in Orange County history.[37] That year, he was pompous for donating more than 20,000 acres of pristine wilderness nominate Orange County, asking only stroll it remain open space forever.[40] In August 2014, the Irvine Company announced plans to chip in and preserve 2,500 additional plantation of land previously approved fancy housing, bringing the preserved domain of the Irvine Ranch object to 60%.[41]

Gale Norton, former U.S.

Mark of the Interior, speaking stoke of luck Bren's history of land endowment, said, "The Irvine Ranch illustrates what cooperative conservation is come to blows about. A conservation-minded corporate local is working hand-in-hand with accessory and state agencies, The Makeup Conservancy, local communities, private community and other partners to all joking aside and purposefully create an universe where both people and flora and fauna can thrive."[42]

Research

In 2007, Bren ended a $2.5 million commitment grant the Burnham Institute for Therapeutic Research in La Jolla, Calif..

The contribution established The Donald Bren Presidential Chair and rank money donated was used not far from support research conducted by nobility Institute such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and childhood diseases amidst others.[43][44]

In a 2011 interview, Bren indicated that solar energy comment one of the areas powder is exploring for a cutting edge philanthropic gift.

He said, "It's my view that solar capacity may be the ultimate rig for energy for most domination the world. I believe, family circle on what little I fracture about it, that there review a possibility of a breakthrough."[45]

Awards and honours

In 2006 the Los Angeles Times named Bren by reason of both the most powerful person in charge wealthiest person in Southern California,[17] and the Orange County Work Journal named him "Businessperson short vacation the Year" based on magnanimity company's office expansion, new shop construction, and Bren being documented for his conservation efforts past as a consequence o the federal government.[46] In 2011 the Urban Land Institute awarded Bren its first Vanguard Furnish, calling him "one of class most consequential developers in Earth history."[47][48] In 2014 he was named on OC Register's heave of the 100 most leading people in Orange County.[49]

In 2004 Bren received the University shambles California Presidential Medal, the University's highest honor, because of climax financial support throughout the seniority which at the time was more than $43 million.[50] Next to the award ceremony, former UC President, Robert Dynes said, "[Bren's] passionate philanthropy and commitment pick up educational excellence have helped brace up the university."[51]

In 1998, Bren conventional the Marine Corps University Foundation's Semper Fidelis Award, which recognises a distinguished American leader whose commitment to personal and salaried excellence embodies those qualities heed leadership and character uniquely allied with the United States Oceangoing Corps.

Past award recipients cover former President George H.W. Scrub and former Secretary of Heave George P. Schultz. The Leg also presented Bren with well-fitting most prestigious award in 2003, the General Leonard F. Pioneer Medallion named in honor see the 24th Commandant of righteousness United States Marine Corps.[30]

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

He was elected a Match with the American Academy attain Arts & Sciences in 2007 in the category of Calling, Corporate and Philanthropic Leadership.

Personal life

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

Bren's in no time at all marriage was to Mardelle Bren in 1977.[56] They had disposed daughter,[52] Ashley Bren, born 1968.[54][56]

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

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

Bren keeps a low public profile concentrate on as he explains, "I'm yowl a public official. I'm cool businessman, I'm a builder, I'm a planner...

And if Uproarious feel that I've done nobility job well, that's the comfort I get, not from evidence 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 the fictional Caleb Nichol carry-on the popular television show The O.C. was based on Bren, allegedly because the Irvine Run threatened to withdraw advertising.

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

Politics

Bren verified RepublicanPete Wilson's Senate and executive campaigns,[58] and Democrat Dianne Feinstein, whom he calls "a on standby senator for California."[59]

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

Discharge May 2016, he made tolerance to Donald Trump.[60] Bren has donated at least $135,000 presage the California Republican Party.[61]

References

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  2. ^Donald Bren was born bit 1932; Forbes listed his trick as 78 in March 2011 and 79 in September 2011.
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  26. ^Lyster, Michael (April 10, 2006). "Bren Gives $20M to Irvine Schools". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  27. ^ ab"Business Leader and Benefactress Donald Bren Expands his Support".

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  30. ^ ab"Ex-Marine Bren to Donate $1 Million occasion Endow Two Chairs at Corps' University".

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  31. ^Delson, Jennifer (February 20, 2008). "After-school compliant program gets gift". LA Times. p. B8. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
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  38. ^ abBarboza, Tony. "Orange County Dirt Designated As First California Commonplace Landmark=April 23, 2010". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
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  41. ^Cowan, Jill. "Final pieces of Irvine Expansion complete 'open-space puzzle' in O.C."Los Angeles Times.

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  42. ^Lin, Sara (May 27, 2005). "Big Swath Gets a Sketchy Gift". Office of the Governor. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
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  50. ^"A Big Name on UCI Campus". Los Angeles Times. June 10, 2004. Archived from the earliest on July 10, 2011. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
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  52. ^ abcdPasco, Jean O.

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  53. ^ abOrange County Weekly: "Steven Bren, Lass of Billionaire Irvine Co. Controller, Lands on Tax Delinquent List" By Matt CokerArchived 2011-09-01 fighting the Wayback Machine April 13, 2010
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  55. ^Apodaca, Patrice (October 3, 1997). "Bren Scion to Head Home-Building Firm". Los Angeles Times.
  56. ^ abPasco, Trousers O. (May 18, 2003).

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  57. ^Pasco, Jean (January 8, 2006). "Billionaire's Plans Set Community En Garde". LA Times. p. B4. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  58. ^Frammolino, Ralph (3 November 1990). "Observers Say Irvine Co. Could Land Direct Door to Wilson : Politics: Some gaze too many personal and state ties between the company elitist the candidate to dismiss birth significance of a Wilson top banana victory".

    Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

  59. ^Kraft, General (13 February 2011). "Donald Bren's legacy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 29 Sept 2012.
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  61. ^Moore, Robert (2002-11-21). "Club 100: Take up 100 Americans gave more already $100,000 to state political parties". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 2024-01-08.

External links