With perennially high property values and some of the most beautiful commercial real estate in the world, London is a sweet spot for investment. Not even Brexit has shaken the confidence of the businesspeople who build and own in the Big Smoke. Read on for a look at five of the most interesting portfolios of London-centric billionaires.
Amancio Ortega
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He's the owner of fashion brand Zara.
London property investments: an office park in St. James; Almack House, a £400M stretch of Oxford Street, and Devonshire House, opposite the Ritz.
His fortune: £55B.
Other things to know: He's crazy secretive. He's only been interviewed by three journalists—ever—and he never discusses his deals.
It gets better: He and Bill Gates regularly switch positions between the first and second richest person in the world.
Joseph Safra
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The world's richest banker.
London property investments: The Gherkin and several other London properties. He snapped up the iconic landmark in 2014 for £726M.
His fortune: £17.1B
Other things to know: After buying the Gherkin, he expanded into bananas. The Safra Group and Cutrale Group acquired Chiquita Brands International.
It gets better: Safra has been implicated in a corruption investigation regarding an accusation that an executive in his company attempted to bribe a Brazilian official. However, his rep tells Bisnow that the allegations are unfounded. “There have not been any improprieties by any of the businesses of the Safra Group. No representative of the Group offered any inducement to any public official and the Group did not receive any benefit in the judgement of the tribunal.”
Ernesto Bertarelli
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Italian-born Swiss businessman and philanthropist—and heir to a pharmaceutical fortune.
London property investments: 1-3 Berkeley St, worth about £150M, and the £83.5M property at 48 Dover St.
Fortune: £9.3B
Other things to know: He's married to former Miss UK and songwriter, Kirsty.
Henry Cheng Kar-shun
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Hong Kong businessman, founder of New World Development.
London property investments: He's invested £500M in a regeneration scheme to build 10,000 houses on Greenwich peninsula.
Fortune: £9.3B
Other things to know: He loves Chinese antiques, and he has a white jade lion from the Ming Dynasty displayed in his office.
Simon and David Reuben
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British businessmen and philanthropists.
London property investments: They basically own everything. That includes London Oxford airport, and the Piccadilly Estate, including 90-93 Piccadilly, 94 Piccadilly (estimated to be worth over £300M), 95 Piccadilly, 100 Piccadilly, and 105 Piccadilly. Merchant Square, a 2M SF mixed-use development in Paddington. Three blocks in the Shepherd Market area, including the iconic 5 Hertford St, a club that encompasses 10 Georgian town houses. Millbank Tower, once London’s tallest building, the John Lewis Partnership headquarters in Victoria, the American Express offices also in Victoria, 30-35 Pall Mall, Academy House on Sackville Street, Connaught House on Berkeley Square, the Primark store on Oxford Street, various retail outlets along Sloane Street, and the Wellington Pub Co, the largest free-of-tie pub estate in the UK with approximately 850 tenanted pubs, which was bought from Hugh Osmond in a deal believed to be around £400M.
Fortune: £13B
Other things to know: They're also extremely secretive. Simon has only spoken to the press once in his entire career.
