Meet The Local CRE Stars Who Made The Forbes 400

The world got another inside look at the ultra-rich this week, as Forbes released its Forbes 400 list of America's wealthiest people.

It is searchable by area, industry, age and gender, so we decided to take a look at some of the California commercial real estate heavy hitters who made this year's list. From the gleaming spires of San Francisco's FiDi, through the venture capital enclaves of Silicon Valley and all the way down to Los Angeles and San Diego, these are the men (no women were on the California CRE list) who have made their fortunes building the Golden State.

We've included their best-known CRE projects, estimated worth, ranking on Forbes list and their rank on the 400's California commercial real estate list. The methodology Forbes used to compile their ranking is explained here.

John Arrillaga

Wikimedia Commons
The Frances C. Arrillaga Building At Stanford.

California CRE list rank: 9

Forbes rank: 342 (tied)

Estimated net worth: $2.5B

Best-known projects: Stanford Stadium, millions of SF of Silicon Valley commercial land developed with his partner, Richard Peery.

George Argyros

Wikimedia Commons
The Julia and George Argyros Plaza, formerly the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

California CRE list rank: 8

Forbes rank: 342 (tied)

Estimated net worth: $2.5B

Best-known projects: Former ambassadorship to Spain, owning the Seattle Mariners and millions of SF of office space in Southern California.

Richard Peery

Wikimedia Commons
Stanford Stadium

California CRE list rank: 7

Forbes rank: 306

Estimated net worth: $2.8B

Best-known projects: Stanford Stadium, Stanford Industrial Park

Jay Paul

Bisnow
Jay Paul

California CRE rank on list: 6

Forbes rank: 239

Estimated net worth: $3.5B

Best-known projects: 181 Fremont, CityView Plaza

Donald Sterling

Wikimedia Commons
Sterling Plaza

California CRE list rank: 5

Forbes rank: 207

Estimated net worth: $3.8B

Best-known projects: Sterling Plaza, the Los Angeles Clippers

Rick Caruso

California CRE list rank: 4

Forbes rank: 168

Estimated net worth: $4.2B

Best-known projects: Miramar, Palisades Village, The Grove

Edward Roski Jr.

Ed Roski, Majestic Realty Co

California CRE list rank: 3

Forbes rank: 119

Estimated net worth: $5.5B

Best-known projects: Redevelopment of Staples Center, Bethlehem Steel

John A. Sobrato

California CRE list rank: 2

Forbes rank: 85

Estimated net worth: $6.7B

Best-known for: Dominating the Silicon Valley office space sector, with tenants including Netflix, Amazon and Apple.

Donald Bren

The Irvine Co.'s The Market Place in Irvine
Google street view
The Market Place in Irvine

California CRE list rank: 1

Forbes rank: 32

Estimated net worth: $17B

Best-known for: Everything marquee-level from the Irvine Co., including Market Square, Crescent Village and RiverView

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