Donald Bren Story

Synopsis

Real estate sector is the one line that never seems to go out of business and one of the very first people to have understand this mantra is Donald Bren. One of the most famous real estate entrepreneurs in the world, Bren started out small and even took a loan to finance his first home. He then went on to begin his career in business and founded the Bren Company which was a small group that constructed homes in Orange County.

Early Career

A smart businessman, he knew an opportunity when he saw one and started the Mission Viejo Company. He was the man responsible for the building and development of Mission Viejo City in California, which once had close to 10,000 acres of barren land.div

Career Highlights

His breakthrough in the real estate business happened when he purchased the Irvine Company along with two partners. The Irving Company was one of the most respected and well-known real estate companies in the United States. Bren owned close to 34% of the then 146-year-old company in 1977, meaning he was the highest stake holder. He was the majority owner by the year 1983 and was the chairman.