American real estate entrepreneur (born 1954)
Jeff Greene (born December 10, 1954) is an American real estate entrepreneur. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was a candidate in the 2010 Senate election primaries in Florida. He was a candidate in the 2018 Florida Gubernatorial election, but was eliminated in the primary, finishing in fourth place behind eventual nominee Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, whom Greene later endorsed.
Early life.
Greene was born in 1954 in Worcester, Massachusetts to a working class Jewish family.
He graduated from Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester after his family moved to Florida in 1970 when his father lost his business, staying with his great-aunt while he finished school. In Florida, his father worked refilling vending machines and his mother worked as a waitress.
Greene worked many jobs to put himself through college at Johns Hopkins University, graduating in three years with a B.A. in economics and sociology. Later he attended Harvard Business School, where he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1977.
Career.
Jeff Greene has had a 40-year career in real estate, characterized by his portfolio of over a hundred buildings and custom homes. To pay for college, he relied on scholarships, loans, part-time jobs and taught Hebrew 3 days a week. To pay his way through Harvard Business School, Greene traveled the country selling circus tickets. In 1977, while he was pursuing his studies at Harvard Business School, he purchased his first property—a three-family house that he remodeled and utilized as his residence during his time at Harvard and rented out rooms. He had 18 properties at graduation.
In 1980, Greene relocated to Los Angeles, where he embarked on his first new construction project four years later. This project involved the development of a 27,654 square foot office building located at 11022 Santa Monica Blvd in West Los Angeles. Around the same time, he also acquired and rehabilitated two adjacent buildings at 11040 and 11050 Santa Monica Blvd.
During the late 1980s, Greene focused on constructing condominium buildings, including the ones situated at 3561 Clarington in Palms and 1875 South Beverly Glen in West Los Angeles. Additionally, he undertook the construction of a custom home at 23 Oakmont Drive in Brentwood.
Notably, in recent years, Greene successfully completed a project adjacent to an earthquake fault at 1825 North Las Palmas, positioned at the intersection of Franklin and Highland in Hollywood. The project involved the construction of a six-story, 118-unit apartment building.
In Manhattan, Greene oversaw the construction of 100 Vandam, a 25-story luxury tower situated in the west Soho area. The project involved the restoration of the building's original six stories, which were built in 1877 and functioned as New York City's first power plant. Greene's team then added 19 new floors above the restored historic structure, showcasing their commitment to preservation.
In mid-2006, Greene, worried about the possible collapse of the real estate market, spoke with John Paulson, a fellow investor who discussed with Greene his investing strategy. They agreed that the real estate market was unstable and a bubble might be forming in housing. After the meeting, Greene engaged in a similar investing strategy to that of Paulson, which involved a series of unconventional investments trading credit default swaps. The return on Greene's investments ultimately saved his business, and put him on "Forbes" 400 list.
Since relocating to Florida in 2007, Greene has continued his impactful real estate endeavors. Notably, he developed Cameron Estates, a 548-unit apartment rental building. Greene remains the owner and operator of this building. Additionally, he recently completed the construction of a 300,000 square foot industrial building in West Palm Beach.
Currently, Greene is focused on the completion of One West Palm, a monumental project spanning 1.2 million square feet. This development consists of two 30-story towers, one dedicated to residential use and the other serving as a hotel and office space. These towers stand as the tallest structures in Palm Beach County.
While Greene has plenty of development opportunities in Florida, he has responded to the urgent need for housing in Los Angeles, California.
Philanthropy.
Jeff Greene and his wife Mei Sze Chan have made a significant contribution to philanthropy through their participation in the Giving Pledge campaign. The Giving Pledge is a commitment initiated by Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, that invites billionaires and wealthy individuals to pledge the majority of their wealth to charitable causes during their lifetime or in their will.
Jeff Greene and Mei joined the Giving Pledge campaign, expressing their commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on society. By taking this pledge, they have demonstrated their dedication to addressing pressing social and global challenges.
Through their philanthropic efforts, Jeff Greene and Mei have aimed to support a wide range of causes and organizations. These may include initiatives related to education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, and other critical areas of need. By leveraging their resources and influence, they have strived to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Their participation in the campaign signals their intention to contribute a significant portion of their wealth towards philanthropic causes and inspire others to do the same.
2010 US Senate campaign.
On April 30, 2010, Greene announced his intention to run as a Democrat for the United States Senate seat held by George LeMieux, saying, "I am an outsider, the only candidate who isn't a career politician. I've succeeded in the real world of hard work – the others have only succeeded at running for political office after office."
Greene stated he would refuse campaign contributions from special interests, and would limit individual donations to $100. His platform focused on economic reforms and job creation.
Greene introduced his story and his campaign with a on YouTube.
Greene's campaign was endorsed by the "Tallahassee Democrat"'s editorial board. The board commended Greene for his "edge and an energy that make him want to push beyond the usual talking points", remarking, "we like the toughness he would bring to the office".
Greene's attempt to win the Democratic nomination was, however, unsuccessful; Rep. Kendrick Meek won the primary election before losing to Republican Marco Rubio in the November general election.
Personal life.
In 2007, Greene married Chinese Australian real estate executive Mei Sze Chan, who is twenty years his junior in age. Chan is an ethnic Chinese refugee from Malaysia who first fled to Australia with her family before heading to New York City after college. In 2009, she gave birth to their first child. Greene and his wife now have three sons and live in Palm Beach. Greene was quoted as saying, "I just wish I had met Mei Sze 20 years ago".
References.
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