(photo by Bloomberg)

Samuel “Sam” Zell the billionaire is chairman of Equity Group Investments (EGI), the private investment firm he founded in the 1960s. He is a huge finanacial investor with the majority of his investment portfolio ranging across industries such as energy, logistics, communications and transportation. He best known for his pioneering role in creating the modern commercial real estate industry. EGI’s holdings also include fixed-income investments in public and private companies.

Zell is also the founder and chairman of Equity International, a private investment firm focused on building real estate-related businesses in international emerging markets. In addition, Zell maintains substantial interests in, and is the Chairman of, a number of public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, including: Equity Residential (EQR), the largest apartment REIT in the U.S.; Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), a real estate investment trust that owns and operates manufactured home and resort communities; Equity Commonwealth (EQC) a leading office REIT; Covanta Holding Corp. (CVA), an international owner/operator of energy-from-waste and power generation facilities; and Anixter (AXE), a leading global provider of communications, security, and wire and cable products.
(courtesy of Wikipedia)