Ben Ashkenazy
Ben Ashkenazy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Real estate developer, businessman |
| Known for | Founder, CEO, and principal shareholder of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation |
Ben Ashkenazy (born 1969) is an Israeli-American billionaire specializing in real estate development. He is the founder, CEO, and principal shareholder of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation, which oversees a real estate portfolio valued at $12 billion. As of February 2024, his estimated net worth stood at approximately US$2.6 billion.
Early life
Born in Israel, Ashkenazy was raised in Lawrence, Long Island, New York. He is the son of Izzy Ashkenazy, a prominent figure in the real estate industry. His heritage is Jewish.
Career
At the age of 18, Ashkenazy made his initial property purchase and concurrently took evening courses at Adelphi University, though he did not complete a degree.
He established Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation in 1987.
Among the company’s notable transactions, it acquired London's Old Spitalfields Market in 2013 before later divesting it. In July 2017, the firm secured ownership of London's Grosvenor House Hotel for nearly $750 million.
The corporation maintains long-term lease agreements for Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Washington DC's Washington Union Station. Additionally, it holds a $70 million equity position in New York's Plaza Hotel.
In November 2019, Ashkenazy Acquisition expanded its portfolio by purchasing the Ferndale Shopping Center in Larchmont, New York—an 83,923-square-foot property—for upwards of $35 million.
Personal life
Ben Ashkenazy is married to Debra Ashkenazy, and together they have three children. Their residence is located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. For their daughter’s bat mitzvah celebration at the Rainbow Room, they engaged rapper Drake for a live performance. Additionally, Ashkenazy holds a minority ownership stake in the Euroleague Basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C..