John A. Sobrato
John Albert Sobrato | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 23, 1939 |
| Occupation(s) | Real estate entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of the Sobrato Organization |
John Albert Sobrato (born May 23, 1939) is a prominent American billionaire and real estate entrepreneur who established the Sobrato Organization, headquartered in Cupertino. This Silicon Valley-based company focuses on both commercial and residential property developments. Consistently ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the United States, Sobrato and his family have also been notable for their extensive philanthropic efforts.
Early life
John was born to Italian immigrant parents, Ann Ainardi and John Mossimo Sobrato. His father operated a San Francisco dining establishment called John's Rendezvous. Following his father's passing in 1952, his mother decided to sell the restaurant and reinvested the earnings into real estate ventures.
Career
While enrolled at Santa Clara University in 1957, Sobrato initiated his investments in real estate. Beginning in 1972, he collaborated with Carl Berg, a fellow investor from Silicon Valley. The Sobrato Organization was officially founded by him in 1979, with his son John Michael taking over leadership responsibilities in 1998. Over time, the firm grew to possess more than 110 commercial properties along with 30 residential apartment complexes. By 2013, both father and son withdrew from daily management to dedicate their efforts primarily to charitable activities.
In 2014, the Sobrato family was placed at number 110 on the Forbes 400 list, boasting an estimated fortune of $4.8 billion, and ranked #340 on The World's Billionaires list. Both John and his son committed to Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, promising to donate a substantial portion of their wealth. By the end of that year, Sobrato Philanthropies had donated over $314 million in cash and assets to various organizations such as Santa Clara University, Sobrato High School, and Bellarmine College Preparatory. In 2015, John and his wife Susan made an unprecedented individual donation of $15 million to the University of San Francisco.
Personal life
John and his wife Susan live in Atherton, California. They have three children: John Michael Sobrato, Sheri Sobrato Brisson, and Lisa Sobrato Sonsini. Their family also includes five grandsons and two granddaughters. Additionally, John Michael holds a minority ownership interest in the San Francisco 49ers football team.
External links
- The Sobrato Organization
- "Meet John Sobrato, 2012 David Packard Award Winner", Joint Venture Silicon Valley
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1939 births
- American billionaires
- American businesspeople in real estate
- 21st-century American philanthropists
- Living people
- People from Atherton, California
- Place of birth missing (living people)
- Bellarmine College Preparatory alumni
- Santa Clara University alumni
- American people of Italian descent