Portrait of Ben Ashkenazy

Rank #2546

Ben Ashkenazy

Net worth $1.6B

Real estate · United States

Born
Sep 23, 1969
Age
56
Source
Real estate
Residence
New York, New York
Citizenship
United States
Marital status
Married
Children
3
Education
Drop Out, Adelphi University

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Ben Ashkenazy bought his first building at age 17, after he went to a Bronx shopping center to check out a site to open a fast food restaurant.
  • Then a recent high school grad, Ashkenazy realized the lease offered was below market value and decided to find a lender and buy the property instead.
  • Since then he's built a portfolio of stakes in more than 100 buildings via real estate firm Ashkenazy Acquisitions, which he founded and runs as CEO.
  • The company owns historical landmarks like Washington D.C.'s Union Station and Boston's Faneuil Hall.
  • Ashkenazy, who primarily invests in retail properties, is also a minority owner in New York's famed Plaza Hotel.
  • In between his real estate ventures, Ashkenazy took night classes at Adelphi University but ended up six credits shy of graduating.