Donald Bren

Donald Bren is America's richest real estate baron.

His Irvine Co. owns more than 126 million square feet of real estate, mostly in Southern California.

His empire includes more than 560 office buildings and 125 apartment complexes.

Bren owns a 97% stake in Manhattan's MetLife Building.

The son of a real estate investor, Bren worked as a carpenter's helper on his father's buildings.