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Jorge M. Pérez

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Jorge Pérez
Born (1949-10-17) October 17, 1949 (age 75)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
EducationLong Island University, Post (BA)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (MUP)
Occupation(s)Businessman, investor, philanthropist, writer, economic development director
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDarlene Pérez
Children4

Jorge M. Pérez (born October 17, 1949)[1] is an Argentine-American businessman, real estate developer philanthropist, writer, and art collector.[2] . He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Related Group, a real estate development company based in Miami, Florida. The firm has been involved in the development and management of both affordable and luxury multi-family residential projects in the United States and other countries. According to Forbes, Pérez was ranked 316th on the Forbes 400 list in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, and 1,833rd on the Forbes Billionaires list in April 2025, with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.[2]

Early life and education

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Pérez was born on October 17, 1949, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Cuban parents of Spanish descent.[3][4] He lived in Colombia before relocating to Miami in 1968.[5] His father had been the head of a pharmaceutical company in Cuba, which was later nationalized by the Cuban government.[6] Pérez holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Long Island University C.W. Post Campus and a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan.[7][8][9]

Career

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Pérez began his career as an economic development director with the city of Miami.[8][10] In 1979, he founded The Related Group[11] in partnership with New York real estate developer Stephen M. Ross. Pérez initially focused on building and operating low-income multi-family apartments in Miami. By the mid-1980s, the company had become the largest affordable housing builder in Florida.[8] He later expanded into rental apartments and high-rise condo developments in the Southern United States. Pérez has developed or owned 50 condo towers in South Florida, Fort Myers, and Las Vegas.[12] During his career, Pérez has developed or managed more than 90,000 residential units, primarily in South Florida.[13] He has collaborated with designers, architects, and firms, including Philippe Starck, Cesar Pelli, Arquitectonica, David Rockwell, Rem Koolhaas, and Karim Rashid.[14][15][16]

According to the Hispanic Business 500, The Related Group had $2.1 billion in revenue in 2004. He has been involved in Democratic fundraising, advising Bill Clinton on Cuba during his presidency and raising funds for the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.[17]

On November 18, 2007, The Related Group demolished the Sheraton at Bal Harbour to make way for a new project.[18]

During the 2008 financial crisis, some of the Related Group's projects experienced financial difficulties as buyers defaulted or banks restricted lending. Pérez established a hedge fund to acquire distressed real estate. Forbes estimated his wealth at $1.3 billion before the 2008 financial crisis. As of March 2013, his wealth was estimated at $1.2 billion, coinciding with a resurgence in Florida real estate prices.[2]

His firm has developed projects in Argentina, Brazil, Panama, Uruguay, and Mexico.[19] Completed skyscraper condo projects include 50 Biscayne, Icon Brickell, Icon South Beach, Murano at Portofino, and Paraiso Bay.

In 2017, the company began construction on a 400-unit luxury apartment project in Tampa, Florida, and announced plans for over 700 units in West Florida.[20] The Related Group opened an office in Dallas in 2017 with plans for apartment development in Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and major Texas markets.[19] In 2018, The Related Group and Block Capital Group broke ground on the Bradley, a 175-unit apartment building in Miami featuring interior design by Kravitz Design.[21] The Related Group completed Icon Midtown, a high-rise apartment building in Atlanta, in 2018, marking Pérez's first completed development in Georgia.[22] Wynwood 25, a partnership between Pérez and East End Capital, was scheduled for completion in 2019 and includes 289 rental apartments ranging from 400 to 1,200 square feet.[23] In recent years, Pérez has continued to expand The Related Group’s footprint both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the company launched several mixed-use and luxury residential projects in Florida, including the Baccarat Residences Miami and the Solemar Pompano Beach. These projects reflect Pérez’s continued emphasis on integrating world-class architecture and art into real estate development.[24][25]

In 2021, The Related Group expanded its international presence with new projects in Mexico City and the Riviera Maya, focusing on upscale residential and hospitality ventures. Pérez emphasized sustainability and cultural integration in these developments, partnering with local firms to ensure architectural authenticity.[26]

In 2022, The Related Group broke ground on a major development in Wynwood, Miami’s arts district, featuring residential units, retail space, and public art installations curated in collaboration with local artists. Pérez’s commitment to art in development was further demonstrated when he announced new philanthropic initiatives through The Pérez Family Foundation to support Latin American and Caribbean artists.[27][28]

In 2023, the company continued its West Coast expansion with planned residential communities in Los Angeles and San Diego, marking a strategic shift toward bi-coastal development. Pérez also announced new green building standards across all Related Group properties, aiming for LEED certification and carbon-neutral practices in select upcoming projects.[29][30]

In 2024, Pérez introduced a new luxury brand under The Related Group, aimed at merging wellness and design. The brand’s first residential tower, set in Brickell, Miami, is expected to be completed by 2026 and will include wellness amenities, AI-integrated smart living features, and sustainable architecture.[31]


Personal life

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Pérez resides in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Darlene Pérez. He has four children.[32][33][34] Donald Trump wrote the foreword for Pérez's 2008 book, Powerhouse Principles.[35] Despite collaborating with Trump on his book, Pérez later publicly criticized his presidency and policies.[36]

In December 2011, he donated $35 million in cash and art to the Miami Art Museum to support the construction of its Herzog & de Meuron designed building.[37] The museum was subsequently renamed the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).[38][39] In 2016, he donated an additional $15 million to the museum, including $5 million in Cuban contemporary art.[40] He has pledged to donate his entire collection to the museum after his death.[41]

In 2019, Pérez opened El Espacio 23, a contemporary art space in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood. The space exhibits curated shows from the Pérez Collection, is open to the public with free admission and includes apartments for artist and curator residency programs.[42][43]

In September 2021, Pérez donated $33 million to The Miami Foundation, an organization supporting arts, culture, education, and social justice in Miami. The donation came from the proceeds of the sale of his waterfront estate, Villa Cristina.[44]

In April 2025, Pérez and his wife Darlene donated Joan Mitchell’s triptych Iva to Tate in London, also endowing a curatorial post for African art.[45][46] The couple also endowed a curatorial post at Tate for African art and plan future donations of works by African and Latin American artists from their collection.[47]

Selected works

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  • Powerhouse Principles: The Ultimate Blueprint for Real Estate Success in an Ever-Changing Market. New York: New American Library. 2008. ISBN 0-451-22705-0

References

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  1. ^ "The Closing: Jorge M. Perez". Therealdeal.com. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c "Jorge Perez - Forbes". Forbes. 2012-03-13.
  3. ^ "He built four Trump towers in South Florida, now billionaire Jorge M. Perez eyes Tampa Bay". tbo.com. 2017-08-24. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  4. ^ Redacción BBC Mundo. "Jorge Pérez: cómo un inmigrante cubano se convirtió en Miami en uno de los hombres más ricos de Estados Unidos - BBC Mundo". BBC News Mundo. Bbc.com. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  5. ^ DDC. "Jorge Pérez: De inmigrante cubano a uno de los hombres más ricos del mundo". Diario de Cuba. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  6. ^ Fusion TV: "Show Me Something - Miami developer Jorge Perez says he hasn't heard from Trump after rejecting the border wall" Archived 2017-07-29 at the Wayback Machine March 31, 2017
  7. ^ "Alumni List | LIU". Liu.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  8. ^ a b c "Related's Jorge Pérez puts his stamp on the skyline". The Real Deal. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Real Estate Billionaire Jorge Perez's Immigrant Roots Are Helping Him In A Slowing Miami Market," Forbes. Retrieved 15 January 2017
  10. ^ Levinjlevin, Jordan (2016-04-15). "Jorge Pérez — building a cultural legacy". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  11. ^ related group.com
  12. ^ “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America – Jorge Perez” Time, August 22, 2005
  13. ^ "Jorge Perez: Jorge Perez Net Worth, Biography, Age, Spouse, Children & More". Goodreturn. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  14. ^ “Jorge Perez to get SFBJ Lifetime Achievement Award” South Florida Business Journal, March 29, 2013
  15. ^ “Real-Estate Magnate Jorge Perez’s Beachfront Home in Florida” "Architectural Digest," December 22, 2016
  16. ^ “Cesar Pelli’s Nonchalant Architecture” "Surface," May 10, 2016
  17. ^ "Bush Poaches a Longtime Clinton Backer", "Mother Jones", Aug. 17, 2015
  18. ^ "Sheraton Bal Harbour Imploded To Make Way For St. Regis" Archived 2017-09-01 at the Wayback Machine "Hotel Business, November 21, 2007"
  19. ^ a b "Condo king goes west: Related's Jorge Perez opens office in Dallas". The Real Deal. 2017-12-17.
  20. ^ "He built four Trump towers in South Florida, now billionaire Jorge M. Perez eyes Tampa Bay" Archived 2017-10-01 at the Wayback Machine, "Tampa Bay Times", Aug. 24, 2017
  21. ^ "Related, partner to close $33M loan for Lenny Kravitz-designed Wynwood project", "The Real Deal", April 23, 2018
  22. ^ "The Related Group Unveils Atlanta High Rise", "Multi-Housing News", April 13, 2018
  23. ^ "How small can you go? These new Miami apartments want you to downsize and live large", "Miami Herald", April 23, 2018
  24. ^ https://commercialobserver.com/2024/04/related-group-gtis-baccarat-miami-loan/
  25. ^ https://therealdeal.com/miami/2020/12/07/related-breaks-ground-on-solemar-in-pompano-beach/
  26. ^ https://mexiconewsdaily.com/real-estate/related-group-skyscraper-mexico-city/
  27. ^ https://profilemiamire.com/miamirealestate/2022/05/03/wynwood-29-related
  28. ^ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101319550/en/
  29. ^ https://globalmiamimagazine.com/2023/10/19/the-saga-of-jorge-perez/
  30. ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2023/06/08/related-green-building.html
  31. ^ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article280444333.html
  32. ^ "Real-Estate Magnate Jorge Perez's Beachfront Home in Florida" Architectural Digest. Retrieved 15 January 2017
  33. ^ "Miami Condo King Perez Prepares to Hand Over Empire to Sons." Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Jorge Pérez — building a cultural legacy," Miami Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2017
  35. ^ Mattei, Selena (Dec 21, 2023). "Jorge and Darlene Pérez: a significant contributions to the Miami art scene". Artmajeur Online Art Gallery. pp. Art News.
  36. ^ "Miami Billionaire Perez Rejects His Friend Trump's Wall Overture". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. 31 January 2017.
  37. ^ "Family Affair". W Magazine. December 2014. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  38. ^ Cindy Y. Rodriguez (2014-02-08). "Meet the billionaire behind Miami's artistic rebirth". CNN. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  39. ^ "Want to Donate Your Collection to a Museum? Read This First". Observer. 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  40. ^ Frias, Carlos (November 29, 2016). "Art museum gets $15 million donation from a name you already know". The Miami Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  41. ^ Levin, Jordan (April 6, 2016). "Jorge Pérez — building a cultural legacy". The Miami Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  42. ^ Ogletree, Kelsey (2019-12-04). "Entrepreneur and Art-World Patron Jorge Pérez Will Showcase His Private Collection in a New Miami Museum". Robb Report. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  43. ^ Wooldridge, Jane (November 12, 2019). "At Jorge Pérez's new 'El Espacio,' art tells a troubling story of our times". The Miami Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  44. ^ Wile, Rob (September 10, 2021). "Jorge Perez of Related Group donates $33M to Miami Foundation". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  45. ^ "Tate receives 'transformational' gift from real estate mogul Jorge Pérez". ft.com. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  46. ^ Lawless, Jill (3 April 2025). "Miami philanthropists donate an American masterpiece to Britain's Tate Modern". apnews.com. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  47. ^ Addley, Esther (3 April 2025). "Tate Modern given Joan Mitchell work in biggest donation since 1969". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
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