Billionaire Profile
B
Global Rank
#2435

Image: deSingel | CC BY 4.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Ben Ashkenazy

CEO, Real estate
UNITED STATES
Real-Time Net Worth
$1.571B
Estimated based on Real estate stock value as of March 6, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
56
Source
Real estate
Industry
Diversified
Citizenship
UNITED STATES

Biography

Ben Ashkenazy (born 1969) is an Israeli-American billionaire and real estate developer. He is the founder, CEO, and majority owner of Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation. With a current net worth of $2.6 billion as of February 2024, Ashkenazy's source of wealth is primarily real estate. His career began at age 18 with his first property acquisition and, in 1987, he founded Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation. The company has built a portfolio of over 15 million square feet of commercial properties, including iconic landmarks like Union Station in Washington, D.C. and Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston. Ashkenazy is known for his strategic vision and hands-on leadership in acquiring and revitalizing properties across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Fact Checked
Verified by Editorial Team
Live Data
Updated 3/6/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Ben Ashkenazy was born in Israel in 1969 and immigrated to the United States at the age of nine. Growing up in Lawrence, Long Island, New York, he was the son of Izzy Ashkenazy, a real estate businessman who owned a chain of retail stores. At a young age, Ashkenazy showed an interest in business, setting a goal to own a real estate company.

Rise to Success

Ashkenazy began his real estate career at 17, buying his first property, a shopping center in the Bronx. He attended night classes at Adelphi University but did not graduate. In 1987, he founded Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation. The company grew to acquire and manage a diverse portfolio of retail, hotel, and office assets, including iconic properties in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Key Business Strategies

Ashkenazy's success is attributed to his strategic vision, hands-on leadership, and ability to identify and revitalize properties. He is known for acquiring properties with overleveraged owners and focusing on iconic retail and hospitality assets. Ashkenazy's firm has a reputation for quick decision-making, often bypassing committees to secure deals swiftly.

Philanthropy

While specific amounts are not available, Ashkenazy's company is dedicated to sustainable practices in real estate projects.

Career Milestones

1987

Founded Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation

Established a real estate investment firm that has acquired and managed a significant portfolio of properties across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

2017

Acquired Grosvenor House Hotel

Purchased the Grosvenor House Hotel in London for $750 million.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Environmental

Sustainable Practices in Real Estate

Undisclosed

Prioritizes energy-efficient solutions and environmentally friendly initiatives to contribute to global environment.

Controversies & Challenges

2020

Default on Loans

Ashkenazy's firm defaulted on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans, leading to the loss of control of several prime properties, including Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Union Station.

2019

Eviction from Harborplace

Ashkenazy was evicted from ownership and management of Harborplace in Baltimore for failing to maintain the property and leaving vendors unpaid, resulting in a court-ordered receivership.