Early Life
John C. Goff was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, and developed a strong work ethic from a young age. He worked throughout his youth, from junior high through high school, building houses and selling pecans. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, initially in the engineering program, before switching to accounting.
Rise to Success
Goff's career took a pivotal turn when he joined Richard Rainwater in 1987. Goff built Rainwater's real estate business. Goff co-founded Crescent Real Estate with Richard Rainwater in the early 1990s and orchestrated the acquisitions leading to its initial public offering (NYSE) in May 1994. Under his leadership as Vice Chairman and CEO, Crescent grew from approximately $500 million at its IPO to $6.5 billion upon its sale to Morgan Stanley in August 2007. Notably, Goff reacquired Crescent in partnership with Barclays Capital in 2009 and later became its principal owner in 2017.
Key Business Strategies
Goff's business strategy is characterized by a contrarian approach, often seeking opportunities where capital is not readily flowing. He is presently focused on investments in aerospace, energy, entertainment, real estate, and wellness. He has spearheaded the creation of publicly traded oil company Crescent Energy.
Philanthropy
Through the Goff Family Foundation, John and Cami Goff are dedicated to advancing education in their local community. The John C. Goff Real Estate Investment Fund provides students at the University of Texas with the opportunity to manage capital in public and private real estate investments. John and his wife, Cami, are Founding Donors and serve on the National Advisory Board & Leadership Committee for the National Medal of Honor Museum.
