Early Life
Richard Peery was born in 1938 or 1939. He is the son of Taylor Peery, who had a successful career in banking and real estate. Richard graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree and later dropped out of the MBA program at Stanford University.
Rise to Success
Peery began his career by managing his father's property portfolio. In the 1960s, he partnered with John Arrillaga, and together they acquired Silicon Valley farmland, transforming it into office parks. This strategic move proved highly lucrative, as the area became a hub for the tech industry. Peery and Arrillaga became two of Silicon Valley's biggest commercial landlords. They later sold a significant portion of their holdings.
Key Business Strategies
Peery's business acumen included recognizing the potential of Silicon Valley's growth and adapting to the needs of the expanding tech sector by providing high-quality office spaces. His focus on acquiring and developing strategic properties contributed significantly to his wealth. He also demonstrated financial prudence by shunning debt.
Philanthropy
Richard Peery founded the Peery Foundation in 1978. The mission of the Peery Foundation is to strengthen youth and families to build lives of dignity and self-reliance. The foundation supports education, economic opportunity, and health initiatives, with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area, and around the world. His son, David Peery, currently heads the Peery Foundation.
