Talk about under-the-radar. Donald Bren, a California-based billionaire who is the chairman of the Irvine Company, owns 97.3 percent of the iconic MetLife building, one of the country’s most recognizable skyscrapers.
The billionaire has quietly ramped up his stake over the past decade, according to Bloomberg.
Tishman Speyer bought the property in 2005 for $1.79 billion and is still the managing partner and face of the property, according to the website. The company’s current stake in the building, however, is less than 3 percent, Bloomberg reported.
Irvine Company acquired its first stake in the 58-story, 3 million-square-foot tower at 200 Park Avenue in 2005. The property is valued at almost $3 billion, which makes it one of the most valuable properties in the country. [Bloomberg] — Claire Moses