Don Hankey

Founder, Chairman, Hankey Capital

Hankey started by selling cars at his family’s auto dealerships, then shifted to selling money. His lending business began with subprime auto loans and has hit everything from backing high-profile spec developers of Los Angeles megamansions to bargain-hunters in San Francisco’s office market, not to mention President Donald Trump’s $175 million bond in a civil fraud case in New York.

He founded Hankey Investment Company in the 1980s to invest in Los Angeles real estate and turned it into multiple operating companies with more than $25 billion in assets. His private, direct lending keys on bridge financing in the $5 million to $300 million range secured by real estate located in California. Hankey Capital has over $1.5 billion in loans on its balance sheet. 

Hankey Investment Company recently went Hollywood in a deal with Kilroy Realty. Hankey and Barker Pacific Group purchased Sunset Media Center for $61 million, an apparent discount. Hankey funded the debt, too — a $42 million note. Previously, the firm extended loans totaling more than $100 million to developer Nile Niami to complete Bel-Air mega-mansion “The One,” and backed a bargain-bin buy of a hotel near San Francisco’s Union Square, issuing an $8 million loan for Oceanic Enterprises’ Tilden Hotel purchase. 

Hankey continues to venture down lesser worn paths on lending. He more recently created a Bitcoin lending program, which will let crypto holders use their Bitcoin as collateral to access full financing on real estate or exotic vehicles — no need for large, cash down payments, the company announced.