Don Wilson

Founder, Convexity Properties, a Subsidiary of DRW

Wilson launched DRW, his global trading firm, in 1992. After he built his fortune in derivatives trading, Wilson then applied quantitative thinking to distressed real estate following the 2008 financial crisis.

Convexity Properties emerged from this effort in 2009 and quickly gained attention for its complex adaptive reuse projects, including the transformation of Wicker Park’s Northwest Tower into The Robey hotel, and the repositioning of the historic Three Arts Club in the Gold Coast.

The company later expanded into large-scale office development, delivering the BMO Tower next to Union Station in partnership with Riverside Investment & Development. Despite the post-pandemic leasing downturn, they’ve landed blue-chip corporate tenants like Molson Coors and big law firms alongside anchor tenant BMO Harris.

Wilson has continued to pursue high-profile, expensive projects, including office and mixed-use developments in Chicago and Nashville, highlighting a long-term belief in development sectors, such as office, that face structural pressure following the pandemic. A University of Chicago trustee and economics graduate, Wilson remains active across finance, real estate and philanthropy, and has become known for his success in applying a trader’s mindset to bricks and mortar.