Jordan Kaplan

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Douglas Emmett

Kaplan has helmed his $2 billion real estate investment trust that owns offices and apartments since its inception and was recently named board chair. But the company has seen better days. The stock hit a 52-week low in January when shares were trading under $11 and analysts raised concern over its financial performance. 

Douglas Emmett owns offices in Beverly Hills, Century City and other neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County; it owns apartment communities in Brentwood, Santa Monica and Westwood — and Honolulu. 

The REIT recently announced it was turning an office building into apartments, after it purchased the tower via a deed in lieu of foreclosure from Tishman Speyer for $131 million. That, plus a residential building it plans to construct on the same space to become an apartment complex in Westwood, could cost $250 million. 

– Alena Botros