Throughout his career, Eli Broad has provided people with basic needs: housing and financial services. The American billionaire is the founder of the real-estate development company, Kaufman & Broad; and the financial company, SunAmerica, a retirement specialist. 

Before he became one of America’s richest and most socially-relevant businessmen, Broad lived a simple life as the son of a house painter and a dressmaker. They may not have had money, but Broad had a gifted mind. He graduated cum laude from the Michigan State University, where he majored in accounting and minored in economics. He also holds the standing record for youngest Michigan native to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). 

With his unparalleled achievements in education, Broad worked as an accountant for a couple of years before entering the home building business. He partnered with Donald Kaufman to create Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation, now known as KB Home. Under his leadership, the company became the first publicly traded home builder on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Looking to diversify his business, Broad acquired Sun Life Insurance Company of America and transformed it into the retirement savings powerhouse SunAmerica in 1971. 

With a string of successes, Broad began an extensive art collection and became the Lorenzo de’ Medici of Los Angeles—the city’s singular patron of the arts. He is the driving force behind 16 major public institutions in the city. He also created the Broad Art Foundation which aims to spread art education through annual fund-raising efforts. Broad also lends his exclusive art collection out to museums and galleries for public viewing.

As one of America’s most generous philanthropists, Broad just can’t stop giving billions away to a number of charities. This admirable businessman is one of the few whose happiest pastime is to give money away in an era of belt tightening. 


Eli and Edith Broad. Image via Jeremiah Garcia