Jorge M. Pérez

Jorge M. Pérez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Related Group, has been at the forefront of South Florida’s complex urban evolution for over 40 years. A commitment to ‘building better cities,’ and a natural ability to identify emerging trends has made him one of the most trusted and influential names in real estate. Armed with a dynamic selection of land parcels, new financing techniques, the collective strength of Related’s management team and a pipeline of more than 80,000 residential units, Mr. Pérez is set to answer the demands and desires of a new generation.

Starting out in the 1970’s, Pérez first made a name for himself in the public housing market of low-income Miami neighborhoods, including Little Havana and Homestead. His attention to detail and commitment to creating top-tier living environments distinguished him within the marketplace and laid the groundwork for future Related projects. Nearly four decades later, his unique passion for creating vibrant urban communities makes him a trendsetter, often the first developer to enter emerging or undiscovered neighborhoods.

Over the years, Pérez and The Related Group have partnered with world-class names in architecture and interior design. Collaborations with creative luminaries like Bernardo Fort Brescia, David Rockwell, Philippe Starck, Yabu Pushelberg, Piero Lissoni, Karim Rashid, Rem Koolhaas, among others, have produced neighborhood-defining projects and established Related’s numerous developments as integral components of Miami’s evolving cityscape.

A lover of art and an avid collector, Pérez infuses each development with museum-quality works of art, including pieces from master artists such as Frank Stella, Fernando Botero, Jaume Plensa, Julio Le Parc and Fabian Burgos. The carefully curated collections are proudly displayed throughout all Related developments, complementing each building’s unique character and often serving as prominent community landmarks.

Driven by a lifelong commitment to better his community, Mr. Pérez has grown to become one of the country’s most prolific philanthropists and recently established two foundations dedicated to the advancement of an equitable, thriving South Florida. The first, the Related Philanthropic Foundation, serves as the charitable arm of the Related Group, while the second, named The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, functions as the Pérez family’s personal philanthropic fund. While each has its own respective focus, both foundations are dedicated to empowering and supporting organizations driving positive impact in the areas of economic development, education, health and well-being, the environment, and arts and culture. The latest round of contributions includes a $1 million-donation to Florida International University’s (FIU) Metropolitan Center and a $1 million-gift benefitting twenty South Florida-based non-profits, including ArtCenter South Florida, GableStage, Miami New Drama, Adrienne Arsht Center, Arts for Learning Miami and Together for Children.

Mr. Pérez also continues to support long-term causes, most notably, the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which was renamed in his honor following a $40-million-dollar gift in 2013. Over the years, Mr. Pérez has sustained his support of the institution through various gifts, both in cash and works of art, with total contributions exceeding $60 million. Other current beneficiaries include National YoungArts Foundation, Big Brother Big Sisters of Miami, United Way of Miami-Dade, YMCA and many more. Mr. Pérez is also committed to The Giving Pledge, a campaign founded by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to which states he will donate 50 percent of his wealth to philanthropy.

Over his illustrious career, Mr. Pérez earned countless awards for his professional and philanthropic achievements including Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Hispanic Achievement & Business Entrepreneurship Award from Hispanic Magazine, The Developers and Builders Alliance’s Community Advancement Award and The Beacon Council’s 2015 Jay Malina Award. In 2005, TIME Magazine named Mr. Pérez one of the top 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States and he has appeared on the cover of FORBES twice.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Cuban parents, Pérez grew up in Bogota, Colombia. He graduated summa cum laude from C.W. Post College in Long Island and earned his Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.