Ben Ashkenazy Net Worth

Ben Ashkenazy has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Ben Ashkenazy profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is down from a peak of $4 billion.

Ben Ashkenazy is a real estate developer who built his name through retail and landmark properties. He founded Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation in 1987 and runs it as CEO. As a recent high school graduate, he went to a Bronx shopping center to explore opening a fast food restaurant. Instead, he noticed a lease was priced below market, found a lender, and bought the property. That early deal set the direction for his career.

Over time, he built Ashkenazy Acquisition into a major real estate firm with stakes in more than 100 buildings. His company has owned or leased well-known properties including Union Station in Washington, D.C., Faneuil Hall Marketplace and South Station in Boston, and a minority stake in New York's Plaza Hotel. It also bought London's Old Spitalfields Market and later acquired Grosvenor House Hotel. Along the way, Ashkenazy took night classes at Adelphi University but did not graduate.

How Ben Ashkenazy built his fortune

Ashkenazy made his money in real estate, with a focus on retail properties and large urban sites. His first deal came after he spotted a lease at a Bronx shopping center that looked underpriced and chose to buy the property instead of becoming a tenant. That approach helped shape his business style. Through Ashkenazy Acquisition, he expanded into a broad portfolio that grew to stakes in more than 100 buildings.

His company has been tied to several high-profile properties. Those include historical landmarks such as Union Station and Faneuil Hall, plus a minority ownership position in the Plaza Hotel. The firm also made moves in London, buying Old Spitalfields Market in 2013 and Grosvenor House Hotel in 2017 for about $750 million. Later deals included the Ferndale Shopping Center in 2019 and the Neiman Marcus retail space in Beverly Hills in 2025.

Forbes net worth update

Forbes has tracked Ashkenazy's wealth lower over time. It placed him at $4 billion in 2019, then $3.5 billion in 2020, $2.9 billion in 2021, $2.7 billion in 2022, and $2.6 billion in 2023. The estimate then fell to $1.6 billion in 2024. Forbes kept that same figure on its 2025 and 2026 World's Billionaires lists, showing a sharp drop followed by a flatter stretch.

As of October 20, 2026, Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker put Ben Ashkenazy at $1.6 billion. The available details point to real estate as the source of that wealth, especially retail-focused investments and landmark properties held through Ashkenazy Acquisition. His business has included direct ownership, leases, and minority stakes, so the estimate is tied to the value of a wide property portfolio rather than one single company or sale.