Sam Zell (born September 27, 1941) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. A Chicago native, Zell is the founder and chairman of Equity Group Investments (EGI), a private investment firm.
Zell was born in Chicago to Jewish parents who were immigrants from Poland. He attended the University of Michigan, where he received both his undergraduate and law degrees. While in college, Zell began his foray into real estate by managing student apartment buildings.