Draft:Fernando De Leon (businessman)
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Fernando De Leon | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Harvard College |
| Occupations | |
| Website | https://www.leoncapitalgroup.com/ |
Fernando De Leon (born 1978) is a Mexican American billionaire, businessman, investor and philanthropist. De Leon is the founder and chief executive officer of Leon Capital Group and one of the nation's wealthiest Mexican Americans.
In 2025, he was awarded the Horatio Alger Award as a Distinguished American, in recognition of his immigrant upbringing, pursuit of the American Dream, business success and advocacy for improving education and healthcare in Texas.
Early Life and Education
[edit]De Leon was born in Brownsville, Texas, but lived in Matamoros, Mexico with his parents and five older siblings. He attended school in Brownsville, where he learned English.[1]
At the age of 12, De Leon represented South Texas in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.[2] He went on to receive a scholarship to attend Harvard College where he graduated cum laude in 2001.[3]
Career
[edit]As a teenager, De Leon used his bi-lingual skills as a translator for American developers building in Mexico under new NAFTA regulations.[2]
After college, his first job was as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. He moved on to pursue his own real estate development, beginning with a project in Dallas in 2004.[2]
Leon Capital Group
[edit]De Leon founded Leon Capital Group as a real estate development firm in 2006. He was able to invest throughout the 2008 financial crisis and acquire troubled properties and assets. Much of the firm's initial assets were in apartment buildings and retail centers across the southern United States.[2]
In 2015, De Leon began investing in the types of retail businesses that occupied the firm's real estate assets. This started with acquiring a single dentist office but has since expanded into Specialty Dental Brands and Frontline Dental Impact Specialists, which now have 430 locations combined and are owned by Leon Capital Group.[2]
De Leon designed a partnership model within his firm, in which Leon Capital Group shares the equity growth with its retail companies. His partner brands include Mattison Avenue Salons, Turnwell and Advanced MedAesthetic Partners.[4]
Crexi is a commercial real estate data platform started by De Leon and partners in 2015. It is now used by three million people monthly and is the most valuable portfolio company within Leon Capital Group.[2][5]
Personal Life & Philanthropy
[edit]In 2022 the foundation launched the De Leon Scholars Program, which awards annual scholarships to deserving students in Texas.[citation needed]
In 2025, De Leon received the Horatio Alger Award, which honors individuals who overcame adversity in reaching their achievements.[3]
De Leon serves on the board of many of the portfolio companies within Leon Capital Group, as well as the Harvard Interviewing Committee.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Hunter-Hart, Monica. "7 Business Lessons From Texas Billionaire Fernando De Leon". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ a b c d e f Hunter-Hart, Monica. "How Daily Border Crossings Helped Turn This Mexican American Into A Billionaire". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ a b "Fernando De Leon, Founder and CEO of Leon Capital Group, to Receive Prestigious 2025 Horatio Alger Award". Horatio Alger Association. January 28, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ Maloney, Tom (July 2, 2024). "Dallas Landlord Builds Billionaire Fortune on Dental Offices, Dog Boarding". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
- ^ "At Crexi, Company Growth Offers Expansive Individual Opportunity". Built In. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ "The American Dream | Texas Story Project". www.thestoryoftexas.com. Retrieved 2025-02-13.