JOHN SHEA

Chairman

J.F. Shea Co.

John Shea, chairman and co-founder of J.F. Shea Co., comes from a family of homebuilders, with a 5 million-square-foot portfolio of office, industrial and retail properties in California, Colorado and Washington. Shea Homes, the nation’s largest privately held homebuilder, opened several projects in San Mateo, Oakley and La Habra. Aliso Viejobased Shea Properties recently opened a 28-story apartment building in Denver. Shea no longer handles day-to-day operations. The business, founded by Shea’s grandfather in 1881 in Portland, Ore., built the foundations for the Golden Gate Bridge. The company, now headquartered in Walnut, is currently working on the Crenshaw-LAX light-rail line extension. Shea and his wife, Dorothy, donate to various charities and institutions, including Loyola Marymount University. Shea was recognized as a Knight of Malta, a lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. Shea, who is No. 41 on the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of Wealthiest Angelenos, has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion.