Net Worth: $2.3 B

LAST YEAR: $2.6 B
CHANGE: -12%
AGE: 96
RESIDENCE: Pasadena
SOURCE OF WEALTH: Home building, real estate

THE MONEY: Shea is the former chairman and co-founder of J.F. Shea Co. The firm owns a number of companies including Shea Homes, JF Shea Construction Inc., Shea Mortgage and BlueStar Resort & Golf. Aliso Viejo-based Shea Properties owns and operates nearly 10,000 apartment units and 6 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space in California, Colorado and Washington.

THE BUZZ: Shea Homes is the largest privately held homebuilder in the country. Shea’s cousin, Peter Shea Jr., took over duties as chief executive for the parent company in 2015. Shea’s grandfather founded the company in Portland, Oregon in 1881. It has since moved its headquarters to Walnut. John Shea and his wife, Dorothy Shea, donate to a handful of Catholic charities including Loyola Marymount University.