Fernando De Leon is making waves as an immigrant billionaire with his company, Leon Capital Group, valued at nearly $3 billion. De Leon, who grew up in poverty in Mexico and crossed the border daily to attend school in Texas, credits his success to his hard work and determination. Despite his wealth, De Leon identifies most with being a Texan, rather than any specific demographic label. He believes that owning companies is the key to creating wealth and has focused on developing businesses in industries that provide essential services, such as healthcare and real estate.
De Leon’s business strategy involves investing in fast-growing areas, particularly in the Sun Belt where the Latino population is increasing rapidly. By focusing on providing basic services to new residents, he aims to address the consumption patterns of these communities more intimately than traditional investors. De Leon’s diverse portfolio includes investments in residential and industrial real estate, healthcare, beauty salons, and dental clinics. He has successfully built these businesses from the ground up, often partnering with industry professionals to grow his companies.
One of De Leon’s most successful investments is Crexi, a real estate data platform that he co-founded with CEO Mike DeGiorgio. The platform has quickly grown in popularity, hosting billions of leasable square feet and properties for sale. De Leon believes that the data provided by Crexi is more valuable than any single building he could own. The platform has attracted millions of users and is considered one of the top commercial real estate data platforms in the U.S.
Despite his success, De Leon remains humble and grounded, attributing his drive to his upbringing in poverty. He is focused on continuing to grow Leon Capital Group and is currently working on expanding his industrial real estate business in Mexico. With ambitions to compete with Warren Buffett and serve as a role model for young Latinos from disadvantaged backgrounds, De Leon is determined to make a lasting impact in the business world. Through his success and work ethic, he hopes to inspire others to achieve their own dreams and break boundaries as he has done.
