{{Short description|American businessman and entrepreneur (born 1973)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Brandon Fugal | birth_name = Brandon Daniel Fugal | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|4|03}} | birth_place = Pleasant Grove, Utah | alma_mater = Utah Valley University | occupation = Businessman, venture capitalist, philanthropist, entrepreneur | known for = | boards = | spouse = {{marriage|Kristen McCarty|2021}} | children = 7 | television = {{ubl |''The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch'' |''Beyond Skinwalker Ranch''}} | website = }}
'''Brandon Daniel Fugal''' (born April 3, 1973)<ref name="Briefly">{{cite web |url=https://briefly.co.za/facts-lifehacks/celebrities-biographies/193859-brandon-fugals-net-worth-how-rich-skinwalker-ranch-owner/ |title=Brandon Fugal's net worth: How rich is the Skinwalker Ranch owner? |last=Adeaga |first=Favour |date=August 14, 2024 |website=Briefly.co.za |publisher=Briefly News |location=South Africa |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BrandonFugal |number=1640038100775890944 |title=April 3...}} (Fugal responding in a thread to when his birthday is; in other tweets he thanks people who wish him happy birthday on April 3)</ref> is an American businessman,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621232302 |title=Brandon Fugal - American businessman |website=snapshot.apple.com |publisher= Apple Inc |access-date=January 2, 2026}}</ref> real estate developer,<ref name="financeyahoo">{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brandon-fugal-net-worth-2025-044540980.html |title=Brandon Fugal Net Worth 2025: How Much Money Does the Skinwalker Ranch Star Make? |last=Johar |first=Vritti |date=June 4, 2025 |website=finance.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo Finance |access-date=January 2, 2026}}</ref> venture capitalist,<ref name="financeyahoo" /> philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is chairman and co-owner of the Utah office of Colliers International.<ref name="Deseret9Aug2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/8/9/23198503/flying-high-with-utahs-most-mysterious-mogul/ |title=Flying high with Utah’s most mysterious mogul |last=Walter |first=Meg |date=August 9, 2022 |website=deseret.com |publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> He owns the 512-acre rural property in Utah known as Skinwalker Ranch and is executive producer and cast member of two History cable and streaming series ''The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch'' and ''Beyond Skinwalker Ranch''.
==Early life and education==
Brandon Fugal was born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Utah.<ref name="Briefly" /> His parents are Jill Boren Fugal and Daniel Boyd Fugal. His father, Daniel Fugal (1948-2021), was an Air Force veteran and local community leader and construction company owner.<ref name="Olpin">{{cite web |url=https://www.olpinmortuary.com/obituaries/daniel-fugal |title=Daniel Boyd Fugal memorial |year=2021 |website=olpinmortuary.com |publisher=Olpin Family Mortuary |location=Pleasant Grove, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BrandonFugal |number=1523383543987982336 |title=Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful mom, Jill Boren Fugal}}</ref>
Fugal graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1991.<ref name="TechBuzz2May2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.techbuzznews.com/brandon-fugal-and-the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-on-the-history-channel/ |title=Why Utah's Brandon Fugal Bought an Otherworldly Ranch, and What He's Seen There: Part 1 |last=Craig |first=Austin |date=May 2, 2021 |website=techbuzznews |publisher=TechBuzz News |location=South Jordan, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ConstrDesignNov2011" /> While in high school he was a self-admitted business geek and had mail-order subscriptions to ''The Wall Street Journal'' and ''BusinessWeek''.<ref name="ABC4 26Mar2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/everyone-starts-from-small-beginnings-brandon-fugal-on-jessops-journal/ |title=The Secret to Brandon Fugal’s Success on Jessop’s Journal |last=Jessop |first=Douglas |date=March 26, 2021 |website=ABC4.com |publisher=Nexstar Media |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> After high school, from 1992 to 1994, he served on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.<ref name="ConstrDesignNov2011" /> Accompanying him as a fellow missionary was his childhood friend Bryant Arnold, who would later become chief of security at Skinwalker Ranch and cast member, along with Fugal, on the cable and streaming series ''The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch''.<ref name="UtahBiz15Dec2020" /> While on the mission Fugal in his spare time completed his first real estate transaction.<ref name="ConstrDesignNov2011">{{cite web |url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/df545383/files/uploaded/2021_NOV.spreads.pdf |title=Eye of the Tiger: Q&A with Brandon Fugal |date= November 2011 |website=utahcdmag.com |publisher=Utah Construction & Design magazine |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |pages=18–21 |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
Fugal attended Utah Valley University in 1994 on a leadership scholarship but subsequently left to continue pursuing his real estate career.<ref name="UVUedu2Dec2021" /><ref name="Vulture30Jun2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/the-secrets-of-skinwalker-ranch-bts.html |title=I Want to Believe in Skinwalker Ranch |last=Seitz |first=Matt Zoller |date=June 30, 2025 |website=vulture.com |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> Fugal credits his education at the university with giving him the foundation needed to achieve a successful real estate and business career.<ref name="UVUedu2Dec2021" /> He donated $5 million for the construction of a major new facility at the university that became "The Brandon D. Fugal Gateway Building," which opened on December 1, 2021.<ref name="UVUedu2Dec2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.uvu.edu/news/2021/12/2021_12_02_gateway_building.html |title=Brandon Fugal Donates $5 Million to UVU for New Building That Will Welcome All to Campus |date=December 2, 2021 |website=uvu.edu |publisher=Utah Valley University |location=Orem, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> The building houses the university's administrative offices, including the offices of president and vice-presidents, board conference room, classrooms, and student welcome center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/utah-valley-university-open-5-million-gateway-building/ |title=Utah Valley University open $5 million Gateway Building |last=May |first=Brandon |date=December 2, 2021 |website=ABC4.com |publisher=Nexstar Media |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> Fugal received an honorary doctorate degree in business from the university at its annual commencement ceremony on April 29, 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uvureview.com/news/americas-government-teacher-sharon-mcmahon-to-address-utah-valley-university-graduates-at-commencement/ |title='America's Government Teacher' Sharon McMahon to address Utah Valley University graduates at commencement |date=March 30, 2026 |website=uvureview.com |publisher=The UVU Review |location=Orem, Utah |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>
Like his father, Fugal was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, the highest rank obtainable.<ref name="FamHeritage9May2024">{{cite web |last=Jessop |first=Doug |title=Family Heritage Stories – Treasures Remembered: Brandon Fugal |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_updv5TNAHE |website=youtube.com |publisher=Doug Jessop |language=en |format=video |date=May 9, 2024}} (segment at 19:05)</ref><ref name= "PopMech1Oct2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/tv/a62351045/skinwalker-ranch-paranormal/ |title=How This Remote Utah Ranch Became a Paranormal Activity Hotspot |last=Howard |first=David |date=October 1, 2024 |website=popularmechanics.com |publisher=Popular Mechanics |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> Fugal received the Eagle Scout Award in 1987 at age 14.<ref name="FamHeritage9May2024" /> As an adult, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in a ceremony presented by the Utah National Parks Council at Utah Valley University on July 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/2014/jul/03/scouts-leaders-family-gather-to-celebrate-eagle-scouts/ |title=Scouts, leaders, family gather to celebrate Eagle Scouts |last=Hesterman |first=Billy |date=July 3, 2014 |website=heraldextra.com |publisher=Ogden Newspapers of Utah |location=Provo, Utah |access-date=August 16, 2025}}</ref>
==Career==
Fugal began his real estate activities part time while on a religious mission in Hawaii for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and continued after returning to Utah.<ref name="KSL17Apr2023" /><ref name="Vulture30Jun2025" /> Fugal and his real estate company in the 1990s advised the then young genealogy company Ancestry.com in its search for an expanded operating location and found them their current large headquarters building in Lehi, Utah.<ref name="ABC4 29Mar2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/something-you-might-not-know-about-ancestry-com-brandon-fugal-on-utah-success-stories/ |title=Something you might not know about Ancestry.com |last=Jessop |first=Douglas |date=March 29, 2021 |website=ABC4.com |publisher=Nexstar Media |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
He co-founded Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors in Utah in 1998 at age 25.<ref name="UtahBiz3Apr2028">{{cite web |url=https://www.utahbusiness.com/archive/2018/04/03/cbc-advisors-acquired-by-global-firm-colliers-international/ |title=CBC Advisors Acquired by Global Firm Colliers International |last=Stewart |first=Heather |date=April 3, 2018 |website=utahbusiness.com |publisher=Utah Business magazine |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> It was acquired by Colliers International Group in 2018 and Fugal became chairman of Colliers International Utah, also known as Colliers Intermountain and Colliers Utah.<ref name="UtahBiz3Apr2028" /><ref name="KSL17Apr2023" /><ref name="Deseret9Aug2022" />
In 2016 he won the "EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award" for the Utah region in the category of Residential and Commercial Services.<ref name="EY6Jun2016">{{cite press release |author= <!-- not stated --> |date=June 6, 2016 |title=EY Announces Winners for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 Utah Region Award |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ey-announces-winners-for-the-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2016-utah-region-award-300279845.html |publisher=EY–Ernst & Young Global Limited |agency= prnewswire.com |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="SLBizJour13Jun2016">{{cite web |url=https://slenterprise.com/index.php/news/261-ey-names-entrepreneur-of-the-year-winners-for-utah-region |title=EY names Entrepreneur of the Year winners for Utah region |date=June 13, 2016 |website=slenterprise.com |publisher=Salt Lake Business Journal |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> He was featured on the July 2016 cover of ''Utah Business'' magazine in connection with the honor.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BrandonFugal |number=1766952763659878556 |title=I was EY Entrepreneur of the Year - Western Region}}</ref><ref name="Titan21Nov2023">{{cite web |title=Brandon Fugal 2023 Titan Award Honoree |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjxEZ2UP44E |website=youtube.com |publisher=South Valley Chamber of Commerce, Salt Lake County, Utah |language=en |format=video |date=November 21, 2023}}</ref>
In Hawaii, he is part of Pomaika'i Partners and the effort to create an agricultural and land preservation destination called Laukiha'a Farms Community.<ref name="KSL17Apr2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50613103/utah-investors-create-sustainable-farming-preserve-hawaiian-culture-at-dole-plantation-site |title=Utah investors create sustainable farming, preserve Hawaiian culture at Dole plantation site |last=Stapley |first=Mike |date=April 17, 2023 |website=KSL.com |publisher=KSL Broadcasting |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> He is an investor in the de-extinction and species preservation company Colossal Biosciences.<ref name="UtahBiz23Sep2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.utahbusiness.com/archive/2021/09/23/bradon-fugal-investments-in-wooly-mammoth-projects/ |title=Brandon Fugal invests in resurrection of woolly mammoth |last=Craig |first=Austin |date=September 23, 2021 |website=utahbusiness.com |publisher=Utah Business |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Deseret9Aug2022" />
==Skinwalker Ranch==
Fugal purchased the 512-acre property known as Skinwalker Ranch in 2016 from Robert Bigelow.<ref name="Vice10Mar2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/brandon-fugal-owner-of-skinwalker-ranch/ |title=This Is the Real Estate Magnate Who Bought Skinwalker Ranch, a UFO Hotspot |last=Banias |first=MJ |date=March 10, 2020 |website=vice.com |publisher=Vice Digital Publishing |location=Nashville, Tennessee |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="KSL27Oct2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50038373/mystery-of-utahs-skinwalker-ranch-very-much-alive |title=Mystery of Utah’s Skinwalker Ranch very much alive |last=Adams |first=Andrew |date=October 27, 2020 |website=KSL.com |publisher=KSL Broadcasting |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Froilan |first=Roger |date=2026-02-06 |title=Sci-Fi Fans Need To Discover This Freaky 6-Season Show That's Free To Watch |url=https://collider.com/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-history-streaming-free-tubi/ |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-01 |title='The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch' is Utah's most unbelievable reality T... |url=https://www.cityweekly.net/news/the-secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-is-utahs-most-unbelievable-reality-tv-series-23660832 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=City Weekly |language=en}}</ref> Fugal described the acquisition in the following way: "It is the most unusual real estate play that I’ve ever had involvement in and it’s ended up becoming a very intriguing science project as well."<ref name="UtahBiz15Dec2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.utahbusiness.com/building-development/2020/12/15/why-a-millionaire-real-estate-mogul-bought-skinwalker-ranch/ |title=Why a millionaire real estate mogul bought Skinwalker Ranch |last=Griffin |first=Elle |date=December 15, 2020 |website=utahbusiness.com |publisher=Utah Business magazine |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
The ranch is the principal shooting location for the hour-long cable and streaming series ''The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch'' and a partial location for its sister series ''Beyond Skinwalker Ranch''.<ref name=":0" /> ''The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch'' is one of History Channel's top-rated series.<ref name="Deseret26Oct2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/26/23911651/secret-of-skinwalker-ranch-history-channel-brandon-fugal-utah/ |title=Uncovering the secret of Skinwalker Ranch |last=Walter |first=Meg |date=October 26, 2023 |website=deseret.com |publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> Fugal is one of the stars of both series and has executive producer credit.<ref name="Deseret9Aug2022" />
Fugal has said in interviews that months after purchasing the ranch he along with others while on a visit witnessed what he described as a "silver gray disk like object" or "flying saucer" above the mesa on the property.<ref name="TechBuzz3May2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.techbuzznews.com/why-utah-s-brandon-fugal-bought-a-haunted-ranch-and-what-he-s-seen-there-part-2/ |title=Why Utah's Brandon Fugal Bought an Otherworldly Ranch, and What He's Seen There: Part 2 |last=Craig |first=Austin |date=May 3, 2021 |website=techbuzznews.com |publisher=TechBuzz News |location=South Jordan, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="ABCNews18Apr2023">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/brandon-fugal-travis-taylor-talk-secret-skinwalker-ranch-98658486 |title=Brandon Fugal and Travis Taylor talk about 'The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch' |last=Reeve |first=Will |date=April 18, 2023 |website=abcnews.go.com |publisher=ABC News Good Morning America |location=New York City |access-date=August 13, 2025}} (video report)</ref>
Fugal travels to the ranch in a 40-minute flight in a black Airbus H130 helicopter that is seen frequently on the show being used in aerial experiments piloted by his brother Cameron Fugal. Brandon Fugal is part owner of the helicopter along with his brothers, who operate an aviation business from a leased private hangar at Provo Airport.<ref name="TechBuzz3May2021" /><ref name="KSL24Nov2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50781556/harrowing-helicopter-flights-over-skinwalker-ranch-part-of-the-job-for-utahs-aero-dynamic-jets |title=Harrowing helicopter flights over Skinwalker Ranch part of the job for Utah's Aero Dynamic Jets |last=Stapley |first=Mike |date=November 24, 2023 |website=KSL.com |publisher=KSL Broadcasting |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref>
On February 17, 2026, Fugal was honored in person, along with the cast of the series, by the Utah State Legislature for his and the series' contributions to the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/entertainment-news/secret-skinwalker-ranch-honored-capitol-hill/ |title=Cast of 'The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch' honored on Capitol Hill |last=Jewkes |first=MJ |date=February 17, 2026 |website=abc4.com |publisher=ABC4 KTVX |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=February 18, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Fugal's first wife was Lacey Anne Fugal, with whom he has four children.<ref name="Briefly" /> He reportedly has seven children today.<ref name="Stella">{{cite web |url=https://www.stellahoaks.org/kristen-fugal |title=Kristen Fugal - Stella H. Oaks Foundation board of directors |year=2025 |website=stellahoaks.org |publisher=Stella H. Oaks Foundation |location=Bountiful, Utah |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref> Years after his first marriage ended in divorce, he married Kristen McCarty in late September 2021.<ref name="UtahBiz23Sep2021" /><ref name="Briefly" /> The wedding took place at the Sundance Resort on September 24, 2021, with the rock band Air Supply playing at the reception.<ref name="Deseret9Aug2022" /><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=brandonfugal |postid=CUNItwLLGpk |title=Mr & Mrs Brandon Fugal (wedding portrait) |date=September 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=brandonfugal |postid=CxkFm1JMxdt |title=2 years ago I married my best friend |date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> Besides her being active in philanthropy and advocacy, Kristen Fugal is the Legal Affairs Director at the Fugal-owned company Adamantium Real Estate. Like her husband, she is an alumna of Pleasant Grove High School and Utah Valley University.<ref name="Stella" />
Brandon Fugal has three brothers, Cameron, Matthew, and Patrick.<ref name="Briefly" /><ref name="Olpin" />
Fugal has a collection of movie memorabilia and rare historical books.<ref name="UtabBiz16May2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.utahbusiness.com/executive-toolkit/2025/05/16/brandon-fugal-colliers-utah-chairman-skinwalker-ranch/ |title=A brief tour of Brandon Fugal’s office: Movie props, rare books and other oddities |last=Malan |first=Mekenna |date=May 16, 2025 |website=utahbusiness.com |publisher=Utah Business magazine |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Deseret9Aug2022" /><ref name="TechBuzz2May2021" /><ref name="ConstrDesignNov2011" /><ref name="Vice10Mar2020" /> Some of the rare books he has acquired are a Book of Hours dated 1470,<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BrandonFugal |number=1637618597517459456 |title=My oldest book is a 1470 Book of Hours}}</ref> a 1611 first edition King James Bible,<ref name="Jessop17Jun2022">{{cite web |last=Jessop |first=Doug |title=Objects with Stories are Treasures Remembered – Brandon Fugal's First Edition King James Bible |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYBgUoiB9lE |website=youtube.com |publisher=Doug Jessop |language=en |format=video |date=June 17, 2022}}</ref> and a 1698 copy of ''The Celestial Worlds Discover'd''.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=BrandonFugal |number=1552258041873108995 |title=I just acquired a rare book published in 1698 predicting alien life: The Celestial World Discover'd}}</ref>
He also has been recognized as a collector of high-end automobiles, including a Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche.<ref name="Supercar11Aug2025">{{cite web |url=https://supercaradventurer.com/jason%E2%80%99s-adventures/f/supercar-fleet-of-skinwalker-ranch |title=Supercar Fleet of the owner of Skinwalker Ranch |date=April 27, 2022 |website=supercaradventurer.com |publisher=Supercar Adventurer |access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="TechBuzz2May2021" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Twitter|BrandonFugal}} *{{Instagram|id=brandonfugal|name=Brandon Fugal}} *{{IMDb name|11465412}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fugal, Brandon}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American philanthropists Category:American company founders Category:American real estate brokers Category:American venture capitalists Category:Businesspeople from Utah Category:Utah Valley University alumni Category:People associated with ufology