{{Short description|Iranian-born American real estate developer}} {{Infobox person | name = Joseph Moinian | image = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Tehran, Iran | birth_name = | education = | occupation = Real Estate Developer | known_for = Founder and CEO of the Moinian Group | networth = | children = | spouse = Nazee Moinian | | website = [http://Moinian.com Moinian.com] }}
'''Joseph Moinian''' is an American investor, real estate developer, and philanthropist.<ref name = nyt/><ref name = nyt2/><ref name = thejewishvoice>{{cite web | url = http://thejewishvoice.com/2018/04/real-estate-magnate-premiere-philanthropist-joe-moinian-possibly-invest-100m-resuscitating-toys-r-us/ | publisher = The Jewish Voice | access-date = 5 June 2020 | title = Real Estate Magnate and Premiere Philanthropist Joe Moinian to Possibly Invest $100M in Resuscitating "Toys R Us"}}</ref> He is the founder and CEO of The Moinian Group, one of the largest privately held real-estate firms in the United States.<ref name=TheRealDealMoinian>[http://therealdeal.com/closings/joe-moinian/ The Real Deal: "Joe Moinian" By Candace Taylor] retrieved October 28, 2013</ref><ref name = commercial>{{cite web | url = https://commercialobserver.com/2019/11/at-decades-end-moinian-looks-back-on-10-years-of-expansion-innovation-and-success/ | publisher = Commercial Observer | title =At Decade's End, Moinian Looks Back on 10 Years of Expansion, Innovation, and Success | date = 4 November 2019 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name = leaders>{{cite web | url = http://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2016.4_Oct/New%20York%20City/LEADERS-Joseph-Moinian-The-Moinian-Group.html | publisher = Leaders magazine | title = Creating Best-in-Class Luxury Living Experiences | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref> He owns and operates more than $10 billion of real estate across the country.
==Early life== Moinian was born in Tehran, Iran to a Persian Jewish family. His father was also a real estate developer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://therealdeal.com/new-research/topics/company/moin-development/|title=Moin Development {{!}} TRD Research|website=therealdeal.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title= Joseph Moinian Pays $12.5 Million For Leon Black's Faena House Unit In Miami |newspaper=Jewish Business News|date= January 17, 2017|url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2017/01/17/joseph-moinian-pays-12-5-million-leon-blacks-faena-house-unit-miami/ |quote=Joseph Moinian was born in Teheran to an Iranian Jewish family.}}</ref> At the age of 17, Joseph Moinian immigrated to the United States by himself.<ref name=TheRealDealMoinian /> Moinian graduated from Forest Hills High School and attended The City College of New York before embarking on a career in consumer retail and real estate.
==Career== After arriving in the United States at the age of 17, Moinian began his first job working at a restaurant in Forest Hills, Queens.<ref name = nyt2>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/business/yourmoney/21sqft.html | work = The New York Times | title = After a Buying Spree, It's Time to Develop| date = 21 May 2006 | access-date = 5 June 2020 | last1 = Gregor | first1 = Alison }}</ref> Moinian's first business venture was in women's fashion. He used his knowledge of the textile business to create Billy Jack for Her, a successful women's apparel company named after the 1971 movie ''Billy Jack''.<ref name=TheRealDealMoinian />
===The Moinian Group=== In 1982, Moinian founded The Moinian Group to invest in real estate, leveraging his earnings from his apparel company to purchase buildings in Manhattan.<ref name = nyt>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/realestate/commercial/14joe.html | work = The New York Times | title = An Owner of Towers Walks a Tightrope| date = 14 January 2009 | access-date = 5 June 2020 | last1 = Pristin | first1 = Terry }}</ref> Joseph Moinian's first acquisition was 450-460 Park Avenue South, a nearly 200,000-square-foot office building located in Manhattan's Midtown South.<ref name = therealdeal5>{{cite web | url = https://therealdeal.com/2018/08/17/moinian-just-landed-a-loan-on-its-park-avenue-south-building/ | publisher = The Real Deal | title = Moinian just landed a loan on its Park Avenue South building| date = 17 August 2018 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref>
Since 1982 The Moinian Group has grown into one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States, with a portfolio of over 20 million square feet across major cities including New York, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles.<ref name = commercialobserver4>{{cite web | url = https://commercialobserver.com/2019/05/the-moinian-group-branches-out-how-tech-and-lending-augment-their-vast-portfolio/ | publisher = Commercial Observer | title = The Moinian Group Branches Out: How Tech And Lending Augment Their Vast Portfolio| date = 20 May 2019 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=MoinianWebsite>[http://moiniangroup.com/corporate/about-us.php Moinian Group Website: Overview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103202700/http://moiniangroup.com/corporate/about-us.php |date=2013-11-03 }} retrieved October 28, 2013</ref><ref name=NYObserverDream>[http://observer.com/2011/09/kind-of-blue-joe-moinian-lives-the-3-columbus-circle-dream/?show=all The New York Observer: "Kind of Blue: Joe Moinian Lives the 3 Columbus Circle Dream" by Matt Chaban] September 20, 2011</ref> The Moinian Group funds, develops, and owns properties in every major asset category, including office, hotel, retail, and residential.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moinian.com/about-us/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors, CEO Joseph Moinian Bio {{!}} Moinian Group|website=moinian.com|access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref><ref name=ObserverBigShot>[http://observer.com/2011/07/joseph-chetrit-the-most-mysterious-big-shot-in-new-york-real-estate/ New York Observer: "Joseph Chetrit, the Most Mysterious Big Shot in New York Real Estate" by Tom Acitelli] July 5, 2011</ref><ref name=RealEstateWeekly>[http://www.rew-online.com/2012/03/14/joe-moinian-how-i-survived-the-slump/ Real Estate Weekly: "Joe Moinian: How I survived the slump" By Al Barbarino] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103194645/http://www.rew-online.com/2012/03/14/joe-moinian-how-i-survived-the-slump/ |date=2013-11-03 }} March 14, 2012</ref><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-11/moinian-seeking-above-market-rents-for-hudson-yards-tower.html Bloomberg: "Moinian Seeking Above-Market Rents for Hudson Yards Tower" By David M. Levitt] June 11, 2013</ref> Over 35 years Moinian led the investment, development, and management of 20 million square feet of real estate, including 3 Columbus Circle, 3 Hudson Boulevard, Hudson Arts Building, Sky, Oskar, PLG, 535-545 Fifth Avenue, Willis Tower, and The International Jewelry Center, among others.<ref name = nyt/><ref name = NYObserverDream/><ref name = RealEstateWeekly/>
==Philanthropy== Moinian was chairman of the UJA-Federation of New York in 2010 and remains on its highest committee.<ref name = ujaorg>{{cite web | url = https://www.ujafedny.org/news/bram-weber-receives-larry-a-silverstein-rex-award/ | publisher = UJA Federal New York| title = Bram Weber Receives Larry A. Silverstein Rex Award | access-date = 25 June 2020}}</ref> Moinian is a co-founder and board member of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan, a nonprofit established in memory of the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks.<ref name = trustees/> He donated roughly $5 million to the museum prior to its dedication in 2014.<ref name = trustees>{{cite web | url = https://www.911memorial.org/about/board-trustees/joseph-moinian | publisher = 911 Memorial Organization | title = Joseph Moinian | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name = wallstreetjournal>{{cite web | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704103904575336911242322090 | publisher = The Wall Street Journal | title = Revival Near Ground Zero | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref> Mr. Moinian is also a long-time supporter of The Special Children's Center in New Jersey, a service program for people with developmental disabilities and was the guest of honor at the organization's second-annual fundraiser.<ref name = thejewishvoice/> He also serves on the board of trustees for the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, dedicated to the support of Persian Jewish families’ and individuals’ preservation of its proud three-millennial cultural heritage.<ref name = marque/> Moinian is a supporter of the Keshet Eilon Music Centre in Illinois.<ref name = marque>{{cite web | url = https://www.themarque.com/profile/joseph-moinian | publisher = The Marque | title = Joseph Moinian| access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref>
==Recognition==
Moinian is a member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York.<ref name = leaders/> He also sits on the board of the Skyline Museum.<ref name = leaders/> In 2019, Moinian was ranked 29th in The Commercial Observer's Power 100: Commercial Real Estate's Most Powerful Players.<ref name = commercialobserver2>{{cite web | url = https://commercialobserver.com/2019/04/the-power-100-2019/ | publisher = Commercial Observer | title = The Power 100: Commercial Real Estate's Most Powerful Players| date = 23 April 2019 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref> In 2018, The Moinian Group was named Manhattan's fifth most active developer by The Real Deal, with 2.6 million square feet of development activity.<ref name = therealdeal3>{{cite web | url = https://therealdeal.com/2018/02/19/who-are-manhattans-most-active-developers/ | publisher = The Real Deal | title = We ranked Manhattan's most active real estate developers| date = 19 February 2018 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Joseph Moinian is married to Nazee Moinian, also from Iran, whom he met when he was 26.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} They have five children. Joseph Moinian has two brothers, both in real estate.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
Joseph Moinian is active in the Persian-Jewish community and is involved in the development of a Jewish temple in Midwood, Brooklyn and other synagogues in New York under construction.<ref name=TheRealDealMoinian /><ref name = nyimby>{{cite web | url = https://newyorkyimby.com/2017/12/permits-filed-for-moinians-1711-coney-island-avenue-midwood-brooklyn.html | publisher = New York Yimby | title = Permits Filed for Moinian's 1711 Coney Island Avenue, Midwood, Brooklyn| last = Nelson | first = Andrew | date = 26 December 2017 | access-date = 5 June 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.cuny.tv/show/buildingny/PR1008279 City University of New York - The Stoler Report: "Joseph Moinian, The Moinian Group] October 10, 2006.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moinian, Joseph}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Iranian-Jewish descent Category:American businesspeople in the real estate industry Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:Iranian Jews Category:American philanthropists Category:21st-century American Jews