Bren, Donald L (Leroy) (1932- )

US property developer, art collector, and philanthropist; Donald founded the Donald Bren Company, and became a billionaire from his property empire, in Orange County, California. His first major project was the Mission Viejo Company, a planned community. In 1977 he took over the Irvine Company and built a new, privately owned city, Irvine, California.

He was born in Los Angeles, the son of movie producer Milton Bren (and stepson of actor Claire Trevor). He attended the University of Washington and served in the US Marine Corps. His father had already made a small fortune with his property investments. Bren was involved for many years in a costly legal dispute over the Irvine Company with the heiress Joan Irvine Smith. Although an active supporter of the Republican Party, he was generally a private person and lived relatively modestly at Newport Beach, California; twice divorced, he was known to have a major modern art collection, and to be a generous philanthropist.