R. Donahue Peebles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Peebles
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Roy Donahue Peebles
March 2, 1960 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | Rutgers University–New Brunswick (attended) |
| Title | Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Peebles Corporation |
Roy Donahue "Don" Peebles (born March 2, 1960) is an American businessman. He works in real estate, writes books, and helps raise money for political campaigns. He started his own company, Peebles Corporation, in 1983. This company builds and invests in fancy homes and businesses in big U.S. cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Miami.
In 2008, he said he was worth about $60 million. By 2015, his wealth was estimated to be over $700 million.
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Don Peebles' Early Life
Peebles was born in Washington, D.C. His mother, Ruth Yvonne Willoughby, also worked in real estate. When he was eight, he and his mother moved to Detroit, Michigan. At 13, they moved back to Washington, D.C.
He finished high school at The Congressional Page High School. During this time, he worked as a congressional page, helping out in the House of Representatives. He also interned for two members of Congress. Later, he studied pre-medicine at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Building a Career in Real Estate
On January 9, 1983, when he was 23, Don Peebles started his own company. It helped figure out the value of homes and businesses. Later that year, Mayor Marion Barry asked him to join Washington's real estate tax appeals board. The next year, Mayor Barry made him the chairperson of the board. He stayed in that role until 1988.
In 1986, Peebles and his partners bought land for his first big building project. In 1989, he finished his first major building. He worked with the District of Columbia on this project. This is called a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
In 1990, Peebles started another company that helped businesses with their property taxes. Throughout the 1990s, he kept buying and developing buildings in Washington, D.C. He often used PPPs for these projects. Some of these included 10 G Street NE and the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center Hotel.
Royal Palm Hotel Project
In 1996, Peebles won the chance to develop the historic Royal Palm Hotel in Miami Beach. This was a very important deal. It made him the first African American to own and develop a major hotel in the U.S. He sold the Royal Palm Hotel in December 2004 for $127.5 million.
The Bath Club Development
In 1999, Peebles bought The Bath Club. This was a very old and exclusive social club that opened in 1926. He had become the first Black member of the club in 1996. Peebles built a fancy apartment building on the club's old parking lot and tennis courts. He also made sure to keep the historic clubhouse. This project was finished in 2005.
The Bath Club property is very large. It has 5 acres of land and 3 acres of beach. It also has a lot of space for private events, a spa, a gym, tennis courts, and a restaurant.
Agreements and Legal Cases
Sometimes, disagreements happen in big projects. Don Peebles and his companies have been involved in a few legal cases.
The Bath Club Agreement
In 2021, a judge in Miami-Dade County ruled that a company connected to Don Peebles, Bath Club Entertainment, LLC (BCE), did not follow an earlier agreement. This agreement said they needed to provide outdoor food and drink services and keep up cabanas at The Bath Club. The court ordered BCE to pay $1.01 million. This amount was based on $1,000 for each day they didn't follow the agreement between 2017 and 2020. BCE tried to appeal, but the court's decision was upheld.
Washington D.C. Project Dispute
In 2022, The Peebles Corporation filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia. This was about a project to redevelop a city-owned property at 5th and I Streets NW. Peebles' team won the project in 2014. They planned to build a $150 million luxury hotel and apartment complex. However, the deal fell apart in 2019.
Peebles claimed that city officials interfered with the project. He said this happened when he tried to remove a partner who wasn't meeting their responsibilities. Peebles asked for about $72.4 million in damages. In February 2025, a judge allowed the case to move forward to a possible jury trial.
Los Angeles Angels Landing Project
In early 2025, Don Peebles and Victor MacFarlane, working together as Angels Landing Partners, sued the City of Los Angeles. This was because the city ended their agreement for the $1.6 billion Angels Landing development. The city said that a change in their minority partner was an "unauthorized transfer." This led the city to end the agreement in February 2024. The developers believe the city's actions were wrong. They are trying to get back their $20 million investment in the project.
Current Development Projects
Don Peebles is working on several new projects.
Bankhead MARTA Development
In October 2022, he joined a project to develop the Bankhead MARTA area. Peebles plans to redevelop 3.8 acres of land near the Bankhead MARTA rail station. This will be a mixed-use community with about 490+ apartments. It will also include shops, a hotel, offices, parking, and open spaces.
Other Ongoing Projects
Many of his current projects are PPPs. These include:
- 108 Leonard Street (also known as 346 Broadway) in Manhattan. This project, finished in 2020, has luxury apartments in a historic building.
- Angels Landing in Los Angeles.
- Brooklyn Village in Charlotte, North Carolina. Peebles is the main developer for this site. He will develop some parts and sell others to different developers.
He also has projects in Boston and Atlanta.
Awards and Recognitions
- Recognized by Black Entertainment Television as one of the "Top 50 Black Leaders."
- He has received honorary doctorates from Johnson & Wales University and Sojourner Douglass University.
Politics and Community Work
Don Peebles has been involved in politics since the 1970s. He was part of President Bill Clinton's finance committee in 1992. He also hosted President Clinton at his homes. He was on President Barack Obama's finance committee for his 2008 and 2012 election campaigns. He hosted fundraisers for Senator Obama at The Bath Club and for President Obama at his home.
In 2013, he became the vice chairman of the board of directors for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He was later elected chairperson in 2015 and 2016. He is the only person who is not a member of Congress to be elected to this position.
Peebles often appears on TV channels like CNN, Fox News, and CNBC. He talks about politics, the economy, and business. He and his wife, Katrina Peebles, support both major political parties. They focus on helping small businesses and minority-owned businesses.
Personal Life
Don Peebles lives in Miami Beach, Florida, Sag Harbor, New York, and New York City. He married Katrina in 1992. She used to work in public relations. Now, she is an interior designer and helps lead The Peebles Corporation.
Peebles' son graduated from Columbia University. He now works at The Peebles Corporation, helping with the company's projects across the country. His daughter is a national equestrian competitor, meaning she competes in horse riding.
Books by Don Peebles
- The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch. (2007)
- The Peebles Path to Real Estate Wealth: How to Make Money in Any Market. (2008)
