Sam Zell, a Chicago real estate magnate who earned a multibillion-dollar fortune and a reputation as
"the grave dancer" for his ability to revive moribund properties died on Thursday. He was 81.
Zell died at home due to complications from a recent illness
according to Equity Group Investments, a company he founded in 1968.
Bearded and blunt-spoken, Zell reveled in bucking traditional wisdom.
He had a golden touch with real estate,
got his start managing apartment buildings as a college student.
By the time he reached his 70s, he had amassed a fortune estimated at $3.8 billion.
Zell sold Equity Office, the office-tower company he spent three decades building
to Blackstone Group for $39 billion in 2007