David Simon - the leader of Simon Property Group, the largest retail real estate company in the world - died March 22 at the age of 64.
Simon died following a 2024 cancer diagnosis. He remained at the helm of the company his father and uncle founded as he received medical treatment.
On Monday, The Simon Property Group Board of Directors appointed Eli Simon, David’s eldest son, to be the next chief executive and president of the Indianapolis-based company, continuing the family’s strong leadership of the company. Eli Simon will also continue to serve in his previous role, chief operating officer.
In a statement, the Simon family said David "poured his heart and soul into building Simon Property Group." To those in the industry, he was known as a hardworking executive who worked long hours even when sick and who was not afraid to get into spats with retail industry leaders.
David joined Melvin Simon and Associates, the company’s predecessor, as chief financial officer in 1990 after starting his career as a Wall Street investment banker.
Simon stayed with Simon Property Group and was named CEO at 33 years old, becoming one of the youngest CEOs in the country. In his three decades as chief executive, Simon transformed the company from a regional real estate business into the largest mall ownership group and the largest publicly owned retail real estate company in the world.
David Simon married his wife Jackie in 1986. Together, the pair have five children. Simon, who became a billionaire, continued his family’s philanthropic efforts in Indianapolis through the David E Simon & Jacqueline S Simon Charitable Foundation, which donates to health and youth efforts, among other causes.
Memorial arrangements will be shared by the Simon family at a later date. The family asked for any donations to be made to the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the UJA Federation of New York and the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in lieu of flowers.