From Refugee to Real Estate Tycoon
Alon Abadi, the mastermind behind what is set to be America’s largest Jewish center, arrived in the U.S. as a Syrian refugee and has since built a formidable real estate portfolio, which includes some of the most sought-after properties in Los Angeles.
At 55, Abadi has rubbed shoulders with Hollywood celebs like Justin Bieber and Simon Cowell. Yet, his journey began in the 1970s when he and his family moved from Damascus to California and started afresh.
Once settled on the West Side of L.A., Abadi dove into real estate while pursuing his studies at UCLA, gaining hands-on experience as an agent.
Fast-forward to today, and he’s still making strategic purchases, particularly when others are cautious. A notable acquisition was a vacant office building in Century City for $35 million in 2023, which is now valued at approximately $103 million.
Recently, he and his family donated this property to develop a large Chabad campus, aiming to enrich community life through education and other services.
As the CEO of Waterfall Bridge Capital and president of Abadi Holdings Corporation, he oversees an impressive array of properties, including hotels that attract A-list guests, celebrity-filled mansions in Beverly Hills, and key office spaces in Hollywood.
Despite his high-profile transactions—like the 2021 purchase of the Sofitel Beverly Hills for around $96 million—Abadi maintains a low public profile. The hotel has long been a hub for entertainers and artists, and the deal solidified his status in the upper echelons of real estate.
Even while dealing with flashy properties, he tends to stay out of the limelight. You won’t see him on social media or giving grand interviews; instead, he opts for discreet, off-market transactions and private dealings.
Faith seems to play a pivotal role in his life. According to Abadi, the Chabad community was instrumental in their early days in America. He expressed gratitude, stating, “This is a lifelong dream and a tribute to my parents and children. When my family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Chabad supported us, and that was never forgotten.”
