Biography of R. Donahue Peebles
Chairman And Chief Executive Officer, The Peebles Corporation
Recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the nation, R. Donahue
Peebles is the owner of The Peebles Corporation, the country's largest African American
real estate development company with a multi-billion dollar development portfolio
of luxury hotels, high-rise residential and Class A commercial properties and developments
in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Miami Beach.
Mr. Peebles has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington
Post, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Ebony. In August 2010, Black Enterprise
named him among 40 “Business Titans who shaped our World” and he was featured on
the cover of Black Enterprise’s November 2009 issue. Mr. Peebles appears regularly
on CNN, CNBC and FOX to advise on real estate, economic and political issues. He
has been profiled on shows such as Neil Cavuto, The Big Idea and Larry King Live
as well as on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show" and “Steve Harvey”
radio programs. In May 2009, Forbes listed Mr. Peebles in the top ten of the wealthiest
black Americans in the country.
A top-selling author, Mr. Peebles first book, The Peebles Principles, distills the
lessons he learned on the road to building his successful company and personal fortune.
His first-person accounts of his most intriguing deals illustrate the principles
that guide Mr. Peebles in all of his transactions. His second book, The Peebles
Path to Real Estate Wealth, released in September 2008, outlines the fundamental
tools for real estate investing and details how to make money in any market.
In addition to serving as CEO of his billion-dollar real estate development firm,
Mr. Peebles is a highly sought after speaker. Viewed as a role model for aspiring
entrepreneurs, he has addressed numerous educational, business and professional
associations across the nation, including the University of the District of Columbia,
Columbia University Graduate School of Business, The Wharton School and University
of Miami.
Raised in Washington, D.C., in a single-parent household, he is an avid supporter
of mentoring children and exposing teenagers to the value of entrepreneurship. Mr.
Peebles spends time speaking to students around the country to urge and inspire
them to pursue careers in business. He has received numerous awards over the last
25 years for his entrepreneurial leadership, community service efforts and development
abilities. Mr. Peebles’ most recent awards include Entrepreneur of the Year presented
by Rev. Jesse Jackson at the 11th annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit; Corporate
Citizen Award from One Hundred Black Men of New York; the NV Award for Entrepreneurship;
the prestigious Hennessy Privilege Award for extraordinary community contributions;
induction to the Martin Luther King International Board of Renaissance Leaders Hall
of Fame at Morehouse College in Atlanta; Community Leader Award from Russell and
Danny Simmons’ RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation at their inaugural Art for Life
event in Miami Beach; the Reginald F. Lewis Award for Entrepreneurship; and Corporate
Honoree at Amsterdam News’ 100th Anniversary Gala alongside Secretary of State Hilary
Clinton, Congressman Charles Rangel and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Mr. Peebles holds honorary doctorate degrees from Johnson and Wales University and
Sojourner-Douglass College. In addition, he served as a U.S. House of Representatives
page while in high school, sparking a lifelong interest in politics. Over the course
of the last 30 years, he has supported politicians on both sides of the aisle and
has raised campaign funds for local, state and federal candidates. Mr. Peebles currently
serves on the National Finance Committee of President Barack Obama.