Rick J. Caruso, founder and CEO, Caruso Affiliated

Rick CarusoMaster Entrepreneur
Rick J. Caruso is founder and chief executive officer of Caruso Affiliated, one of the country’s largest, most innovative and influential privately held real estate development companies. Its portfolio encompasses a world-class collection of properties that attract millions of people annually, including one of its premier developments, The Grove, which attracts more guests per year than Disneyland.
Caruso Affiliated is currently spearheading one of the largest retail development programs in the nation, which is expected to generate $80 million annually in new taxes for state and local governments as well as 11,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent jobs. Caruso Affiliated properties are designed to be more than retail and residential sites; they are central gathering places for the communities they serve, as well as premier tourist destinations.
Caruso has been widely honored for both his business innovations and philanthropic contributions to the Greater Los Angeles community. Caruso serves on the board of trustees of USC, the board of councilors of Pepperdine School of Law and the board of trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation.
He also serves on the boards of the California Medical Center, St. Johns Hospital and The National Institute of Transplantation. He and his wife, Tina, have funded the operation of Para Los Niños, which offers social support services for children living in Los Angeles’ most at-risk neighborhoods, and founded the Caruso Family Foundation, dedicated to supporting organizations that improve the lives of children in need of healthcare and education.
A strong believer in public service, Caruso has served as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, president of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power board of commissioners and served as the governor’s appointee to the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission. He holds a juris doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he was a Brock Scholar, and a bachelor of science degree with honors from the University of Southern California.
How to reach: Caruso Affiliated, www.carusoaffiliated.com