How many times did Sam Zell marry? Did Sam Zell have an adopted child?

American real estate investor, Sam Zell married three times before his death. His first and second wives’ identities are not known yet, however, it is known that he had two children with his first wife. The children are Matthew Zell and JoAnn Zell.

At the time of death, he was married to his third wife, Helen Fardim Zell.

Did Sam Zell have an adopted child?

Sam Zell adopted a daughter named Kellie, during his second marriage with an unknown woman.

Born on September 28, 1941, Zell developed interest in real estate at a very young age. While in college, he entered the real estate business and managed a 15-unit apartment building in return for free room-and-board.

He became close with the owner and started managing his other properties, and before he graduated, he was making around $150,000. He was joined by his fraternity brother Robert H. Lurie and won a contract with a large apartment development owner in Ann Arbor.

Zell founded the Equity Group Investment in 1968 after trying to be a lawyer for a very brief moment. He was joined by Lurie and went on to grow their business until Lurie passed away in 1990.