Newsmaker Interview: R. Donahue Peebles

R. Donahue Peebles started his real estate career at the age of nineteen. Seven years later, he was a multi-millionaire. He has since built the largest African American-owned real estate development firm in the U.S. by mastering the art of taking risk -- but not too much risk. He documents his keys to success in his book, The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur\'s Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch. He shares some of those tips in this interview.

Order THE PEEBLES PRINCIPLES

Part The Art of the Deal and part Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun, The Peebles Principles distills the lessons Mr. Peebles has learned on his journey from congressional page to CEO of the largest Black-owned real estate development firm in the nation. These crisp, straightforward principles can help any motivated entrepreneur go from dirt poor to filthy rich in a hurry.

R. Donahue Peebles

Recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the nation, R. Donahue Peebles is the country’s largest African American real estate developer with a $4 billion portfolio of luxury hotels and high-rise residential and Class A commercial. In addition to serving as CEO of his billion-dollar real estate development firm, Peebles is highly sought after nationwide as a speaker. Viewed as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, he has addressed numerous educational, business and professional associations across the nation. Peebles was awarded an honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales University. Raised in Washington, D.C., in a single-parent household he has a soft spot for at-risk inner-city children. Consequently, the multimillionaire real estate developer makes frequent forays into Miami’s poorest neighborhoods to urge and inspire teens to pursue careers in business.

The Peebles Corporation