D avid Lichtenstein is a self-made American real estate billionaire and the founder and CEO of The Lightstone Group. He began his career by acquiring a single building and, through decades of shrewd deal-making and development, has built Lightstone into one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. His story is one of relentless and opportunistic growth.

Lichtenstein's portfolio is highly diversified, spanning a wide range of asset classes including residential (multifamily apartments), hospitality (hotels), retail (outlet malls), and industrial properties across the country. He is known for his ability to identify undervalued assets and to navigate complex transactions. He took the company public in the form of a real estate investment trust (REIT) but later took it private again. He remains the controlling owner of the vast property empire he built from scratch.