George M. Marcus (born George Moutsanas) is a Greek-American billionaire real estate broker, the self-made co-founder and Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, one of the largest commercial investment real estate brokerage firms in the nation. Born in Euboea, Greece, in 1941, he emigrated to the U.S. with his family at age four.

Marcus graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from San Francisco State University (SFSU) in 1965. His career is defined by his profound commitment to commercial investment real estate and his massive philanthropic focus on Greek heritage and the liberal arts. He leveraged his economics degree and an innate business sense to create a firm dedicated to empowering individual investors in commercial property.

George Marcus co-founded Marcus & Millichap in 1971 with William A. Millichap. His strategic vision was audacious: transform the fragmented commercial real estate brokerage market by building a national network focused on investment sales and empowering individual investors. The company grew rapidly, executing its IPO in 2013 and becoming the largest commercial investment real estate brokerage firm in the nation.

His diversification includes real estate investment trusts (REITs): he founded Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS), which acquired rival BRE in 2014, making it a $16 billion company and securing a position in the S&P 500. His wealth is tied to the colossal appreciation of commercial real estate and the continuous profitability of his brokerage and investment firms.

George Marcus is a major global philanthropist, focusing heavily on education and Greek heritage. He and his wife, Judy, made the largest gift in SFSU history ($25 million) to establish the George and Judy Marcus Funds for Excellence in the Liberal Arts.

His structural social impact is tied to his role in democratizing commercial real estate investment through his brokerage firm. His contributions support the arts, education, and cultural organizations globally, including the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the World Trade Center in New York City.

George Marcus maintains the professional, composed style of a real estate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic is one of stability and confident authority, reflecting his Greek heritage and his long tenure in the high-stakes real estate market.

Residing in Los Altos Hills, California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to the stewardship of his real estate empire and his profound commitment to education and philanthropy.