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Mitchell Goldhar

Mitchell Goldhar

M. Goldhar
0.01% | + $0.39M
$2.85 B ₹ 25,895 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1450 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Mitchell Goldhar

Gender

Male

Age

64Y

Country

Canada

Born On

January, 1962

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

Unknown

Education

York University

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Real Estate)

Primary Organization

SmartCentres REIT

Titles

Founder & Executive Chairman

Sources of Wealth

SmartCentres REIT

Industry

Real Estate, Retail, Sports

About Mitchell Goldhar


M itchell Goldhar is a Canadian real estate billionaire who built his fortune by pioneering the development of big-box retail centers in Canada. He is the founder and executive chairman of SmartCentres REIT, one of Canada's largest real estate investment trusts. His career-defining move came in the early 1990s when he forged a partnership with the American retail giant Walmart, which was looking to expand into Canada. Goldhar became Walmart's exclusive developer in the country, acquiring land and building hundreds of Walmart-anchored shopping centers across Canada.

This mutually beneficial partnership was the engine of his success, making him a dominant force in the Canadian retail real estate landscape. He took his company, then known as SmartCentres, public as a REIT in 2015. In addition to his retail property empire, Goldhar has diversified into residential and mixed-use development. He is also the owner of the Israeli professional football club, Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C., which he purchased in 2009.

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Quick Reads


  • Founder and Executive Chairman of SmartCentres REIT, a major Canadian real estate firm.
  • Made his fortune as the exclusive Canadian developer for Walmart stores.
  • His company has developed hundreds of Walmart-anchored shopping centers.
  • Owner of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.
  • He is a graduate of York University.

Early Life and Background


Mitchell Goldhar is a Canadian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Executive Chairman of SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: SRU.UN) and SmartCentres Retail Inc., a major developer of shopping centers and retail parks across Canada. His career is rooted in real estate development, retail management, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Goldhar dropped out of York University after two years to pursue his business full-time. His philosophical approach centers on vertical integration (controlling both development and leasing), scale efficiency, and strategic partnerships with major retailers (particularly Walmart). His structural contribution is tied to pioneering the Power Centre big-box retail model in Canada.

  • SmartCentres REIT (Founder & Executive Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a major developer and manager of shopping centers, retail parks, and mixed-use properties across Canada.
  • Retail Real Estate Apex: His success is built on scale development and securing long-term leases with blue-chip retailers (Walmart, Costco).
  • Strategic Partner: He has a long-term, foundational relationship with Walmart, developing hundreds of sites for the retailer.
  • Academic Note: He dropped out of York University after two years.

Career Journey of Mitchell Goldhar


Mitchell Goldhar's strategic genius was his commitment to securing anchor tenants. He founded SmartCentres (originally First Capital REIT, later spun off) in the 1990s. His landmark achievement was establishing a long-term, foundational partnership with Walmart, developing hundreds of sites for the retailer across Canada, which provided structural stability and guaranteed anchor tenants for his massive retail parks.

His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the Power Centre retail model in Canada and industrializing large-scale retail property development. The company successfully executed its IPO (REIT) on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable cash flow generated by his vast retail real estate portfolio.

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Mitchell Goldhar's Timeline


1980s (approx.):

Drops out of York University (Academic Transition).

1990s (approx.):

Founds SmartCentres (Founding).

2000s:

Establishes a long-term partnership with Walmart for site development (Strategic Milestone).

Ongoing:

SmartCentres REIT successfully executes its IPO on the TSX (Financial Milestone).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Executive Chairman, guiding the massive real estate empire (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Mitchell Goldhar's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the publicly traded real estate giant, SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: SRU.UN).

  • SmartCentres REIT (Founder & Executive Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a major developer and manager of shopping centers, retail parks, and mixed-use properties across Canada.
  • Retail Real Estate Apex: His success is built on scale development and securing long-term leases with blue-chip retailers (Walmart, Costco).
  • Strategic Partner: He has a long-term, foundational relationship with Walmart, developing hundreds of sites for the retailer.
  • Academic Note: He dropped out of York University after two years.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Mitchell Goldhar's social impact is structural, stemming from SmartCentres' role in providing essential retail and commercial infrastructure for millions of Canadians. His companies contribute significantly to urban commercial development and employment across the nation. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization and scale of the Canadian retail real estate development sector.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Mitchell Goldhar maintains the professional, composed style of a real estate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the high-capital property development sector.

Residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to real estate development, investment strategy, and the long-term stewardship of the SmartCentres empire.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of SmartCentres REIT (shopping center developer).
  • He dropped out of York University after two years.
  • His company's growth is largely tied to its long-term partnership with Walmart (developing hundreds of sites).
  • He pioneered the Power Centre big-box retail model in Canada.
  • His wealth is tied to the long-term, stable cash flow from essential retail real estate.
  • He is known for maintaining a private profile despite his vast corporate interests.
  • His philosophy emphasizes scale, efficiency, and vertical integration.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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