America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 399 All-American Smith

  Joan Irvine Smith, the object of her revenge has a great background.

  Irvine has bred many successful businessmen, one of whom is the richest man in Southern California and one of the wealthiest real estate businessmen in the United States.

  His name is Donald Bren, and he looks like a brother to Ikana's father's original name.

   In fact, apart from the fact that they are both Americans, the two have nothing to do with each other.

  Donald Bren is a well-deserved real estate tycoon, ranked in the top ten real estate tycoons by Forbes in the United States, with a net worth of about US$10 billion.

  This Bren didn't inherit any of his ancestral property, he was completely self-made.

  Up to now, he single-handedly owns 100% of one of the largest real estate companies in the United States, Irvine Real Estate Company.

   At the same time, it also has more than 400,000 square feet, 500 office buildings, 50 shopping centers with about 8 million square feet, at least 50,000 apartments, three golf clubs and five marinas.

  But what most people don’t know is that the Irvine Real Estate Company was originally not Donald Bren’s company, but owned by the century-old Irvine family.

   In 1977, Bren was 45 years old, and he was already a billionaire at that time.

   With the help of some people, he took advantage of the time when Irvine Real Estate, a century-old company, had no successors and the company was struggling.

  He persuaded several investors to spend 337 million US dollars together to buy part of the shares of Irvine Company.

   Among them, he alone holds 35% of the shares of Irvine Company, and he values ​​the land resources in the hands of this company.

   Then he spent nearly two decades slowly buying out his partner's shares in the Irvine company.

  A few years ago, in 1996, the 64-year-old Bren made a strong attack on the Irvine family.

  With the power of the court, Joan Irvine Smith, the great-granddaughter of the founder of the Irvine Company, James Irvine, was squeezed out.

  The California Supreme Court finally ruled that Bren paid $240 million to Joan, which was less than half of her original claim for the family property.

  Finally, Bren became the sole shareholder of the Irvine Company, taking sole power, and a powerful real estate empire was born from then on.

  The experience of Donald Bren seems extremely inspirational.

  Started from scratch from a young age, relied on his own ability to seize the wealth of the wealthy family, and replaced the wealthy family to become the new wealthy family...

  Just looking at these, he is more than 100 times stronger than Father Ikana, who was born in the rich second generation and went bankrupt so many times.

   But actually?

   In fact, the timing of Donald Bren entering the Irvine Company and defeating Joan Irvine Smith in court was very coincidental.

  The time when he took a strong stake in the Irvine Company, the governor of California at the time was named Jerry Brown.

   Decades later.

   When he beat Joan Irvine Smith in a California courtroom.

  California's Attorney General, whose name also happens to be Jerry Brown.

  Mr. Jerry Brown, who has served two terms as Governor of California, has been the Attorney General of California since 1994.

  If someone with a heart continues to observe.

  You will find that throughout the entire process of Donald Bren's fortune, you can see the shadow of Jerry Brown everywhere.

   Still don't get it?

  One of the famous top real estate tycoons in the United States, the richest man in Southern California, Mr. Donald Bren.

   To some extent, he is one of the largest white gloves controlled by the Brown family that has risen in recent decades.

  Behind Donald Bren, stood Jerry Brown and Jerry Brown's allies.

  Jerry Brown's father is called Pat Brown, and he was already the governor of California in 1960.

  As the governor of California, Pat Brown contracted out the construction project for the 1960 Winter Olympics to a pair of business partners.

   One of these people is called William Newsom, and the other is called John Pelosi.

  William Newson's daughter is Nalia, who is Beau Dunmber's mother, but has passed away.

  Bo Deng Bo has a very powerful father and will have great achievements in the future.

  William Newson's grandson is Gavin Newson, who is the most famous and youngest handsome guy in California.

  And John Pelosi, his daughter's name is Nancy... the future nickname is the old hag.

   This is a typical American network.

  A network centered on the Brown family, the Newsom family, the Pelosi family, etc., with power all over California.

  Similar networks can be found everywhere in every state in the United States.

  Like Texas, now the Bushes, Smiths, Walkers, Pierces, and many other families, the relationship is as intricate.

  Looking so powerful is the Donald Bren of America's super rich. In fact, it is just an important member of one of the family networks in California.

   might not even be a core member yet.

   Whether he can continue to stay in that family network depends on whether his descendants can integrate into it.

  If possible, there will be a place for the family named Brun in the family network in the future.

  If he can’t do it, then Donald Bren can only be glorified for a while.

  As for Joan Irvine Smith who came before Abel.

  She also planned for a long time.

  The Irvine family was also a century-old giant. Otherwise, there is no way to get such a large area of ​​Irvine in such a good place in Southern California.

  But the wealthy family has declined after all, and the most core assets have been snatched away by outsiders.

  The Irvine family has worked hard to seize power for more than 20 years, and in the end there is not a single hair left.

  Up to now, the land worth tens of billions of dollars, what the Irvine family can take away is only a few hundred million dollars.

  Even if Joan Irvine Smith was the only one left, she would not be reconciled.

   Besides, the Smith family in California she married is not too weak.

  Joan Irvine Smith wanted to take back the property, or even just wanted to take revenge, and there were enough motives.

  Now, the appearance of Abel, in Joan Irvine Smith's view, is her only chance to make a comeback or succeed.

   Plus everyone is "Smith". Although it doesn't matter a dime, one is Irish and the other is English.

  But... No matter how you say it is Smith, at least when you get in touch, you will feel a little bit of intimacy.

   This led to the Smith family on the California side. John Smith accompanied his wife, Joan Irvine Smith, to appear in the living room of the villa at No. 60 Golden Eagle Road in Irvine.

   "...I'm afraid it will be difficult."

  In the living room, Abel smiled to Joan Irvine Smith and her husband and said:

   "It's already 1996. The judgment of the Supreme Court of California has been more than 6 years now. It is very difficult to regain control of the Irvine company through legal means. Not to mention..."

  Abel looked at Joan and John, "The Attorney General of California is still our dear Mr. Jerry Brown."

   Facing Abel's "rejection", Joan and her husband John didn't seem surprised at all.

   This thing itself is difficult.

   If it is not difficult, the Smith family in California is not very weak.

  He is a regular professional leaf planter in California, and he owns a related estate. The way is very wild.

  If things were easy to handle, the Irvine company worth tens of billions of dollars, the Smith family in California would have taken it back long ago.

  Even John Smith, who married the daughter of a wealthy family back then, probably did so for the Irvine Company.

   I just didn't expect that behind Donald Bren, a terrifying political family network that has emerged in California in recent decades is actually involved.

  Facing such an opponent, Smith, who is not weak in California, is also powerless.

   After all, it is California Smith, not Texas Smith now...

"Mr Smith."

   Joan Irvine Smith is very talkative, she is a woman in her 40s.

  She specializes in planting leaves, and her husband, John Smith, who runs the largest legal leaf industry chain in California, is actually the godfather of legal California leaves, but looks a little shy.

"The Attorney General of California is elected every four years, with a maximum of two terms. Mr. Jerry Brown has served two terms. Even if he has a high voice, he will step down this year. Not long ago, he also made it clear that, This year he will be running for mayor of San Francisco."

   "In other words..." Joan looked at Abel seriously: "He will no longer be the owner of the California Justice Department!"

  Abel shrugged, "And then?"

   "Then our chance came!"

  Joan Irvine Smith said excitedly:

   "Mr. Smith. The judgment that year was illegal. It's just the jury, and Mr. Attorney General, who are all on the side of Donald Bren!"

   "As long as the new Attorney General takes office. Then we can initiate a complaint. Overturn the judgment of the year."

  Abel remained calm, holding Jessica who was a little nervous..

  The latter only felt that these two days were the two days she had seen the most important people in her life.

   Jessica didn't know Joan Irvine Smith, but she had seen John Smith who looked shy in front of Abel at this time.

  When she was filming "007", there was a scene that needed to be filmed in the leaf field.

  The venue that the crew borrowed at that time belonged to the John Smith family.

  Because John Smith's surname is the same as her boyfriend.

  At that time, Jessica also curiously asked the director a few more questions.

  The director told her that he came to the scene curiously to watch the "master" of the filming crew, that is, John Smith.

   Said the actual identity of this person is one of the uncrowned underground godfathers in California and even on the West Coast.

   There are too many junkies and gangsters to live off of John Smith.

   Said that this is one of the most unprovoked bigwigs in California.

  Because the other party's surname was Smith and the director's warning, Jessica remembered it deeply.

  Now the other party is in front of Abel, as quiet as a roadside worker.

   Jessica was both nervous and proud.

   Nervous about the gray identity of John Smith.

  Proud that even a gray tycoon like John Smith is not so well-behaved in front of his own man?

   John Smith is just California Smith.

  As for Abel Smith, Jessica thinks he is not just the Smith of Texas, he is the Smith of the whole America!

   "So much to say. Dear Mrs. Smith, you have said so much. I just want to ask one thing."

  Abel looked at the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", he smiled and said:

   "I just want to ask, what can I get? Or, what should I do, and what can I get?"

   Speaking of the topic.

  Joan Irvine Smith rallied and continued to be her lobbyist.

   "We in California know it by now. In the case of Cal Pacific Electric, it was Jerry Brown who was talking to you, Mr. Smith..."

  Suddenly, Joan Irvine Smith's speech was interrupted.

   The person who interrupted her was her husband.

   "Dear Joan, I don't think it's necessary to say these things to Mr. Smith, because it doesn't matter."

   For half an hour, John Smith, who has been very quiet, smiling and silent the whole time, looked at Abel with a serious smile.

"Mr. Smith. There are two things you're going to do. One is to provide $5 billion in funding. You have the Supreme Court, or the White House, to help with justice. You have the resources for that, and that's what we lack. .”

John Smith said: "And you will get 50% of the shares of the Irvine Company and the support of at least 500,000 Californians. San Bernardino County, San Luis-Obisburg County, and Kern County will all be held this year. Election. If Mr. Neil Bush is willing, he will have overwhelming support in these three places..."

   "And we will take the lead in the charge, and we will also spend 5 billion US dollars, and we will only get 50% of the shares."

"Mr Smith…"

  John Smith looked at Abel seriously, and said very sincerely:

   "For the sake of everyone being descendants of blacksmiths. I think Smith in Texas is really suitable to have a close-knit Smith family in California!"

  Like little Laura's family name, which means shrub.

  The surname Smith, originally in the English context, means a blacksmith, a blacksmith, a craftsman, and the like.

  The first batch of people surnamed Smith were probably descendants of blacksmiths.

   This point is similar to the surnames of Wellside, Shanshang, and Hezhong on the Neon side.

   They all use the work of the ancestors, or the place where the ancestors were born as the surname.

  After listening to the conditions and requirements laid out by John Smith.

  Abel smiled and said to Joan Irvine Smith: "Mr. Smith said so, it will be easier to understand."

  Joan had to smile.

  If she can make the decision, she can also directly talk about the conditions like this!

   But she can't, the former daughter of a poor family.

  The only thing she can rely on now is the strength of her husband.

   Naturally, the husband can only be the main one.

   "50% is too little. $5 billion is too much. The power of the White House and the Supreme Court, and it doesn't come without a price."

  Abel looked at John, "I need better conditions. After all, my relationship with Jerry Brown is not so bad that it cannot be eased."

   "But if we cooperate with you."

   He looks at the couple.

   "That also means that in California, Jerry Brown and his friends will be my enemy for a long time. This is not a good experience for me."

  Abel seemed to be talking to himself, and seemed to be adding pressure to the Smiths.

   "If I inform Mr. Brown of your visit today, maybe the problem with California Pacific Electric will be solved easily."

   "You can't do this!" screamed Joan Irvine Smith.

  Her husband can hold his breath, but she can't.

  If Abel, a strong dragon, really did this.

  Then in her life, it might really be difficult for her to take back Irvine Company again.

  If you can't get back the Irvine company, let's not talk about the trivial matter of avenging the family.

  Even if this is possible, it will definitely make it difficult for her to maintain her status in the Smith family in California, and she may even be expelled.

  After all, the California Smith family has invested in her for more than 20 years for the Irvine Company.

   In the end, if there is no benefit at all.

  She really couldn't believe her relationship with John Smith.

   "I'm just talking about a possibility." Abel smiled.

   "Okay," said John Smith:

   "Next, Mr. Smith. I will let you see our sincerity. I hope that after you see our sincerity, you can consider cooperating with us. Believe me, it will not be a wrong choice."

  Abel raised his eyebrows: "I'm looking forward to it..."

"excuse me."

  John Smith stood up directly, and led Joan Irvine Smith who was hesitant to speak.

   Take his wife away directly.

  Abel asked David Jones to see him off, leaving only Edward, Jessica and him in the living room.

   Jessica didn't dare to disturb Abel, he looked pensive.

   In fact, it is true.

  Abel was thinking about the feasibility of cooperating with John Smith at this time.

  As the largest state in the United States in terms of economy and population, the situation in California is the most complicated among the fifty largest states in the United States.

  In addition, it has been established for a short time, and it is also very young in the fifty states.

  In fact, there are no such old American states as Texas and Massachusetts, the kind of old giants that have been passed down for more than a hundred years.

  Including the California consortium, compared to the east coast and south coast, California's local snakes are relatively young wealthy families, and there are more in number.

  The California consortium is not like the Texas consortium, which has an absolute dominant force in the local area.

   Instead, it is a California consortium, and it is just one of the local snakes in California.

   Jerry Brown and his gang have a relationship with the California consortium, which is more about cooperation than affiliation.

  And John Smith, the boss of the special plantation economy, he and his large group of people are also one of the local local snakes in California.

   In terms of impact on the local area in California, it is not lost to the California consortium, the Brown family, etc.

  Let's put it this way, the status of the princes in the other 49 states of the United States has been established.

   are two or three overlords, united or cooperating, surrounded by more than a dozen other families to control the entire state.

  Here in California, there is somewhat of a taste of spring and autumn hegemony.

   Many internal forces are still fighting, and the results of the fighting have not yet come.

  Because the degree of fighting is relatively mild, it is a struggle for hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period, rather than a Warring States Period where rituals collapse and joy breaks.

  As for Abel, he is one of the mighty dragons who have entered this age-contested California.

  Abel knew that he wanted to put a nail in California.

   It is better to cooperate with the local "princes", which is a safer way.

   Then, the next step is obviously a multiple-choice question.

  Whether to choose Jerry Brown who has already shown his favor, or John Smith who came out halfway, or the California consortium with an ambiguous relationship.

   Or search again to see if there are other new collaborators.

   After confirming the choice, we started to cooperate.

  Then his tentacles can only be considered to have a firm foothold here.

   The old man is fine now, but the blood oxygen cannot be pulled back, and it can only be maintained at 91-93. Other aspects are okay. The situation was not serious enough to reach the ICU, and it was useless to be hospitalized, and I refused to be hospitalized... I have already taken it home and recuperated at home. Updating as usual...

  (end of this chapter)