INDIANAPOLIS – Simon Property Group Chair, CEO and President David Simon died after a battle with cancer on March 22, 2026. He was 64.
Simon Property Group, the largest owner of shopping malls in the U.S., owns or holds interests in more than 250 properties globally, primarily comprising malls, Premium Outlets, and The Mills. Some of the malls are located in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Locally, Simon Property Group owns The Westchester in White Plains, Clinton Premium Outlets and Westfarms in Connecticut, Roosevelt Field on Long Island and Menlo Park Mall in New Jersey.
“It is with profound sorrow and immense respect that the Board of Directors of Simon Property Group Inc. announces the passing of David Simon, the company’s visionary chairman of the board, Chief Executive Officer and president — the singular leader who built Simon Property Group into the largest and most admired retail real estate company in the world,” according to a board statement. “The Board of Directors, the Company’s employees, and the entire global Simon community mourn this immeasurable loss.”
The Simon family shared the following statement:
“Our family is deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received from across the globe. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother poured his heart and soul into building Simon Property Group. He was most proud of his family, his wife of over 40 years Jackie, and their 5 children: Eli, Rebecca, Hannah, Sam and Noah, and 7 grandchildren. We ask for privacy as we grieve our great loss.”
Leadership continuity and succession
Per the company’s CEO succession plan, the board has appointed Eli Simon as its CEO and president. In addition, Eli will continue as COO and director. The board stated that it has full confidence in Eli’s leadership skills and abilities to guide the company forward.
In addition, Larry Glasscock has been appointed by the board to serve as non-executive chair consistent with the succession planning efforts and the company’s governance principles.
“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Simon family,” Glasscock said. “We are profoundly grateful for the privilege of having served alongside David, and we pledge to honor his extraordinary legacy by continuing to uphold the principles of excellence he embodied every single day.”
“There are no words adequate to express the depth of our sorrow or the magnitude of our gratitude. David Simon was, quite simply, the finest leader in the history of the retail real estate industry. His extraordinary intellect, his relentless drive for excellence, and his unmatched strategic vision transformed a privately held family business into an esteemed global institution — creating billions of dollars in value for shareholders along the way.”
As of early 2026, Simon Property Group owns 206 malls in the U.S. across 37 states, with the highest concentration in Florida, California, and Texas. The company also maintains an 88% interest in The Taubman Realty Group, which owns an additional 22 regional and outlet malls.
A once-in-a-generation leader
Simon’s career stands as one of the most remarkable leadership stories in the history of American business. Over more than three decades, he took a regional family real estate enterprise and, through sheer force of vision, intellect, and will, built it into the undisputed global leader in retail real estate — a company that reshaped the industry and redefined what a real estate investment trust could become.
David joined the company’s predecessor, Melvin Simon & Associates, as CFO in 1990, bringing with him the rigorous analytical training of a Wall Street investment banker first honed at First Boston Corp. and then at Wasserstein Perella & Co. In 1993, at just 31, he orchestrated the company’s initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange — raising nearly $1 billion in what was then the largest real estate public stock offering in history. It was the first signal of the boldness and ambition that would define his entire career.
Named CEO in 1995 at the age of 33, David became one of the youngest CEOs of a major publicly traded company in America. What followed was an unparalleled era of growth, innovation, and value creation. Under his leadership, Simon Property Group delivered a cumulative total shareholder return of more than 4,500% since its IPO — a record that places David among the most successful value creators in the history of public markets, in any industry.
He was the architect of a series of transformative transactions that reshaped the competitive landscape of retail real estate. His acquisitions of DeBartolo Realty Corp., Corporate Property Investors, Chelsea Property Group, the Mills Corp., and Taubman Centers — among many others — were executed with a combination of strategic brilliance and financial discipline that became his hallmark.
At the time of his passing, Simon Property Group owned or held interests in more than 250 properties comprising more than 200 million square feet across North America, Europe, and Asia, generating billions in annual revenue.
David understood, earlier and more clearly than anyone in his industry, that retail destinations had to evolve from transactional spaces into experiential ones. Under his direction, the company has invested billions in redeveloping and reimagining its properties — creating premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations that became true community gathering places. This vision has ensured the enduring relevance and vitality of Simon’s portfolio even as the retail real estate landscape has been hit with seismic change.
His leadership during periods of crisis further revealed the depth of his character and capability. He steered the company through the global financial crisis of 2008–2009, emerging with a stronger balance sheet and an expanded portfolio. When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered retail properties worldwide in 2020, David moved with characteristic decisiveness — implementing safety protocols, supporting tenants, and positioning the Company for a rapid recovery that outpaced the broader industry. In every challenge, he saw opportunity; in every setback, he found a new path forward.
David’s strategic vision extended well beyond the borders of the United States. He served, until recently, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based retail real estate company, and served on the board of Apollo Global Management, Inc., reflecting the breadth of his influence across global business and finance. The Harvard Business Review recognized him as one of the world’s best-performing CEOs in both 2010 and 2013, and Barron’s Magazine bestowed the same distinction in 2013.
Throughout his career, he maintained an industry-leading balance sheet, sustaining A/A3 credit ratings for the company that reflected not only financial strength but the confidence that the capital markets placed in his stewardship. He returned billions of dollars to shareholders through consistent and growing dividends, while simultaneously reinvesting in the portfolio and pursuing strategic growth.
David was a graduate of The Indiana University Kelley School of Business (B.S., 1983) and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business (M.B.A., 1985).
Above all, he cultivated a culture of excellence, accountability, and ambition that attracted and retained the finest talent in the industry. Countless executives and professionals credit David Simon with shaping their careers and setting the example of what great leadership looks like. His influence will be felt for generations to come.
Condolence and memorial information
Details regarding memorial services will be shared by the Simon family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the: Anti Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, UJA Federation of New York and Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
