David Azrieli Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

David Azrieli is a Polish-born Israeli-Canadian real estate titan known for founding the iconic Azrieli Group and transforming skylines in Canada and Israel through pioneering shopping malls, office towers and philanthropic institutions.

Introduction

David Joshua Azrieli was a visionary real estate developer, architect, and philanthropist whose journey from a refugee of World War II to one of the world’s wealthiest real-estate magnates is marked by resilience and ambition. He was born on May 10, 1922, and his birthday is celebrated on May 10. By the time of his passing, his net worth was estimated to have reached around US$ 3.1 billion.  Throughout his life, he was married to Stephanie Lefcort, with whom he had four children, making his relationships and family life a core part of his legacy. 

Quick Facts

From Survival to Skyline Vision — The Journey that Shaped a Real Estate Legend

Born into a Jewish family in Maków Mazowiecki, Poland, David Azrieli’s early life was upheaved by the horrors of World War II. In 1939, facing the Nazi invasion, he fled east — a decision that saved his life but cost him his family: all but one of his siblings perished in the Holocaust. 

His escape took him through the Soviet Union, eventually bringing him in late 1942 to the British Mandate of Palestine. There, he studied architecture at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology from 1943 to 1946, before joining the 7th Brigade of the Haganah, fighting in the 1948 war.

After the war, Azrieli emigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1954. There he enrolled at the Thomas More Institute (now part of Université de Montréal), earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1956. Later — remarkably at age 75 — he attained a Master’s degree in Architecture from Carleton University. 

Thus began a real estate odyssey: starting modestly with duplexes in Montreal, he progressively expanded into apartments, hotels, and ultimately large-scale commercial real estate. The foundations laid in those early decades would blossom into a global legacy. 

Defining moments in David Azrieli’s journey include:

• Surviving the Holocaust and fleeing Europe — a crucible that forged resilience and ambition.

• Military service in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, grounding him in a sense of homeland and identity.

• Rebuilding his life in Canada and pursuing architecture and development studies, bridging cultures and disciplines.

• Launching his first building projects in Montreal — laying the groundwork for his real estate empire.

• Visionary pivot to Israel: transferring Western commercial-real estate concepts (like malls) to a new market, profoundly influencing Israeli urban development.

The Core Pillars of Azrieli’s Wealth

The magnitude of David Azrieli’s fortune was built across continents. The core pillars of his wealth include:

• Real estate development — residential buildings, hotels, shopping malls and office towers in Canada, the United States, and Israel. 

• Strategic commercial real estate investments and property management via his Canadian firm Canpro Investments Ltd. and his Israeli enterprise, Azrieli Group Ltd.. 

• Landmark developments such as the first enclosed mall in Israel and the skyline-defining multi-tower Azrieli Centre in Tel Aviv — projects that appreciated significantly in value over time. 

Such a diversified, cross-border real estate portfolio — combined with strategic timing and development skill — meant that by 2013, Azrieli ranked among the wealthiest Canadians, with a global billionaire status.

Relationships & Family Life: Foundation of Support

Though known globally as a “mall man” and real estate magnate, David Azrieli’s personal life was rooted in quiet family commitment and long-term partnership.

• He married Stephanie Lefcort in 1957. 

• Together they had four children — Rafael Azrieli, Sharon Azrieli, Naomi Azrieli, and Danna Azrieli.

• Late in life, Azrieli and his wife split their time between Israel and Canada — embodying his deep connection to both “homelands.”

Key insights into David Azrieli’s relationships and personal life:

• His marriage to Stephanie was a lifelong partnership spanning decades.

• His children played (and continue to play) roles in sustaining the family’s real estate legacy.

• Azrieli’s devotion to his family — even after immense success — underscores a grounded personal life behind the glitz of real estate titans.

Beyond Career Success: Lifestyle, Passions & Philanthropy

Beyond career success, David Azrieli led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• A deep commitment to education — not only did he himself complete advanced studies late in life, but he also invested heavily in educational institutions in Canada, Israel, and the United States. 

• Philanthropy through the Azrieli Foundation (founded in 1989) — supporting architecture and design, Holocaust remembrance, medical research, Jewish education, and social welfare.

• A personal love for art and culture — Azrieli collected Judaica and Israeli art, supported museums, and fostered educational hubs for arts and humanities.

• A conviction that success should be shared: Azrieli believed that wealth and ability ought to contribute to community, not just personal luxury. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

How do we arrive at an estimated net worth of roughly US$ 3.1 billion for David Azrieli? Here’s a breakdown of the major components that contributed to it:

* The $3.1 billion figure reflects the widely cited estimate from 2013, which placed him among Canada’s richest individuals. 

Although different sources sometimes cite a net worth of US$ 2.9 billion, or broadly “about US$ 3 billion,” those variations reflect differences in market valuations, timing, and assumptions around real estate asset valuation.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence — More Than Just Malls

David Azrieli’s public image was far more nuanced than “rich developer.” He is remembered as a survivor, a builder, and a philanthropist — a man who transformed tragedies into opportunity and left lasting physical and societal impact.

In Israel, the skyline of Tel Aviv — dominated by the Azrieli Centre — stands as a testament to his architectural vision.
In academia and philanthropy, institutes bearing his name advance research, education, cultural memory and social welfare, embodying his belief in giving back.

His dual identity — rooted in Europe and shaped by Canada and Israel — lent him a cosmopolitan yet deeply personal perspective. As he once reflected: “I have two homelands... the two have always been entwined.” 

Even today, his legacy influences not only real estate and architecture, but Jewish education, Holocaust remembrance, and cross-cultural philanthropy.

Conclusion

David Azrieli’s life — from a Polish boy forced to flee genocide, to a soldier, immigrant, architect, real estate magnate, and philanthropist — stands as a remarkable story of resilience, ambition, and heart. His birthdate, May 10, 1922, and birthday, May 10, frame the beginning of a journey that reshaped skylines, built communities, and supported generations.

With an estimated net worth of US$ ~3.1 billion, Azrieli turned vision into buildings — and wealth into philanthropy. His relationships and family life anchored him; his children carry forward his legacy. Through the Azrieli Foundation and built landmarks like the Azrieli Centre, his influence endures — a lasting tribute to a man who rose from the ashes to build a global legacy.

His story reminds us that true success is not measured solely in structures or dollars, but in the lives lifted, the opportunities created, and the memories honored.