Early Life and Education
Edward P. Roski Jr. was born in Oklahoma in 1938. His father, Edward Roski Sr., founded Majestic Realty in 1948. Roski attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in real estate and finance.
Rise to Success
After graduating from USC, Roski served in the United States Marine Corps from 1962 to 1966 and was wounded in the Vietnam War. He joined Majestic Realty in 1966. Under his leadership, Majestic Realty has become one of the largest privately held real estate development companies in the U.S., with a diverse portfolio including industrial parks, office complexes, and retail centers. Roski helped develop the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in Los Angeles.
Key Business Strategies
Majestic Realty's success stems from strategic investments in industrial real estate across the country. The company's focus on developing master-planned business parks has provided real estate solutions for a wide range of tenants. Roski's investments also include minority ownership in the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings. Majestic Realty expanded its portfolio with the purchase of multiple industrial development facilities in California and Arizona.
Philanthropy
Roski is a generous philanthropist. He and his late wife, Gayle, made a $25 million donation to USC to endow the Gayle and Edward Roski Eye Institute. The Majestic Realty Foundation, established in 2002, supports youth, family, education, health, and violence prevention. Roski also co-founded the Land of the Free Foundation, which supports veterans.