Early Life
Fernando De Leon was born on October 1, 1978, in Brownsville, Texas, and grew up in Matamoros, Mexico. Being born in the U.S. granted him access to American schools and citizenship, setting the foundation for his future. He attended school in both Brownsville and Matamoros, navigating two cultures and educational systems simultaneously. At 12, he represented South Texas in the National Spelling Bee. His father, a lawyer who owned a junkyard, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a passion for chess and philosophy. During his teenage years, De Leon used his bilingual skills as a translator for U.S. real estate developers building in Mexico, laying the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey.
Rise to Success
De Leon's career started as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. In 2006, he founded Leon Capital Group in 2006. He quickly built his empire through real estate development, making a key decision to sell his properties before the 2008 financial crisis. As the crisis abated, he reinvested in real estate and expanded into other industries, including healthcare and financial services. Leon Capital operates twelve companies today.
Key Business Strategies
De Leon focuses on direct ownership and operation of assets, emphasizing speed, innovation, and value creation. He adopted an “anti-private equity” approach by investing in founder-led businesses and building long-term relationships, rather than short-term gains. His company has invested in 20,000 rental housing units, 25M SF of industrial space, and 15M SF of retail space. De Leon is a co-founder of Crexi, a commercial real estate technology platform, and has expanded into healthcare through Specialty Dental Brands and Frontline Dental Implant Specialists.
Philanthropy
De Leon established the De Leon Family Foundation, which supports education in South Texas and Northern Mexico and expands healthcare access. The foundation's De Leon Scholars Program awards annual scholarships to Texas students. De Leon believes that building businesses is the most moral and philanthropic act, as it creates employment and provides opportunities.