Early Life
Herb Simon was born on October 23, 1934, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the Bronx, the son of Max Simon, a tailor who emigrated from Central Europe. He graduated from the City College of New York with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Business.
Rise to Success
In 1960, Herb Simon co-founded Melvin Simon & Associates (MSA) with his brother, Melvin Simon. The company began developing strip malls in Indianapolis, Indiana. MSA evolved into Simon Property Group, which went public in December 1993, becoming the largest initial public offering of a real estate investment trust at the time. Simon Property Group is now one of the world's largest real estate investment trusts, with 229 properties globally as of 2025.
Key Business Strategies
Simon's key business strategies included strategic acquisitions and developments. In 1996, the company merged with DeBartolo Realty Corporation. Simon has also focused on maintaining high occupancy rates.
Philanthropy
Herb Simon, through the Herbert Simon Family Foundation, made a $1 million donation in February to support early childhood literacy efforts at the Indianapolis Public Library.