Early Life and Education
Tamara Hughes Gustavson was born in 1961. She graduated from San Marino High School in 1979 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from the University of Southern California in 1983. At USC, she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Rise to Success
Gustavson joined Public Storage in 1983, shortly after graduating from USC. She worked at the company for two decades, progressing to the role of Senior Vice President. In 2008, she joined the company's board of trustees. Her father, B. Wayne Hughes, co-founded Public Storage in 1972. In 2016, she established herself as the wealthiest person in Kentucky.
Key Business Strategies
Her primary source of wealth is her significant shareholding in Public Storage, where she is the largest shareholder. She also owns Spendthrift Farm, a prestigious Thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm. She has served on the board of American Homes 4 Rent and is a director of the William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundation.
Philanthropy
Tamara Gustavson is actively involved in philanthropy. She directs the William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundation, which focuses on supporting childhood leukemia research and treatment. She also served on the board of directors of the USC-CHLA Institute for Pediatric Clinical Research from 2004 to 2008.