American billionaire businessman Samuel Zell died on Thursday at the age of 81 following a recent illness, investment giant Equity Group Investments announced.
"It is with great sadness that we announce that Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Equity Residential, and Equity Commonwealth, died today at home due to complications from a recent illness. The family of Equity companies mourns his loss," the official press release stated.
Zell was the founder and chairman of Equity Group Investments, a private investment company founded in 1968. His fortune is estimated at $5.3 billion.