Yuli Ofer
Encyclopedia
Judah "Yuli" Ofer was an Israeli businessman who specialized in the field of real estate
and industry
, and one of the wealthiest people in Israel
. A member of the Ofer family
, the annual Forbes
magazine's list of The World's Billionaires estimated in 2011 his fortune, together with that of his elder brother Sammy
, to be $10.3 billion, ranked him in 2011 as the 79th in wealthiest people in the world, and the wealthiest man in Israel.
. The Ofer family immigrated to Mandate Palestine while Yuli was six months old. The family lived in Haifa
. Yuli Ofer served in the Israeli Defense Forces in infantry and ended his relatively long military career at the rank of major. Afterwards he began his business career in Haifa
, were he supplied equipment for ships and along with his brother Sammy
they both established the Ofer Brothers Group
. In 1956 he and Sammy established the shipping company "Mediterranean routes".
During the 1960s and 1970s the Ofer Brothers Group became an international shipping company as Yuli Ofer became in charge of conducting the company's operations in Israel and Sammy Ofer became in charge of conducting the company's international operations. In the 1980s the Ofer Brothers Group began getting into the Tanker
industry in Hong Kong and Singapore. With time they also established a subsidiary company which focused on Cruise ship
s named "Royal Caribbean". In 1994 the Ofer Brothers were among the purchasers of the controlling interest in the Mizrahi Bank
, and in 1999 the family purchased the Israel's largest holding company Israel Corporation
and in addition acquired several properties from the Israeli government among them the Oil Refineries in Haifa
, Israel Chemicals
and Zim
.
Yuli Ofer founded the "Melisron" company which specializes in real estate
and owned several shopping malls in Israel: Ramat Aviv Mall
, Renanim Mall, Kiryon Mall and 20 other shopping centers.
In 2002, the Ofer brothers separated their assets: Sammy Ofer's assets in real estate and in the Mizrahi bank was transferred to his brother Yuli, and in exchange Yuli's assets in the Israel Corporation
holding company were transferred to Sammy.
; with his elder brother Sammy having died three months prior.
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, and one of the wealthiest people in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. A member of the Ofer family
Ofer Brothers Group
The Ofer Group is an Israeli family shipping business owned by the Ofer family. The Ofer family owns one of the largest private shipping companies in the world....
, the annual Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's list of The World's Billionaires estimated in 2011 his fortune, together with that of his elder brother Sammy
Sammy Ofer
Sammy Ofer KBE was a businessman, shipping tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in Israel, although most of his time he spent abroad, and managed his businesses from Monte Carlo in Monaco...
, to be $10.3 billion, ranked him in 2011 as the 79th in wealthiest people in the world, and the wealthiest man in Israel.
Life and career
Born 1924 in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The Ofer family immigrated to Mandate Palestine while Yuli was six months old. The family lived in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. Yuli Ofer served in the Israeli Defense Forces in infantry and ended his relatively long military career at the rank of major. Afterwards he began his business career in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, were he supplied equipment for ships and along with his brother Sammy
Sammy Ofer
Sammy Ofer KBE was a businessman, shipping tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in Israel, although most of his time he spent abroad, and managed his businesses from Monte Carlo in Monaco...
they both established the Ofer Brothers Group
Ofer Brothers Group
The Ofer Group is an Israeli family shipping business owned by the Ofer family. The Ofer family owns one of the largest private shipping companies in the world....
. In 1956 he and Sammy established the shipping company "Mediterranean routes".
During the 1960s and 1970s the Ofer Brothers Group became an international shipping company as Yuli Ofer became in charge of conducting the company's operations in Israel and Sammy Ofer became in charge of conducting the company's international operations. In the 1980s the Ofer Brothers Group began getting into the Tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
industry in Hong Kong and Singapore. With time they also established a subsidiary company which focused on Cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s named "Royal Caribbean". In 1994 the Ofer Brothers were among the purchasers of the controlling interest in the Mizrahi Bank
Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot
Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot is a bank in Israel. The fourth largest in the country, it has around 90 branches. It was formed by a merger of Bank Mizrahi HaMeuhad and Bank Tfahot in 2004....
, and in 1999 the family purchased the Israel's largest holding company Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation is Israel’s largest holding company. Fifty of its manufacturing activities and 70% of its consolidated revenues derive from global operations. Its core holdings are fertilizers and specialty chemicals, energy, shipping and transportation. Israel Corp is a constituent of the...
and in addition acquired several properties from the Israeli government among them the Oil Refineries in Haifa
Oil Refineries Ltd
Oil Refineries Ltd. , located in Haifa Bay, is Israel's largest Oil refinery. Using its state-of-the-art industrial facilities, ORL is capable of refining approximately 9.8 million tons of crude oil per year providing a variety of products used in industrial operation, transportation, private...
, Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals Ltd. , also known as ICL, is a multi-national Israeli manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizers, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.-History:...
and Zim
Zim
Zim or ZIM may refer to:* Zero Index Metamaterial* Zimbabwe* Nzime, a people of Cameroon* GAZ-12 ZIM, limousine* Invader Zim, a 2001 animated television series** Zim, the title character from Invader ZIM...
.
Yuli Ofer founded the "Melisron" company which specializes in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and owned several shopping malls in Israel: Ramat Aviv Mall
Ramat Aviv Mall
Ramat Aviv Mall is a shopping mall on 40 Einstein Street, in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv. At a rent of $1,804 per square meter, it is Israel's most expensive mall and the 35th most expensive mall in the world. Its gross leasable area is 17,800 square meters and it has 140 stores in two retail floors....
, Renanim Mall, Kiryon Mall and 20 other shopping centers.
In 2002, the Ofer brothers separated their assets: Sammy Ofer's assets in real estate and in the Mizrahi bank was transferred to his brother Yuli, and in exchange Yuli's assets in the Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation is Israel’s largest holding company. Fifty of its manufacturing activities and 70% of its consolidated revenues derive from global operations. Its core holdings are fertilizers and specialty chemicals, energy, shipping and transportation. Israel Corp is a constituent of the...
holding company were transferred to Sammy.
Death
Yuli Ofer died on September 11, 2011, aged 87 at his home in HerzliyaHerzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
; with his elder brother Sammy having died three months prior.
External links
- Businessman Yuli Ofer passes away at the age of 87 - published on the Jerusalem Post on September 12, 2011
- Netanyahu laments death of Yuli Ofer - published on YnetYnetYnet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
on September 12, 2011 - Yuli Ofer, one of Israel's richest men, dies at 87 - published on The Seattle TimesThe Seattle TimesThe Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
on September 12, 2011