America's Road to Wealth

Joan Irvine Smith, the person she wants revenge on has a great background.

Irvine has given birth to many successful businessmen, including one who is the richest man in Southern California and one of the richest real estate businessmen in the United States.

His name was Donald Bren, and he seemed to be a brother to Ikana's father's original name.

In fact, apart from the fact that they are both Americans, the two have nothing to do with each other.

Donald Bren is a well-deserved real estate tycoon. Forbes ranks the top ten real estate tycoons in the United States, with a net worth of about US$10 billion.

This Bren did not inherit any ancestral property and started from scratch.

As of now, he alone controls 100% of one of the largest real estate companies in the United States, Irvine Real Estate Company.

It also has more than 400,000 square feet of 500 office buildings, 50 shopping malls of about 8 million square feet, at least 50,000 apartments, three golf clubs and five marinas.

But what most people don’t know is that Irvine Real Estate Company was not originally Donald Bren’s company, but owned by the century-old Irvine family.

In 1977, Bren was 45 years old and already a billionaire.

With the help of some people, he took advantage of Irvine Real Estate, a century-old company with no successors and the company was struggling.

He persuaded several investors to spend $337 million to buy part of the Irvine Company.

Among them, he alone holds 35% of the equity of Irvine Company. What he values ​​​​is the land resources in the hands of this company.

He then spent nearly two decades slowly buying out his partners' shares in the Irvine Company.

A few years ago, in 1996, the 64-year-old Bren made a strong move against the Irvine family.

Use the power of the court to exclude Joan Irvine Smith, the great-granddaughter of Irvine Company founder James Irvine.

The California Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Bren paid Joan $240 million to settle the matter, which was less than half of her original demand for the family property.

Finally, Bren became the sole shareholder of the Irvine Company and took sole control, and a powerful real estate empire was born.

This experience of Donald Brun seems extremely inspiring.

Starting from scratch, he relied on his own ability to seize the property of a wealthy family, replacing the wealthy family and becoming a new wealthy family...

Just looking at these words, he is more than 100 times better than Ikana's father, who was born in the second generation of wealth and has been bankrupt so many times.

But actually?

In fact, the timing of Donald Bren's entry into the Irvine Company and his defeat of Joan Irvine Smith in court were all very coincidental.

The timing of his strong investment in the Irvine Company was when the then governor of California was named Jerry Brown.

Decades later.

When he defeated Joan Irvine Smith in a California courtroom.

The attorney general of California also happens to be named Jerry Brown.

Mr. Jerry Brown, who served two terms as the governor of California, has been the attorney general of California from 1994 to the present.

If anyone is interested and continues to observe.

You will find that throughout the entire process of Donald Blum's fortune, the shadow of Jerry Brown can be seen everywhere.

Still don’t understand?

One of the famous top real estate tycoons in the United States and the richest man in Southern California, Mr. Donald Bren.

To a certain extent, he is one of the biggest white gloves controlled by the Brown family, which has risen in recent decades.

Behind Donald Blum stood Jerry Brown and a group of Jerry Brown's allies.

Jerry Brown's father was Pat Brown, who was already the governor of California in 1960.

As California governor, Pat Brown contracted the construction project for the 1960 Winter Olympics to a pair of business partners.

One of these two people is named William Newsom, and the other is named John Pelosi.

William Newsom's daughter is Nalia, Beau Dumber's mother, but she has died.

Beau Dumber has a very powerful father and will achieve great things in the future.

William Newsom's grandson is Gavin Newsom, who is now the most famous and youngest handsome gentleman in California.

And John Pelosi, his daughter’s name is Nancy…who will be nicknamed the Hag in the future.

This is a typical American network.

A network with the Brown family, the Newsom family, the Pelosi family, etc. as its core, with power spread throughout California.

Similar networks can be said to be everywhere in every state in the United States.

Like Texas, now the Bush, Smith, Walker, Pierce, and many other families, the relationship is just as complicated.

He looks so powerful, he is Donald Bren, the super rich American. In fact, he is just an important member of a family network in California.

Maybe not even a core member.

Whether he can continue to stay in that family network depends on whether his descendants can integrate into it.

If possible, there will be a place for a family named Bren in that family network in the future.

If he can't do that, then Donald Bren can only be glorious for a while.

As for Joan Irvine Smith, who came before Abel.

She had also planned this for a long time.

The Irvine family was also a century-old wealthy family. Otherwise, there is no way to get a large area like Irvine in such a good place in Southern California.

But the wealthy family eventually declined, and its core assets were taken away by outsiders.

The Irvine family worked hard to seize power for more than twenty years, but in the end they didn't have a hair left.

Of the land now worth tens of billions of dollars, the Irvine family can only take away a few hundred million dollars.

Even if only Joan Irvine Smith was left, she would naturally not be willing to give in.

Besides, the California Smith family she married into was not too weak.

Joan Irvine Smith had enough motivations to get her family property back, or even just to get revenge.

And now Abel's appearance seems to Joanne Irvine Smith to be her only chance to make a comeback or succeed.

Plus everyone is a "Smith". Although they are not even remotely related, one is of Irish descent and the other is of English descent.

But... no matter what, it's still Smith. At least when you come into contact with him, you will feel a bit of intimacy.

This is the story of the Smith family here in California. John Smith accompanied his wife, Joanne Irvine Smith, in the living room of the villa at No. 60 Golden Eagle Road, Irvine.

"...I'm afraid this will be difficult."

In the living room, Abel smiled and said to Joan Irvine Smith and her husband:

"This was already in 1996. The California Supreme Court's decision is now almost more than 6 years ago. It is very difficult to regain control of the Irvine Company through legal means. Not to mention... "

Abel looked at Joan and John, "The Attorney General of California is still our dear Mr. Jerry Brown."

Faced with Abel's "rejection," Joan and her husband John didn't seem surprised at all.

The thing itself is difficult.

If it is not difficult, the Smith family here in California is not very weak.

He is a regular professional leaf grower in California, and he runs a related manor in a very wild way.

If things were easy, the California Smith family would have taken back the Irvine company worth tens of billions of dollars.

Even when John Smith married the daughter of a wealthy family, it was most likely for the Irvine Company.

I just didn't expect that behind Donald Bren, there was actually a terrifying political family network that had emerged in California in recent decades.

Facing such an opponent, Smith, who was not weak in California, was also powerless.

After all, it is California Smith, not the current Texas Smith...

"Mr Smith."

Joan Irvine Smith is a very talkative woman in her 40s.

Her husband, John Smith, who specializes in growing leaves and runs the largest legal leaf industry chain in California and is the de facto godfather of legal California leaves, seems a little shy.

"The Attorney General of California is elected every four years and can serve up to two terms. Mr. Jerry Brown has already served two terms. Even though he has a high voice, he will step down this year. He has also made it clear not long ago, This year he will run for mayor of San Francisco."

"In other words..." Joan looked at Abel seriously: "He will no longer be the master of the California Department of Justice!"

Abel shrugged, "What then?"

"Then our chance comes!"

Joan Irvine Smith said excitedly:

"Mr. Smith, the verdict that year was illegal. It's just that the jury, as well as the Attorney General, all sided with Donald Bren!!"

"As long as the new attorney general takes office, then we can launch a complaint to overturn the verdict that year."

Abel remained calm, holding Jessica who was a little nervous.

The latter only felt that these two days were the two days in which she had met the most important people in her life.

Jessica didn't know Joan Irvine Smith, but she had seen John Smith, who looked shy in front of Abel at this time.

When she was filming "007", there was a scene that needed to be shot in the leaf field.

The venue the crew borrowed at the time belonged to the John Smith family.

Because John Smith's last name is the same as her boyfriend.

At that time, Jessica was curious and asked the director a few more questions.

The director told her that he came to the scene out of curiosity to see the "owner" who was being filmed by the crew, who was John Smith.

Speaking of his actual identity, he is one of the uncrowned underground godfathers in California and even on the West Coast.

There are too many drug addicts and gang members who need to feed off John Smith.

Said that this is one of the big guys in California who should not be messed with.

Because the other person's surname was Smith and the director's warning, this left a deep impression on Jessica.

Now the other party was in front of Abel, as quiet as a worker on the roadside.

Jessica felt nervous and proud at the same time.

Nervous about John Smith's gray identity.

Are you proud that even a gray tycoon like John Smith is not so well-behaved in front of his own man?

John Smith is just a California Smith.

As for Abe Smith, Jessica felt that he was no longer just a Smith from Texas, he was a Smith from all America!

"So much. Dear Mrs. Smith, you have said so much. But I just want to ask one question."

Abel looked at the "Smith couple", he smiled and said:

"I just want to ask, what can I get? Or, what should I do and what can I get?"

Let’s get down to business.

Joan Irvine Smith gathered her strength and continued to be her lobbyist.

"We Californians all know now. In the case of California Pacific Electric, it was Jerry Brown who was working with you, Mr. Smith..."

Suddenly, Joan Irvine Smith was interrupted mid-sentence.

The person who interrupted her was her husband.

"Dear Joan, I don't think I need to say these things to Mr. Smith because it doesn't matter."

John Smith, who had been very quiet for half an hour, smiling and saying nothing the whole time, looked at Abel with a serious smile.

"Mr. Smith, there are two things you have to do. One is to provide $5 billion in funding. And there is judicial help from the Supreme Court, or the White House. You have the resources in this area, and this is what we lack. .”

John Smith said: "And you will get 50% of the shares of Irvine Corporation and the votes of at least 500,000 Californians. San Bernardino County, San Luis Obispo County, and Kern County will all hold elections this year. Election. If Mr. Neil Bush is willing, he will get overwhelming votes in these three places..."

"And we will take the lead in the charge. We will also spend 5 billion US dollars, but we will only get 50% of the shares."

"Mr Smith……"

John Smith looked at Abel seriously and said very sincerely:

"Seeing as we are all descendants of blacksmiths. I think Texas Smiths are really suitable to have a close-knit Smith family in California!"

Like little Laura's family name, which means bush.

The surname Smith originally meant blacksmith, blacksmith, craftsman and the like in the English context.

The earliest people named Smith were probably the descendants of blacksmiths.

This is similar to the surnames such as Wellside, Mountain, and River in Neon.

They all use the ancestor's job or the place where the ancestor was born as the surname.

After listening to the conditions and requirements set out by John Smith.

Abel smiled and said to Joan Irvine Smith: "Mr. Smith said it this way, it is easier to understand."

Joan could only smile.

If she could make the decision, she could also directly negotiate terms like this!

But she can't, the former daughter of a wealthy and wealthy family.

The only thing she can rely on now is her husband's strength.

Naturally, the husband can only be the main one.

"50% is too little. $5 billion is too much. The power of the White House and the Supreme Court does not come without a price."

Abel looked at John, "I need better conditions. After all, my relationship with Jerry Brown is not so bad that it cannot be eased."

"But if I cooperate with you."

He looked at the couple.

"That means that in California, Jerry Brown and his friends will be my enemies for a long time. This is not a good experience for me."

Abel seemed to be talking to himself, and seemed to be adding pressure to the Smiths.

"If I inform Mr. Brown of your visit today, maybe California Pacific Electric's problem will be solved."

"You can't do this!" screamed Joan Irvine Smith.

Her husband could keep his temper, but she could not.

If Abel, a powerful dragon, really did this.

Then it might be really difficult for her to take back the Irvine Company in her lifetime.

If you can't get the Irvine Company back, let's not talk about the trivial matter of avenging the family.

Even if this is possible, it will definitely make it difficult for her to maintain her status in the California Smith family, and she may even be expelled.

After all, the California Smith family has invested in her for more than 20 years for the Irvine Company.

In the end, if there is no benefit at all.

She really couldn't believe her relationship with John Smith.

"I'm just talking about a possibility." Abel smiled.

"Okay." John Smith said:

"Next, Mr. Smith. I will let you see our sincerity. I hope that after you see our sincerity, you can consider cooperating with us. Believe me, that will not be the wrong choice."

Abel raised his eyebrows: "I'm looking forward to it..."

"excuse me."

John Smith stood up directly and held Joan Irvine Smith, who was hesitant to speak.

Take his wife away directly.

Abel asked David Jones to see him off, leaving only Edward, Jessica and him in the living room.

Jessica didn't dare to disturb Abel, who looked deep in thought.

In fact, this is indeed the case.

At this time, Abel was thinking about the feasibility of cooperation with John Smith.

As the largest economy and population state in the United States, California's situation is the most complex among the fifty largest states in the United States.

In addition, it has only been established for a short period of time, and it is also very young among the fifty states.

In fact, there are no old American states like Texas and Massachusetts, the kind of old wealthy families that have been inherited for more than a hundred years.

Including the California consortium, the local snakes in California are relatively young and wealthy families compared to the east coast and south coast, and their number is also larger.

The California consortium is not like the Texas consortium, which has absolutely dominant power in the local area.

On the contrary, the California consortium is just one of the local gangsters in California.

The relationship between Jerry Brown and his gang and the California consortium is more of cooperation than subordination.

As for John Smith, the boss of the special plantation economy, he and his large group of people were also one of the local gangsters in California.

In terms of local impact in California, it is not much inferior to the California consortium, the Brown family, etc.

Let's put it this way, the status of the princes in the other 49 states of the United States has been established.

They are two or three overlords who unite or cooperate, surrounded by more than a dozen other families to control the entire state.

Here in California, there is something of a Spring and Autumn struggle for hegemony.

Many internal forces are still fighting, and the results have not been achieved yet.

Because the level of fighting was relatively mild, it was a struggle for hegemony in the Spring and Autumn Period, rather than the Warring States period when rituals collapsed and music collapsed.

As for Abel, he is one of the powerful dragons who invaded California in this spring and autumn struggle for supremacy.

Abel knew that he wanted to drive a nail in California.

It is better to cooperate with the local "princes", which is a safer way.

Then, the next step is obviously a multiple choice question.

Should we choose Jerry Brown, who has already shown good intentions, John Smith, who came out halfway, or the ambiguous California consortium.

Or look again to see if there are any other new collaborators.

Once the choice is confirmed, cooperation begins.

Then his tentacles can officially gain a foothold here.

The old man is fine now, but his blood oxygen cannot be restored and can only be maintained at 91-93. Other aspects are fine. The condition is not serious enough to reach the ICU, and there is no use in hospitalization. I still refuse to be hospitalized... I have taken him home and is recuperating at home. Next update normally...