Loading
Billionaire real estate developer and grocery magnate John Catsimatidis, a fast-talking, sometimes brash and almost always colorful character — with seemingly enough stories to match his bank account — lives by, for him at least, what appears to be a counterintuitive leadership principle: he uses the two ears, one mouth approach.
“I always try to listen to both sides before I make a decision on anything,” says Catsimatidis, No. 679 on the 2023 Forbes Billionaire list, with what the magazine says is a net worth of $4.1 billion. “I try to keep an open mind.”
Catsimatidis, with his nasal-quick New York accent and free-range answers in a 20-minute interview, doesn’t necessarily scream rational decision-making prowess. But his ability to lead like that, mixed with fearlessness and frank conversations, has led to a series of significant successes in a 50-year entrepreneurial career. That’s wrapped around Red Apple Group, parent company of the popular New York City grocery chain Gristedes, among several other entities.
Subscribe today. Cancel anytime.
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning business news.
Join thousands of executives who rely on us for insights spanning Tampa Bay to Naples.
