Meet Harlan Crow, a wealthy real estate developer from Dallas, Texas. He’s not just known for his business ventures but also for his charitable work. Born in 1949, he’s the son of Trammell Crow, the founder of Trammell Crow Company.
Harlan studied History at Southern Methodist University, and after spending some years working with his father’s company, he set off on his own journey in 1998, establishing Crow Holdings.
In this article, we’ll delve into Harlan Crow’s net worth, biography, career, and some of the controversies surrounding his name, including his ties to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his involvement in dark money political donations.
Harlan Crow’s Net Worth
With an estimated net worth of $2 billion, Harlan Crow is the founder of Crow Holdings, a private investment firm that specializes in real estate, private equity, and other investment opportunities.
The company has an extensive portfolio of assets, which includes properties like office buildings, shopping centers, and hotels. Along with serving as the Chairman and CEO of Crow Holdings, Crow also serves on the board of directors of several other companies, including The St. Paul Travelers Companies based in Dallas.
Biography of Harlen Crow
Early Life
Harlan Crow was born in Dallas as the third child of Margaret Doggett Crow and renowned real estate developer Trammell Crow. He grew up with four brothers and one sister.
However, unlike his siblings, he went to Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, for his high school education.
Harlan later attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, before transferring to the University of Texas, where he earned a BBA degree.
Career
From 1974 to 1978, Harlan Crow worked as a leasing agent for Trammell Crow Houston Industrial. Following this, he managed the development operations of Trammell Crow Company’s Dallas Office Building from 1978 to 1986.
Subsequently, he served as the President of Wyndham Hotel Company between 1986 and 1988 before taking over the responsibility of Crow Holdings in 1988. Currently, Harlan serves as the Chairman of Crow Holdings and was previously the Chief Executive Officer.
| Name: | Harlan Rogers Crow |
|---|---|
| Born: | 1949 (age 73–74) |
| Place of Birth: | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Randolph-Macon Academy, Emory University, University of Texas |
| Occupation: | Real estate developer |
| Political party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Kathy |
| Children: | 3 |
| Parent: | Trammell Crow (father) |
| Relatives: | Stuart Crow (brother) |
Harlan Crow’s Personal Life and Collections
Harlan Crow is a man of diverse interests and hobbies. He resides in his Dallas home that houses his extensive private library, consisting of historical documents from renowned personalities such as Ponce de Leon, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, George Washington, Robert E.
Lee, and all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. Crow is also an avid art collector who owns original paintings by Peale, Renoir, Monet, Winston Churchill, and Dwight Eisenhower, among others. In total, his collection comprises 8,500 books and manuscripts.
In addition to his impressive library and art collection, Crow’s backyard garden boasts sculptures of fallen leaders and Communist icons, including Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, Fidel Castro, Karl Marx, Hosni Mubarak, Josip Broz Tito, Nicolae Ceausescu, Walter Ulbricht, Gavrilo Princip, Bela Kun, and Che Guevara. He acquired these former public monuments after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc.
Family and Background
Harlan Crow was born to Margaret Doggett Crow and renowned real estate developer Trammell Crow in Dallas, Texas.
He grew up with four brothers and one sister. Harlan’s mother, Margaret, survived the sinking of the SS Athenia, the first British ship sunk by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Harlan and his wife, Kathy, have three children, but further information on them is unavailable.
Political Activities
Harlan Crow’s Political and Social Activities
Harlan Crow is a prominent donor to Republican campaigns and conservative groups. He has donated almost $5 million to these causes and is a member of the founding committee of the 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth. Crow also serves on the board of the American Enterprise Institute, where he has been a member since 1996.
Relationship with Clarence Thomas
Crow is a close friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. This relationship has sparked controversy and raised questions about judicial ethics.
Crow has reportedly given Thomas luxury vacations and expensive gifts, including a $19,000 bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass. Crow’s foundation also gave $105,000 to Yale Law School, Thomas’ alma mater, for the “Justice Thomas Portrait Fund,” tax filings show.
These gifts were not disclosed, which violates the law requiring justices, judges, members of Congress, and federal officials to disclose most gifts.
Bohemian Club and Other Connections
Crow is a member of the all-male Bohemian Club and has hosted Justice Thomas as a guest at the group’s annual summer encampment, the Bohemian Grove. He is also a friend and former business partner of the publisher Wick Allison.
Campaign Against Publicly Owned Convention Hotel
In 2009, Crow launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to block the establishment of a publicly owned convention hotel in Dallas. His efforts were unsuccessful.
Donations and Disclosure
Crow has given over $10 million in publicly disclosed political contributions. However, the amount of money he has given to groups that do not disclose donors – so-called dark money – is not known. When asked about these donations, Crow told the NY Times, “I don’t disclose what I’m not required to disclose.”
Harlan Crow Controversies
Report on Harlan Crow’s lavish gifts to Justice Clarence Thomas
In 2023, investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported that Harlan Crow, a prominent American businessman and real estate developer, had allegedly showered Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Clarence Thomas with lavish gifts.
According to the report, Crow gave Justice Thomas a $19,000 Bible that had belonged to Frederick Douglass. Additionally, Crow reportedly presented Justice Thomas with a portrait of the justice and his wife, painted by Sharif Tarabay.
Allegations of undisclosed luxury trips
The report also revealed that Crow had provided Justice Thomas with week-long luxury trips, including private jet travel, superyacht island-hopping, and private resort stays.
The gifts, which were allegedly provided without proper disclosure, were made in apparent violation of a law passed after the Watergate scandal, which requires justices, judges, members of Congress, and federal officials to disclose most gifts.
Donations to Justice Thomas’ alma mater
In addition to the gifts to Justice Thomas, Crow’s foundation had donated $105,000 to Yale Law School, where Justice Thomas had studied, for the “Justice Thomas Portrait Fund,” according to tax filings.
The report sparked controversy and raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns in the relationship between Crow and Justice Thomas.
Harlan Crow’s Charitable Nature
Harlen Crow is well-known for his philanthropic contributions, donating millions of dollars to various causes, such as education, the arts, and medical research.
His generous contributions have benefitted organizations like the Dallas Museum of Art, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Harlan Crow’s Passion
Despite his vast wealth, Crow is known for living a simple life, residing in a modest house in Dallas and driving an old car. His passion for collecting historical artifacts, particularly those related to American history, is well-known.
Overall, Harlan Crow is a successful businessman and philanthropist whose contributions have positively impacted his community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How much is Crow Holdings worth?
Crow Holdings owns, manages, or is developing a total of $29 billion worth of real estate. The exact division of this wealth is uncertain, but by our estimates, Harlan Crow and his brothers together share a fortune valued at least $2.5 billion.
Harlan Crow’s net worth is estimated to be a significant portion of the $2.5 billion fortune held by him and his brothers, but the exact figure is not disclosed.
Harlan Crow’s second wife is Kathy, a Princeton graduate.
Harlan Crow serves as the Chairman of the Board of Crow Holdings, a private family business established to oversee the Trammell Crow family’s capital.
Harlan Crow married his second wife, Kathy, in 1994. They have three children: Rob, Jack, and Sarah.
