Who Really Owns That Sky-High Monstrosity? A Deep Dive into the Aon Building
Let’s talk about the Aon Center, shall we? That towering titan of glass and steel that dominates the Chicago skyline. You know, the one that makes you feel like a tiny ant when you look up at it. It’s like the building equivalent of a Kardashian – everyone knows it, but who really owns the thing?
A Building with a Rich History (and a Few Name Changes)
Believe it or not, this architectural behemoth wasn’t always called the Aon Center. It started life as the Standard Oil Building, a name that sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Imagine working there and having to explain your job to people: “Oh, I work in the Standard Oil Building. Yeah, the one that looks like a giant oil rig. No, I don’t sell gas.”
After a stint as the Amoco Building (another snoozefest of a name), it finally got a makeover and was rebranded as the Aon Center. A bit more catchy, don’t you think? But let’s get down to brass tacks.
So, Who’s the Boss of This Building?
You'd think a building this iconic would be owned by some mega-corporation or a billionaire with a penchant for sky-high real estate. But nope. The Aon Center is actually owned by a couple of real estate investors named Mark Karasick and Victor Gerstein. They dropped a cool $713 million on the place back in 2015. So, next time you’re walking past and feeling insignificant, remember – those tiny specks of people inside are working for these two guys.
How to Become a Building Owner Yourself (Probably Not)
Okay, so buying a skyscraper might be a bit out of reach for most of us. But hey, dreams are free! Here are a few more realistic steps to building your own real estate empire:
- How to start small: Begin with a garage or a shed. It’s a humble start, but every empire begins somewhere.
- How to save money: Cut back on avocado toast and overpriced coffee. Your future building needs a strong foundation.
- How to find investors: Charm your friends and family into giving you money. Or, you know, get a real job.
- How to deal with tenants: Practice being a landlord on your pets. They might not pay rent, but they’ll definitely test your patience.
- How to handle maintenance: Learn how to fix things. Or, at least, know who to call when you can’t.
Remember, owning a building is a lot of work. But hey, the view from the top is pretty sweet.
So, there you have it. The Aon Center, in all its towering glory, is actually owned by a couple of regular people. Who knew? Now, go forth and dream of your own real estate empire. Just don’t expect to be buying skyscrapers anytime soon.
