Ed Sonshine: From Displaced Persons Camp To a Multi-Billion Dollar Real Estate Empire
Get every episode summarized
Each time Big Shot publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
Ed Sonshine is one of those people you could speak with for hours and barely scratch the surface of his life. Born in Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp after World War II to two Holocaust survivors, he immigrated to Canada as a young child. After already becoming a very successful lawyer, he founded RioCan, which, at the time, was the first REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) in Canada. As of this recording, RioCan operates 193 properties, has over 33 million in leasable square feet, and an evaluation of $15 billion. In this episode of Big Shot, you’ll learn what it was like being born in Germany after the war, how Ed built a real estate empire while still being a family man, why he thinks the Jewish community is extremely self-reliant, and much more.
—
Where To Find Big Shot:
Website: bigshot.show
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigshotpodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigshotshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigshotshow/
Harley Finkelstein: https://twitter.com/harleyf
David Segal: https://twitter.com/tea_maverick
Production and Marketing: https://penname.co
—
In This Episode, We Cover:
(00:00) Welcome to Big Shot and meet our guest Ed Sunshine
(05:40) The early days of Ed’s life and being born in a displaced person’s camp
(10:18) Why Ed’s father was a smuggler after the war and never complained
(14:55) What made Ed want to be successful and change career paths
(19:12) When Ed got the idea to bring the first REIT to Canada
(24:38) What he learned from his father that had a profound impact on him
(27:20) How Ed built a business empire while being a family man
(31:20) Why Ed finally got a cottage
(36:40) How Ed defines success, financial security, and purpose
(42:15) Why the Jewish community is self-reliant
(50:51) How Ed defines chutzpah
(52:32) A story you need to hear about Ed’s father
(58:36) What worries Ed about the future
(1:04:40) Ed’s biggest piece of advice to younger generations
—
Referenced:
RioCan: https://www.riocan.com/
Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/bergen-belsen-displaced-persons-camp
An Empire Of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Their-Own-Invented-Hollywood/dp/0385265573
Get every episode summarized
Each time Big Shot publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Big Shot
How a 17-Year-Old From Tehran Turned $750 Into a Toy Empire | Isaac Larian
Big Shot
The Coney Island Kid Who Made Rocky, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull | Irwin Winkler
Big Shot
From Paramount to Fox to Expedia: How Barry Diller Built One Massive Business Af...
Big Shot
The Quiet Dealmaker Who Bought the Warriors and A’s | Lew Wolff
Big Shot