Today we’d like to introduce you to Leonard Rabinowitz.
Hi Leonard, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Over the course of my career, I’ve participated in hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate transactions, bringing deep expertise in both commercial and luxury residential real estate to Christie’s International Real Estate So Cal. I’ve built and sold numerous 12,000+ square-foot homes in Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Aspen. One Malibu estate I built resold in June 2024 for $210 million, the highest residential home sales price in California history. In addition to residential work, I’ve developed several industrial properties in Downtown Los Angeles, including the acquisition, rehabilitation, and sale of the May Corp warehouse, which achieved a record price per square foot.
My career has spanned multiple industries, bringing a unique combination of market insight, integrity, and passion to my work with Christie’s. As Co-Founder of the billion-dollar Carole Little® fashion brand, I honed my negotiating skills and later monetized the business through a successful sale. I went on to co-found CL Cinema Line Films and produced several feature films, including the box office hit AnacondA. Along the way, I built a broad and trusted network across the highest levels of business and entertainment.
One of my proudest accomplishments is repurposing one of my Downtown LA buildings, along with its multi-acre site, into a charter school for underserved youth, serving grades TK through 12. Today, the school educates 1,800 students. Its elementary program was named School of the Year by Time Magazine, and our Wallis Annenberg High School boasts a graduation rate over 90%, with the majority of students continuing on to higher education. The Los Angeles Times described my donation, featured on its front page, as the largest private gift ever made to a charter school. I continue to serve the district pro bono as Corporate President and Chair of the Board of Trustees, where I also lead the Governance Committee and sit on the Finance Committee.
I hold certifications in Corporate Governance, Corporate Finance, and Best Practices for Directors from The Wharton School, along with a Master’s Professional Director Certification from the American College of Corporate Directors. I’ve previously served on the board of a public company in the computer, telecom, and networking sector. Over the years, I’ve helped raise more than $50 million for charitable causes, and I’m proud to be a Broker Associate with Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never a smooth road, but what I’ve learned is the harder I work, the luckier I get. I started my fashion career at a very young age, and it was anything but easy. In my first year, I lost quite a bit of money. But I kept pushing forward. I flew to Paris to study fashion and gather ideas, and when I returned to Los Angeles, I created a collection inspired by that experience. Not long after, Lauren Hutton, the most famous model of the time, wore one of my blouses on the cover of People magazine. Overnight, the business exploded.
Later, when I transitioned into film, I faced a whole new set of challenges. The first movie I made was a financial disaster. But again, I stuck with it. I kept learning, developing, and persevering. Eventually, I produced AnacondA, which became a major box office success and a global franchise.
In both industries, the pattern was the same: early setbacks, relentless effort, and eventually, breakthrough moments. What may appear as “luck” from the outside is so often the result of persistence and preparation. That same mindset drives me today in my real estate career—staying creative, staying committed, and doing the work every single day.
We’ve been impressed with LeonardR Group, Inc, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Broker Associate at Christie’s International Real Estate. A Broker, is a much higher standard of education and testing as opposed to an agent. A Broker can transact on their own but may choose, as I did, to associate with another firm. I transact in the very high end of the business and choose to associate with Christie’s International Real Estate because they are synonymous with luxury worldwide.
My philanthropic work is very important to me as well having donated over ten million dollars, mostly to inner city TK-12 education. I serve pro bono as the President of a Charter School District in downtown Los Angeles.
What makes you happy?
Happiness, for me, comes from purpose and connection. I’ve been fortunate to have had multiple careers in fashion, film, and now real estate. Each chapter has brought its own kind of fulfillment. What makes me happiest is creating something meaningful and lasting, whether it’s a garment, a film, or helping someone find the perfect home. I love building things, businesses, relationships, opportunities, and seeing others thrive as a result.
One of the most meaningful sources of happiness in my life, other than family, has been the charter school I helped start. We began with just 30 students, and today we serve 1,850 children from underserved communities. Our students are transitional kindergarten through 12th grade and provide 2,500 meals a day. Watching the youngest students receive a strong foundation while seeing our high schoolers go on to higher education is deeply fulfilling. One of our students was just accepted to Stanford, and I was over the moon with joy. Moments like that remind me what true happiness looks like: impact, growth, and seeing the next generation succeed.
Pricing:
- $10,000,000 to currently $75,000,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LeonardR.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonard_rab_beverlyhills/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-rabinowitz-44290025
- Youtube: www.YouTubeLR.com
