John Edward Anderson

John Edward Anderson (September 12, 1917 – July 29, 2011) was an American billionaire businessman who was the president and owner of Topa Equities, Ltd. Anderson oversaw more than 40 wholly owned subsidiaries in agriculture, automotive dealerships, insurance, real estate, oil, and wholesale beverage distribution. In 2006, he was ranked #189 on the Forbes magazine list of the 400 richest Americans, with a net worth of $1.9 billion. He made charitable donations to the University of California, Los Angeles, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and other Southern California educational institutions during his lifetime. Anderson died from pneumonia at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Anderson was the valedictorian of his high school class. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles from 1936 to 1940, playing on the ice hockey team, and graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree in business administration. While at UCLA, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He then attended Harvard Business School on a scholarship, graduating with an M.B.A. after World War II had broken out. Anderson entered the military on the staff of an admiral, and passed his CPA exam while in the Navy. He graduated first in his class at Loyola, and was offered a full-time teaching position. His portfolio included of commercial property and 4,500 residential units. Anderson also taught several business courses at UCLA.

Anderson received the Distinguished Service Award, Loyola Law School in 1985. He received the Outstanding Individual Philanthropist on National Philanthropy Day award in 1989

Death and legacy Anderson died on July 29, 2011. He had 15 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She died on May 14, 2017.