![]() A center for women and men and veterans is named after his wife. ![]() Under Hosseini, Embry-Riddle’s foundation grew by millions of dollars and the student union finished in 2018 was named after him. Mori Hosseini was appointed to Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees in 1999 and became the first alumni to be appointed chair in 2014, by then-Gov. DeSantis appointed her to the Children and Youth Cabinet in 2019 and reappointed her two years later. ![]() His wife is the founder and chair of Food Brings Hope and a member of the United Way Foundation Board. ICI is one of the top builders in Florida and ranked 73rd largest in the nation by Builder magazine.Īs he amassed a personal fortune, Hosseini gave to local organizations and charities, including his alma mater, Embry Riddle, as well as Daytona State College, where his wife, Forough, senior vice president of information systems for ICI Homes, sat on the board of trustees for several years. He started ICI Homes in 1980, turning it into one of the largest residential developers in the state with more than 10,000 homes built and a revenue of $595 million in 2022, up from $379 million in 2021. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he got both a B.A. He got his Social Security card in Florida in 1979, records show. He came to the United States in 1976, three years before the Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty and installed Ayatollah Khomeini as ruler. You will make more money by being honest,” the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.Īt age 15, Hosseini went to London, where he got a degree in aeronautics engineering. His father’s seemingly contradictory advice to a 10-year-old Mori: “Forget about morals, ethics and religion. He learned about business from his father, who owned a car dealership. “It’s no secret that the way to Ron DeSantis’ ear is through his campaign account,” said Anders Croy, communications director of DeSantis Watch, a political committee aimed at holding DeSantis accountable for policies that have harmed Floridians and curtailed their freedom. That doesn’t include the money he’s raised from other people and organizations. Hosseini has donated nearly $3.5 million over nearly two decades under his own name and through several of his corporations to the Republican Party, GOP candidates and other conservative committees and close to $300,000 to DeSantis and his PAC, according to state campaign records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel. They also reveal requests from the governor’s office to attend receptions at the Governor’s Mansion and the State of the State address. “They show Hosseini recommending someone for a position on the University of Florida Board of Trustees, calls on DeSantis’ schedule with the developer and the appointment of Hosseini’s wife to a different board,” The Post reported. The Washington Post reported it received more than 2,700 pages of documents from 20 in response to a public records request that shows a long working relationship between DeSantis and Hosseini. While Florida journalists have chronicled the relationship between Hosseini and DeSantis for years, the national media is just now learning about the power behind the throne as DeSantis ramps up his national campaign for president. “He’s been influential for over a decade.” ‘A long working relationship’ Jeff Brandes, a Republican from Pinellas County who was forced by term limits to leave the Senate. “I know he’s a developer, and that he has incredible influence,” said former Sen. More recently, Hosseini has been in the news for lending a fancy golf simulator to the Governor’s Mansion and playing a role in state transportation officials steering $92 million in leftover COVID funds toward an interchange project that would benefit one of his developments. He’s also garnered headlines for getting tickets for DeSantis to play golf at Augusta National Golf Club, flying the First Lady Casey DeSantis to a defense contractor’s fundraiser in Jacksonville and frequently lending his private jet to the governor’s campaign. He and his family raised millions more for numerous charities, but also the Florida Republican Party and state and local political candidates. The 68-year-old Iranian-American developer from Volusia County has raised millions for his “beloved” University of Florida and his alma mater, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president in 2024. TALLAHASSEE - Millionaire developer Morteza “Mori” Hosseini has been called the most powerful unelected person in Florida and a close adviser and donor to Gov.
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