Alex Spanos
Founder, A.G. Spanos Companies
Owner, San Diego Chargers
Stockton, CA
Alex Spanos was born in 1923 in Stockton, California. His father, an immigrant from Greece, ran a small restaurant and bakery. From the time he was eight, Alex worked baking bread and cakes before school. "My father was from the old school," says Spanos. "We were never allowed to play sports because all we had time for was to work and go to school." Still, he appreciates and values the hard work ethic he learned from his father.
After high school and a short time at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, World War II broke out. Spanos joined the Army Air Corps, serving three years before resuming his studies at the College of the Pacific in Stockton. He continued to work in the bakery, and also lettered in swimming and diving. Spanos was expected to stay in the family business, but he wanted to strike out on his own. With an $800 loan, he bought an old truck and started a business supplying meals to farm workers in the Central California valley. The venture thrived.
In the mid-1950s, Spanos turned his attention to real estate. Today, A.G. Spanos Companies span from California to Florida with operations in building, management, and land development. The firm has built more than 120,000 apartments in 19 states. Spanos’ two sons now run the company on a daily basis and his two daughters serve on the executive board. "We’re a close-knit family that works well together," he says. "That has helped us grow into the company we are today."
Spanos also owns the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. Owning an NFL team had become a goal and Spanos is a life-long goal setter. "I’ve always set goals," he says. "They were always five-year goals and I’ve been able to achieve every one of them in less than five years." Spanos exudes self-confidence and credits much of his success to that trait. "If I don’t tell people how good I am, who will?" he challenges. A lot of young people, if they fail the first time out, they give up. I would say you never give up. The opportunities are far greater today than they were 20 or 30 years ago. But you have to have a strong desire, and you’ve got to believe that you’re the best at what you’re doing. There isn’t anything in this world you can’t do if you set your mind to it."
A noted philanthropist, Spanos and his wife, Faye, have dedicated themselves to helping their community and fellow citizens. Their trademark generosity is directed toward those who are most in need. In his autobiography, Sharing the Wealth, Spanos details his struggle to succeed as well as the lessons he learned along the way. Spanos credits much of his success to his family. "My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are everything to me. Family is what it is all about."
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