22 Facts About Rick Caruso

Rick Joseph Caruso was born on January 7,1959 and is an American billionaire businessman.

Rick Caruso was previously the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, a member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, and was the runner-up to Karen Bass in the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election.

Rick Caruso's mother Gloria was a billboard model in her youth.

Rick Caruso received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1980 ; and a JD from the Pepperdine University School of Law in 1983 as a Margaret Martin Brock Scholar.

Rick Caruso was a real-estate lawyer in the corporate finance department at Finley Kumble.

Rick Caruso initially purchased parking lots that his father agreed to lease for Dollar Rent-A-Car which he sold when the property rose in value.

In 2015, Rick Caruso funded a voter initiative to bypass local planning laws and the California Environmental Quality Act in order to build an outdoor mall in Carlsbad, California.

Rick Caruso's company was accused of suppressing free speech over the rejection of an advertisement for a documentary about the Armenian Genocide at the Americana at Brand in 2015 and in 2017.

In 1985, at the age of 26, Rick Caruso was named by Mayor Tom Bradley to serve as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, becoming the youngest commissioner in the history of the city.

In 2008, Rick Caruso was elected to serve as a member of the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which oversees the operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and nearby Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Rick Caruso advocated a ban on rave parties at the two venues.

Rick Caruso floated the idea of running for mayor of Los Angeles for the 2009 and 2013 elections, though he ultimately did not run.

Rick Caruso announced his candidacy on February 11,2022, the day before the filing deadline.

Rick Caruso spent more than $41 million on his primary campaign, including $39 million of his own money on digital, radio, and television advertising.

Rick Caruso founded the Rick Caruso Family Foundation, which focuses on organizations that improve the lives of children in need of healthcare and education.

Rick Caruso's daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Rick Caruso, was born with hearing loss and was treated at USC's Keck School of Medicine.

In 2018, Rick Caruso was elected chairman of USC's board of trustees; he resigned from the position in 2022.

In May 2018, Rick Caruso promised an independent investigation and an accompanying public report, but no report on the investigation has been made public.

In March 2025, Rick Caruso came out against the effort to recall Bass in light of the wildfires, saying it is overly political and the city needs unity.

In 1995, Rick Caruso was named Alumnus of the Year by Pepperdine School of Law.

Rick Caruso has lectured on real estate issues at the Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard University, the USC Price School of Public Policy and the Milken Institute Global Conference.

Rick Caruso has been a guest panelist for the International Council of Shopping Centers.