Equity Residential · Chicago, IL United States ·(NYSE: EQR)

The "Grave Dancer" is also the lord of the rents. Sam Zell (whose moniker springs from his buying and turning around moribund properties) is at the head of the conga line at Equity Residential, the nation's #1 apartment owner by sales. Rival AIMCO owns more units, but its affordable-housing focus keeps its revenue more modest. Equity Residential wholly or partially owns some 550 communities with 150,000 units, comprising garden units, mid- and high rises, and military housing. A real estate investment trust (REIT), Equity Residential also provides property leasing, development, managment, and other support operations. The company focuses on fast-growth regions such as Southern California and New York. To read the full description, subscribe now.