In 1864 James Irvine, who made a fortune selling supplies to California Gold Rush miners in San Francisco, began buying Mexican land grants in Orange County with three partners. Much of it was two large cattle and sheep ranches.

In 1894, Irvine's son, James Irvine II, incorporated the land holdings as the Irvine Co.

In the early 1900s the availability of irrigation water changed the region's agriculture from raising livestock to growing orchards and row crops. Orange County became a leader in producing citrus fruit, lima beans, sugar beets and strawberries. Celery, walnuts, stone fruits and a robust dairy industry also thrived.

In 1959, the Irvine Co. donated 1,000 acres and sold 500 acres near Newport Beach for a new University of California campus. The city of Irvine, designed by the company, grew around the campus.

In 1977, developer Donald Bren began buying Irvine Co. shares from the Irvine family. By 1983, he was majority owner and in 1996 he became sole owner.

In 2008, Forbes ranked Bren as the wealthiest real estate developer in the nation with an estimated net worth of $12 billion.

-- Dan Wheat