Real estate billionaire was called the ‘worst analyst’ at Goldman Sachs—now he says the criticism was the best thing that ever happened to him

Being laid off, fired, or ousted from a high-powered company can feel career-ending. But for some, it’s a springboard for success. Mexican-American real estate mogul Fernando De Leon tossed the towel on his Goldman Sachs job after being told that he wasn’t the best fit for the $293.4 billion bank—and the setback put him on the path towards creating a billion-dollar empire. 

De Leon recalled in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal being told by one boss, “you should find something else to do” at the start of his career.

“Basically it was, ‘Hey, man, you may be the worst analyst that Goldman Sachs has ever hired.’”

The self-made billionaire was surprised to hear the criticism, but he now credits it with changing his life for the better. De Leon began his career as an analyst Goldman Sachs in 2001 after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. But after just a couple of years, his peers at the global bank recognized that ...