Binyamin "Beny" Alagem (; born 1953) is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, business executive, hotelier and philanthropist. He is the founder and former chief executive of Packard Bell Computers. He is the owner of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, California.

Early life Beny Alagem was born in Israel.Roger Vincent, Checking in to grandeur: Designers show off plans for the Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria, set to open in 2017, The Los Angeles Times, April 10, 2014"A-Rod joins Sting, Denzel Washington, other rich and famous at 15 Central Park West" Owen Moritz, New York Daily News, 28 February 2010. He was a tank driver.Christina Binkley, The 'Trophy' Hotel: Fabulous Fixer-Upper, The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2004 Alagem studied at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where he met fellow Israeli immigrants Jason Barzilay and Alex Sandel. In 1983, Alagem would partner up with Sandel and Barzilay to start Cal-Abco, a wholesaler of computer parts. In 1986, all three then invested into creating Packard Bell. As of 1995, Cal-Abco was still intact and was listed in the Packard Bell prospectus as a supplier of parts to Packard Bell with a shared credit line between the two companies.

Career Alagem founded Packard Bell, a personal computer manufacturer, in 1986.Chief of Packard Bell NEC Steps Down, The New York Times, July 1, 1998 He was its chief executive and president until 1998, when he resigned after he disagreed with NEC and Groupe Bull, the two other main shareholders. In January 1999, he acquired the rights to the AST Research name from Samsung.Samsung Sells AST Brand of Computers, The New York Times, July 12, 1999 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1999; Business, PART- C, pp. 2; Financial Desk.

Alagem is the chairman of the Alagem Capital Group, an asset management firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.Alexandria Abramian, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Unveils Plans for Beverly Hills, The Hollywood Reporter, 4/14/2014Laura Coleman, Alagem, Hilton Start Building Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria, The Beverly Hills CourierBloomberg: Alagem Capital Group In December 2003, Alagem purchased the Beverly Hilton Hotel from entertainer Merv Griffin for US$130 million through Oasis West Realty LLC, where he is chief executive officer.Alexandria Abramian, Guggenheim Partners to Bankroll Beverly Hilton's Transformation (Exclusive), The Hollywood Reporter, 10/18/2013 He proceeded to renovate it for an extra US$90 million. He oversaw the development of the Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria with Guggenheim Partners, which was dedicated in 2017. Designed by the architectural firm Gensler,, Emporis it is adjacent to the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills was the first new luxury hotel for the brand on the West Coast.Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Unveils Plans for Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, waldorfastoria, April 11, 2014

Philanthropy Alagem was appointed an honorary ambassador of the City of Tel Aviv in 1995.Israeli American Council: Honorary Board of Directors He is an honorary member of the board of directors of the Israeli-American Council (IAC). Indeed, he has been described by The Jewish Daily Forward as one of the "major donors" to the IAC.Nathan Guttman, Israeli Immigrants Play Growing Role in American Jewish Community, The Jewish Daily Forward, January 17, 2014 For example, he underwrote the entire cost of the Council Leadership Gala on March 11, 2012.Ex-pat Israelis celebrate success at Leadership Council Gala, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, March 14, 2012 He also is on the advisory board of the American Friends of The Citizens' Empowerment Center in Israel, a non-profit organization headquartered in Beverly Hills which promotes peace in Israel through research and education.American Friends of The Citizens' Empowerment Center in Israel: Advisory Board

In 2004, Alagem held a fundraiser for the March of the Living, a non-profit organization which annual funds trips for 18,000 students to see the horror of the Auschwitz concentration camp, followed by trip to Israel on Independence Day.Kelly Hartog, Circuit: Governor of Hope, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, February 24, 2005 The event, which took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and was attended by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Israeli ministers Ehud Olmert and Avraham Hirschenson, raised US$1 million.

Alagem co-chaired a fundraiser for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 17, 2009.FIDF: Western Region Gala Raises $5.2 Million to Benefit Soldiers It raised US$5.2 million for the Israel Defense Forces.Orit Arfa, Stars Shine on Friends of IDF Gala Fundraiser, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, January 6, 2010

Alagem was the recipient of the Philanthropic Leadership Award from the board of governors of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2016.

Personal life Alagem has a wife, Adele.Juliet Chung, Sara Lin, Packard Bell Founder Agrees to Sell New York Condo, The Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 They reside in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.Mark David, End of Week Pick Up Sticks: Brad Grey, Variety, September 21, 2013

See also List of largest houses in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area List of largest houses in the United States

References