• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Exclusive

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

Finance

Sam Zell Still Says Sell

By
Stephen Gandel
Stephen Gandel
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Stephen Gandel
Stephen Gandel
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 11, 2016, 8:34 PM ET
Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments, appears on a Fox Business Network's show in New York
Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments, appears on Fox Business Network's show "Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo" in New York June 10, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS) - RTR3T3ZQBrendan McDermid — Reuters

Sam Zell still thinks stocks are in a bubble.

In 2013, the legendary real estate developer announced at the SkyBridge Alternative Investment conference he thought the market was at an all-time high and due to fall. He said the still limping-along economic recovery didn’t justify where stocks were then trading. Three years later, Zell’s still thinks stock prices, which stumbled earlier this year, but have since recovered, are out of whack. “Economic activity and the stock market are not aligned, and I think the economic environment is limited,” Zell says. “The stock market is at an all-time high. Either the economy is wrong of the market is wrong.”

Zell made the comments to Fortune after speaking on a panel on Wednesday at this year’s SALT conference, which kicked off on Wednesday at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.

He wasn’t the only one sounding cautious. Earlier in the day, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said that there was a one-third chance of a recession in the next year. Summers said that given that the economy has been expanding for seven years, there is little chance the economy is likely to accelerate from here.

On a panel, which also featured oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, Zell said that he thought there was dramatically less opportunity in the U.S. than there used to be. Zell said that any economic data that suggests the economy has done well—like the current unemployment rate of 5%—under President Obama is a mirage. “It’s B.S.,” says Zell. “The number of people with jobs is the lowest since 1960s.”

Zell was likely referring to the labor force participation rate, which is near decade lows. The number of people in America with jobs has risen by 70 million or roughly doubled since even 1969.

For more about the economy, watch:

But Zell’s issue with the economy, and perhaps the stock market, appears to be more structural than a call that the economy looks particularly weak now. Higher regulation is the biggest stumbling block for growth for the economy, Zell said. “Businesses are having to put a lot more money to complying with regulations,” says Zell. “It’s a misallocation of capital.”

The stock market is up 28% since Zell raised the warning flag about the economy three years ago. SALT, which got its start in 2009, has been the source of other missed bearish calls in the past. Two years ago, at SALT, David Tepper said the market looked dangerous. “I wouldn’t be short now,” Tepper said. “I just wouldn’t be frickin’ long right now.”

Since then stocks are up 8%.

About the Author
By Stephen Gandel
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

After AI stole his clients, one Big Tech ghostwriter is using AI to get them back
AIAutomation
After AI stole his clients, one Big Tech ghostwriter is using AI to get them back
By Sage LazzaroMay 18, 2026
49 minutes ago
Mortgage rates today, May 18, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, May 18, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 18, 2026
2 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for May 18, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for May 18, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 18, 2026
2 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for May 18, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for May 18, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 18, 2026
2 hours ago
Top CD rates today, May 18, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.20%
Personal FinanceBanks
Top CD rates today, May 18, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.20%
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 18, 2026
2 hours ago
While Detroit blinked on EVs, the Iran war has handed Chinese automakers the opportunity of a lifetime
North AmericaAutos
While Detroit blinked on EVs, the Iran war has handed Chinese automakers the opportunity of a lifetime
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 18, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
2 days ago
The top foreign holders of U.S. debt may soon dump Treasury bonds and bring their money back home, potentially spiking borrowing costs
Economy
The top foreign holders of U.S. debt may soon dump Treasury bonds and bring their money back home, potentially spiking borrowing costs
By Jason MaMay 17, 2026
15 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
6 days ago
'No one was coming to save me': How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn't fix
Success
'No one was coming to save me': How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn't fix
By Sydney LakeMay 17, 2026
22 hours ago
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
Politics
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
Innovation
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.