From ditch digging to investigating the unknown at Skinwalker Ranch
In short: Brandon Fugal’s journey from a teenage laborer to a high-stakes venture capitalist is anything but conventional. Beyond his massive real estate portfolio and business leadership, he has become a central figure in televised investigations into unexplained phenomena at the famous Skinwalker Ranch.
Born in 1973 in Pleasant Grove, Utah, Brandon Fugal’s career began with hands-on labor. During his youth, he worked on construction crews as a ditch digger, a stark contrast to his later roles as a chairman and venture capitalist. His business acumen was evident early on; while still in high school, he was a dedicated student of markets, maintaining subscriptions to major financial publications like The Wall Street Journal.
Fugal’s professional ascent included serving a religious mission on Oahu, Hawaii, between 1992 and 1994, during which he completed his first real estate deal. In 1998, at 25 years old, he helped establish Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors within Utah. His business influence expanded through leadership roles, including his position as chairman of the Utah office of Colliers International following a 2018 acquisition.
Today, Fugal is perhaps most visible through his ownership of the 512-acre Skinwalker Ranch, which he purchased from Robert Bigelow in 2016. He serves as an executive producer and cast member on the History Channel series The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. He has described the property as an intriguing science project and noted that, shortly after buying the ranch, he witnessed a silver-gray disk-like object flying above the mesa.
His philanthropic and investment interests are equally diverse. He donated $5 million to Utah Valley University for the Brandon D. Fugal Gateway Building, which opened in late 2021. Additionally, he is an investor in Colossal Biosciences, a company focused on species preservation and de-extinction.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Brandon Fugal
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