SILVERSTEIN, Larry

Larry Silverstein acquired a 99-year lease on the World Trade Center in July 2001, just six weeks before the September 11 attacks. As chairman of Silverstein Properties, he had bid $3.2 billion for the lease rights to the Twin Towers and other WTC buildings, representing one of the largest real estate transactions in New York history.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Silverstein engaged in protracted legal battles with insurance companies over payout amounts. He argued that the two plane strikes constituted separate terrorist attacks, entitling him to collect twice the $3.5 billion policy limit. Courts ultimately awarded him $4.9 billion in insurance proceeds after years of litigation.

Silverstein's July 2001 comment about "pulling" World Trade Center Building 7 became central to 9/11 conspiracy theories. He stated that firefighting efforts were abandoned and the decision was made to "pull it," which conspiracy theorists interpret as evidence of controlled demolition. Fire engineering experts note that "pull" refers to withdrawing firefighters from dangerous buildings, not initiating explosions.

The developer used insurance proceeds to rebuild at the World Trade Center site, constructing One World Trade Center and several other buildings. His extensive involvement in Lower Manhattan real estate development spans five decades, including residential and office projects throughout the area. Despite conspiracy theories, no credible evidence suggests Silverstein had advance knowledge of the attacks or participated in any plot.