I think you can expect to see in the future hopefully some communication.
I think whatever we’re dealing with is highly intelligent.
I will not be surprised if the architect of the American dream.
The Brandon Fugal story — in the shadow of Utah’s Wasach Mountains, where dreams are built on determination and where the impossible seems merely improbable.
A boy from Pleasant Grove would grow to become one of the most successful real estate moguls in America — the owner of the world’s most famous paranormal property, and a man who would transform skepticism into wonder, the foundations of fortune.
Brandon Daniel Fugal entered the world on April 3rd, 1973, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, to parents Jill Borinfugal and Daniel Boydfugal.
His father, an Air Force veteran and construction company owner, would become more than just a parent — he would be the blueprint for Brandon’s work ethic and moral compass.
Growing up as a fifth-generation resident of Pleasant Grove, Brandon was deeply rooted in the values of hard work and community service that would define his character.
The Fugal household was far from privileged.
From the tender age of 15 until 18, Brandon found himself shipped out of town to work construction crews alongside his father, digging ditches and installing gas lines and fiber optic cables across the Intermountain area.
These grueling days under the scorching Utah sun taught him more than just the value of hard work — they showed him how to work with people from all walks of life and respect those who might believe differently than he did.
Despite his humble beginnings, there were early signs of Brandon’s entrepreneurial spirit.
During high school at Pleasant Grove High School, he was what he later described as a “business geek,” subscribing to The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, while his classmates were focused on typical teenage pursuits.
His dedication to excellence was evident early on when he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at just 14 years old in 1987, following in his father’s footsteps.
The Missionary’s First Deal
In 1992, at 19 years old, Brandon embarked on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
Accompanying him was his childhood friend, Bryant Arnold, who would later become the chief of security at Skinwalker Ranch and a fellow cast member on The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.
But even in this sacred calling, Brandon’s entrepreneurial mind couldn’t be stilled.
In his spare time during the mission, he completed his first real estate transaction — a harbinger of the empire he would build.
Upon returning from his mission in 1994, Brandon faced the crossroads that would define his destiny.
He had been awarded a leadership scholarship to Utah Valley University.
But the allure of commercial real estate called to him more powerfully than any classroom lecture.
With characteristic determination, he approached a boutique real estate firm in Salt Lake City, led by a former Coldwell Banker Commercial top producer.
The rejection was swift and harsh.
He was told to go on his mission, get his college degree, and sell copy machines for a few years before coming back.
But Brandon Fugal had never learned to accept defeat.
He returned four times, each rejection only fueling his determination.
Finally, the principal reluctantly allowed him in, though the deal was financially unfavorable to Brandon.
He didn’t care — he saw it as his Harvard MBA equivalent.
While carrying a full course load at UVU, Brandon worked over 40 hours a week in his first year, earning only $500.
Yet, in that challenging year, he learned to build proprietary databases and understood the power of market intelligence — lessons worth more than any salary.
Building an Empire
By 1998, at the remarkably young age of 25, Brandon had co-founded Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors in Utah.
Under his leadership, the firm would achieve something unprecedented — recognition as the number one operator internationally for 14 consecutive years, with 30 offices across 11 states.
More impressively, Brandon himself was recognized as the top agent globally for Coldwell Banker Commercial.
Brandon’s approach to real estate was revolutionary.
He focused on office brokerage because it gave him access to industry leaders — CEOs and CFOs — who could help shape his understanding of business infrastructure.
His expertise wasn’t just in selling properties.
He became a trusted adviser to corporate America.
Over his career, he would lease over 6 million square feet of commercial space and close over 1,000 major transactions.
Among his most significant deals was the sale of the Cottonwood Corporate Center for $100 million and the Embassy Suites Convention Center for another $100 million.
He represented landmark projects including River Park Corporate Center, Thanksgiving Park, Grove Creek Center, Lake Point Corporate Center, and Station Park.
His reputation grew so formidable that he became the adviser of choice for national corporations including Charles Schwab & Company, Novell Inc., and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.
In 2016, Brandon received one of business’s highest honors — the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Utah Region in Residential and Commercial Services.
He graced the July 2016 cover of Utah Business Magazine, a testament to his growing influence.
For most of the past decade, he has been recognized as CCIM Utah Office Broker of the Year.
The Collision with Destiny
The year 2016 would mark a turning point not just in Brandon’s career, but in his understanding of reality itself.
Through his company, Adamantium Real Estate LLC, he purchased a 512-acre property in northeastern Utah for approximately $500,000 from aerospace entrepreneur Robert Bigelow.
This wasn’t just any property — this was Skinwalker Ranch, a place where the boundaries between science and the supernatural seemed to dissolve.
Initially, Brandon approached the ranch with the skepticism of a successful businessman.
He described the acquisition as “the most unusual real estate play that I’ve ever had involvement in,” and said, “it’s ended up becoming a very intriguing science project as well.”
His plan was simple — apply scientific methodology to debunk the myths and legends surrounding the property.
But the ranch had other plans for Brandon Fugal.
Months after the purchase, while visiting the property with others, Brandon witnessed what he described as a “silver-gray disc-like object” — a flying saucer above the mesa.
This personal experience transformed him from skeptic to what he prefers to call an “experiencer.”
The man who had built his fortune on concrete and steel now found himself investing significantly in researching phenomena that challenged everything he thought he knew about reality.
From Mogul to Media Phenomenon
Skinwalker Ranch became the centerpiece of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, which premiered on the History Channel in 2020.
Brandon serves as both executive producer and cast member, leading a team of scientists and researchers in investigating the ranch’s mysterious phenomena.
The show became one of History Channel’s top-rated series, introducing Brandon to audiences far beyond the commercial real estate world.
The ranch investigations are serious scientific endeavors funded by Brandon’s own resources.
He travels to the property in a black Airbus H130 helicopter piloted by his brother Cameron, who has over 30 years of aviation experience.
The helicopter, co-owned with his brothers who operate an aviation business from Provo Airport, has become a familiar sight on the show as it’s used for aerial experiments.
Brandon’s approach to the ranch reflects his business philosophy: gather data, apply rigorous methodology, and let the evidence speak for itself.
He has partnered with the Hutchings Museum Institute in Lehi, Utah, to better understand the environment and historical significance of the ranch.
Even as he explores the unexplained, he maintains the methodical approach that built his business empire.
The Philanthropic Heart
Despite his success and growing celebrity, Brandon has never forgotten his roots or the community that shaped him.
In 2021, he made a transformational $5 million donation to Utah Valley University for the construction of what would become the Brandon D. Fugal Gateway Building.
The three-story structure houses the university president’s offices, administrative functions, state-of-the-art classrooms, and serves as a student welcome center.
“Utah Valley University is my school,” Brandon said at the dedication. “It is in my DNA. It gave me a solid foundation that helped me launch my real estate and business career. There are many people who taught and showed me the way. Now I want to give back to help those who follow me. I hope this building stands as a sentinel showing people the power of education and the American dream.”
University President Astrid S. Tuminez captured Brandon’s character perfectly:
“Brandon Fugal personifies the greatest qualities we seek to inculcate in our students — grit, intelligence, ambition, innovation, and generosity.”
The building opened on December 1st, 2021, ensuring that future generations of students would begin their educational journeys inspired by Brandon’s example.
The Entrepreneur’s Expansion
Brandon’s success in real estate provided the foundation for ventures into cutting-edge technology.
He co-founded Cipher Corporation, which was eventually sold to Cirrus Logic (NASDAQ: CRUS).
He also co-founded Axcend, a company that developed shoebox-sized, high-performance liquid chromatography devices for immediate analysis of various liquids, including blood.
His investment philosophy extends to the extraordinary.
In 2021, Brandon joined an eclectic group of investors backing Colossal Biosciences in their ambitious project to resurrect the woolly mammoth.
The investor group includes notable figures like Tony Robbins, the Winklevoss twins, and Thomas Tull, founder of Legendary Entertainment.
For Brandon, it represents another venture at the intersection of science and wonder.
Brandon also manages and invests in numerous other ventures, including Texas Growth Fund, and serves on various boards, including the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Board of Trustees.
His special projects extend internationally, including the development and master planning of 1,250 acres on the north shore of Oahu through his involvement with Pomaikai Partners.
The Personal Renaissance
Brandon’s personal life has been marked by both joy and transition.
He was first married to Lacy Anne Fugal, with whom he had four children: sons Hunter and Chase, and daughters Ireland and one whose name remains private.
They remain close to Brandon despite his divorce from their mother.
Hunter, following in his father’s footsteps in faith, served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in São Paulo, Brazil.
In September 2021, Brandon found love again when he married Kristen McCarty at the Sundance Resort, with the rock band Air Supply performing at their reception.
Kristen, who holds degrees from Utah Valley University and the University of Utah, serves as Legal Affairs Director at Adamantium Real Estate.
Like Brandon, she is a Pleasant Grove High School alumna, and their shared background created a foundation for their partnership.
Kristen brought her own story of resilience to their marriage — she had been widowed in 2016 and was a single mother for six years before meeting Brandon.
Their union represents not just a romantic partnership, but a joining of two people who understand both success and adversity.
The Collector of Dreams
Brandon’s success has allowed him to indulge in fascinating collections that reflect his diverse interests.
He has assembled an impressive collection of movie memorabilia, including pieces from The Terminator and the black robe worn by Marlon Brando in Superman: The Movie when he sentenced General Zod.
His collection of rare historical books includes a Book of Hours dated 1470, a 1611 first edition King James Bible, and a 1698 copy of The Celestial Worlds Discovered.
His passion for high-end automobiles has resulted in a collection featuring Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche vehicles.
These aren’t just status symbols — they represent the tangible rewards of decades of relentless work and strategic thinking.
The Legacy Builder
Today, Brandon Fugal’s net worth is estimated at approximately $800 million — a testament to his business acumen and strategic investments.
But his true wealth extends far beyond financial assets.
He has transformed from a young man digging ditches in the Utah desert to one of America’s most influential real estate leaders, a television personality, and a patron of education and scientific research.
As chairman and co-owner of Colliers International Utah, Brandon continues to lead one of the top commercial real estate firms in the Intermountain West.
Colliers International represents the evolution of his original Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors, which merged with the global real estate giant in 2018.
Under his leadership, the firm maintains its position as the number one commercial real estate company in the region.
Brandon’s influence extends beyond business through his service on numerous boards and foundations.
He has served on the Governor’s Economic Council (GEC), the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Roundtable, and the Board of Junior Achievement.
His decade of service on the Utah Valley University Foundation Board helped shape the institution that gave him his start.
The Continuing Adventure
The story of Brandon Fugal is far from over.
As The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch continues to air — with its sixth season premiering in 2025 — Brandon remains at the forefront of investigating phenomena that challenge our understanding of reality.
His willingness to pursue the unknown with the same methodical approach that built his business empire demonstrates a rare combination of scientific curiosity and entrepreneurial courage.
His three brothers — Cameron, the professional pilot; Matthew, the COO of Aerodynamic Jets; and Patrick, the actor — remain close collaborators in various ventures.
The Fugal family represents a uniquely Utah story of hard work, innovation, and the courage to dream beyond conventional boundaries.
From a teenager digging ditches to a multi-millionaire investigating UFOs, Brandon Fugal’s life reads like a uniquely American success story.
It embodies the principle that in America, with enough determination, hard work, and willingness to take calculated risks, anyone can build an empire — and perhaps even touch the edge of the impossible.
His father, Daniel Boyd Fugal, who passed away in 2021, lived to see his son become not just successful, but a man who uses that success to serve others.
As Brandon reflected after his father’s passing:
“Daniel wasn’t impressed by fancy cars, helicopters, towering buildings, or even mysterious ranches.
He cared even less about money or prestige.
Instead, Daniel cared about service, integrity, and making a positive difference in the world — values that continue to guide his son’s remarkable journey.”
The boy from Pleasant Grove who once subscribed to The Wall Street Journal in high school has grown into a man whose story graces those same pages — proving that in America, the distance between dreaming and achieving is measured not in miles, but in determination, character, and the willingness to believe that the impossible is simply the untried.
