Who is Keith Wasserman? LA businessman triggers outrage over offering money to private firefighters to protect home

Keith Wasserman, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur who is a partner and co-founder at Gelt Venture Partners, a real estate investment firm, is under fire for his comments on social media about the LA wildfires. Keith Wasserman who seems to have now de-activated his X account, wrote:

"Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you."

The comments that followed barraged Wasserman for being selfish and out-of-touch amidst such a catastrophic disaster. One user mockingly questioned him:

"So you’re suggesting that potentially lifesaving resources (even if “private”) should be diverted to save your house because you’re rich while tens of thousands of people try to evacuate?"

Another commenter noted:

"If you find yourself tweeting for private firefighters to protect your property, you should probably question what you have become as a human being https://x.com/Keith_Wasserma/Keith_Wasserman/status/1876865656127144340"

Another user named Sam Vance wrote:

"Incredible nerve… His family is evacuated and he’s trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured. Incredibly tone deaf."

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Who is Keith Wasserman?

According to a 2021 article on the Hustle, before becoming the co-founder of Gelt Inc. and managing a real estate portfolio valued at $1.59 billion, 36-year-old Keith Wasserman explored various entrepreneurial ventures.

In high school, Wasserman bought discounted “irregular” Perry Ellis leather jackets for $10 and resold them for $100, making significant profits. In college, he ran Keith’s Bargain Center on eBay, one of the platform's largest shops at the time, selling over 200,000 items, including DVDs and clothing.

Wasserman graduated in 2007 during the economic downturn. In 2008, recognizing an opportunity in the collapsing real estate market, he and his cousin purchased their first property, a 4-unit building in Bakersfield, California.

Keith earned his degree from the University of Southern California in 2007, graduating from the prestigious Marshall School of Business. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the USC Lusk Center.

Beyond his professional success, Keith is deeply involved in philanthropy, spearheading Gelt’s charitable initiatives. He recently partnered with Damian Langere to launch The Resident Relief Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to assisting renters facing eviction due to unforeseen financial hardships.

Keith is also an active member of several elite organizations, including YPO (Young Presidents Organization), Tiger21, and the Milken Institute Young Leaders Council. Keith Wasserman established Gelt, Inc. in 2008 amidst the challenges of the recession and financial crisis.

Today, as of November 2024, the company's website claims it owns 29 properties with a total of 10,016 units in its portfolio, valued at an estimated $1.59 billion.