Sylvan Adams ran Iberville Developments, one of Canada's largest private real estate firms, for 25 years before moving to Israel in 2015. He now owns the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team and funded the 2018 Giro d'Italia's start in Jerusalem.
The Builders | Olam.business
Sylvan Adams (born November 1, 1958, Quebec City) served nearly 25 years as president and CEO of Iberville Developments, the Canadian real estate company his father Marcel Adams built into one of the country's largest private property owners. Adams moved to Israel in 2015 and now owns the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, the first Israeli team to compete in the Tour de France. He personally funded the 2018 Giro d'Italia's opening stages in Jerusalem, the first Grand Tour start ever held outside Europe.
Who Is Sylvan Adams?
Sylvan Adams is a Canadian-Israeli businessman and philanthropist who ran his family's Canadian real estate company for a quarter century before relocating to Israel and becoming one of the country's most visible private funders of international sports diplomacy. His net worth has been estimated at approximately 1.7 billion dollars.
At a Glance
| Born | November 1, 1958, Quebec City, Canada |
| Father | Marcel Adams, Romanian-born Holocaust survivor who founded Iberville Developments in 1958 |
| Career | President and CEO of Iberville Developments for approximately 25 years, taking over from his father in 1997 |
| Immigration | Made aliyah to Israel at the end of 2015, settling in Tel Aviv |
| Cycling ownership | Co-owner of Israel-Premier Tech, formerly Israel Cycling Academy, founded 2015, reached UCI WorldTour level 2020 |
| Signature event | Funded the 2018 Giro d'Italia Grande Partenza in Jerusalem, the first Grand Tour start held outside Europe |
| Net worth | Approximately 1.7 billion dollars, per reporting by The Jewish Chronicle |
| Philanthropy | Only Israeli signatory of the Giving Pledge; named to TIME100 Philanthropy in 2025 |
How Did Sylvan Adams Build His Fortune?
Sylvan Adams's father, Marcel Adams, was a Romanian-born Holocaust survivor who emigrated to Canada and founded Iberville Developments in 1958. At its peak the company owned and managed nearly 8 million square feet of shopping centers, office space, industrial property, and residential real estate across Canada, and Marcel Adams's fortune was estimated at 1.5 billion dollars at the time of his death.
Sylvan Adams took over as president and CEO of Iberville Developments in 1997 and ran the company for close to 25 years. He later downsized the firm, selling off a significant share of its real estate holdings, before handing day-to-day leadership to his son Josh Adams. Adams was also the sole shareholder of Summit International Bank, a private Montreal-based bank.
Why Did Sylvan Adams Move to Israel and Build a Cycling Team?
Adams immigrated to Israel at the end of 2015, settling in Tel Aviv, a move he has described as his own form of aliyah undertaken later in life after building his career in Canada. He took up competitive cycling in his forties and became a Masters World Champion in 2017, along with multiple Masters world time-trial titles.
In 2015 Adams became co-owner of the Israel Cycling Academy, which grew into Israel-Premier Tech, the first Israeli team to reach cycling's top tier, the UCI WorldTour, in 2020, and the first Israeli team to compete in the Tour de France. In 2018 Adams personally funded the Giro d'Italia's Grande Partenza, its opening stages, in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Eilat, the first time cycling's second-largest Grand Tour had ever started outside Europe.
What Else Has Sylvan Adams Funded in Israel?
Beyond cycling, Adams funded the Sylvan Adams Commuter Path in Tel Aviv and established Israel's first velodrome, opened in May 2018. He is the only Israeli signatory of the Giving Pledge, the commitment founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates under which billionaires publicly commit to give away the majority of their wealth. In 2025 Time magazine named Adams to its TIME100 Philanthropy list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sylvan Adams?
Sylvan Adams is a Canadian-Israeli businessman who ran Iberville Developments, his family's Canadian real estate company, for nearly 25 years before moving to Israel in 2015. He now owns the Israel-Premier Tech professional cycling team.
What is Iberville Developments?
Iberville Developments is a Canadian real estate company founded in 1958 by Marcel Adams, Sylvan Adams's father, that grew into one of Canada's largest private property owners before being downsized under Sylvan's leadership.
Why did Sylvan Adams bring the Giro d'Italia to Israel?
Adams personally funded the 2018 Giro d'Italia's opening stages in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Eilat to promote Israel internationally through sport, marking the first time a Grand Tour cycling race had started outside Europe.
What is Sylvan Adams's net worth?
Sylvan Adams's net worth has been reported at approximately 1.7 billion dollars, built primarily on his family's real estate holdings in Canada.
Is Sylvan Adams the only Israeli in the Giving Pledge?
Yes. Adams is currently the only Israeli signatory of the Giving Pledge, the philanthropic commitment founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.
More From The Builders
- The Builders: 93 Profiles of Jewish Business Builders
- Larry Kestelman: Dodo Founder Who Bought the NBL
- John Gandel: Australia's Largest Mall Owner
- The Israeli Billionaires
מי הוא סילבן אדמס?
סילבן אדמס (נולד ב-1 בנובמבר 1958, קוויבק סיטי) ניהל כמעט 25 שנה את חברת הנדל"ן הקנדית Iberville Developments, שהקים אביו מרסל אדמס, ניצול שואה יליד רומניה. ב-2015 עלה סילבן ארצה והתיישב בתל אביב. הוא בעלים של קבוצת הרכיבה על אופניים ישראל פרימייר טק, והיה המממן העיקרי של פתיחת מירוץ הג'ירו ד'איטליה בירושלים ב-2018, פעם ראשונה שמרוץ גדול נפתח מחוץ לאירופה.
הונו מוערך בכ-1.7 מיליארד דולר. אדמס הוא החתום היחיד מישראל על ה-Giving Pledge, מיזם הפילנתרופיה שהקימו וורן באפט וביל ומלינדה גייטס.
The Olam Editorial Team | The Builders / הבונים
