George Argyros

George Leon Argyros (born 1937 in Detroit, Michigan) is the former United States Ambassador to Spain. He is also a successful real estate investor, and was the owner of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners from 1981 to 1989.

Early and personal life
George Argyros was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Pasadena, California. Argyros is a second-generation American citizen; his grandparents emigrated from Greece. Argyros graduated from Chapman University in 1959 with a major in Business and Economics. He later served on the board of trustees of that university, including chairman of the board from 1976 to 2001.

He is the Chairman and CEO of the board of trustees of California Institute of Technology, and also a board-member for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.

He and his wife of 40 years, Julia, have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

In 2001 Arnel and Argyros were named in a civil complaint alleging Arnel Management 'systematically withheld tenants' security deposits'. Soon after its filing, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas terminated the district attorney's investigation and removed Argyros' name from the case, saying 'I felt we had a strong case against the company and it would weaken the case [to include Argyros].' This decision was attacked after it was discovered that Argyros had contributed $30,000 to Rackauckas's campaign. Argyros was confirmed as ambassador to Spain shortly after this case settled.

Politics
Argyros served as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations for the U.S. Trade Ambassador, resigning that position in 1990, when President Bush appointed him to the board of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FreddieMac). He completed his term on the FreddieMac Board in March 1993. Many viewed the appointment as a political reward for his fund raising efforts for the Republican Party.