David and Simon Reuben

In the early 1990s, the brothers invested in the Russian metals market, financing significantly the production and distribution of metals. The Reubens became the world's third-biggest producer of aluminum.[6] At its peak, their company, Trans-World Metals, and its associates controlled five-to-seven percent of the world's aluminum output.[5] When Russian aluminum smelters were incapacitated by debt, Trans World entered into tolling arrangements with factories in which they paid for and delivered raw materials in return for finished aluminum, which it then sold for profit. The company's investment in Russia was US$1.5 billion (GB£870 million), with global sales in 1995 topping US$8 billion.[6] The brothers were involved with several members of the country's new oligarchy, including Roman Abramovich.[6] Subsequently, they settled a multimillion-pound legal dispute with Oleg Deripaska which resulted in a substantial settlement being awarded to Reuben Brothers.

In 2008, the Reuben brothers returned to the commodity business, expanding their mining interests with a portfolio of mines in Morocco, Indonesia and South Africa.[5]

Reuben Brothers

By 2000, the Russian business environment resulted in the brothers selling all their Russian assets[6] as they focused their business activities mainly in the UK property market, where they have a substantial portfolio of debt-free assets. With others, they have been involved in financing a number of major acquisitions and also have investments in technology companies. As of 2016 their business activities mainly involved real estate, both in the UK and abroad, venture capital, and private equity.

UK properties owned by Reuben Brothers include: Millbank Tower; the John Lewis Partnership headquarters in Victoria; the American Express offices also in Victoria; Carlton House SW1; Academy House on Sackville Street; Connaught House on Berkeley Square; Market Towers; the London Primark store on Oxford Street; Sloane Street shops; and Cambridge House, the former premises of the Naval and Military Club,[5] which comprises six freehold buildings which have a planning consent for a six-star hotel and private members' club.

Other investments and developments include Merchant Square, a 1,800,000 sq ft (170,000 m²) development scheme of offices and flats, in the Paddington area of London; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, a 50/50 joint venture in a new apart-hotel under the 'art'otel' brand in Hoxton, City of London; Hampton House, demolition and redevelopment of the 1960s office block opposite Tate Britain that was designed by Foster & Partners and features a mix of apartments and an apart-hotel on the River Thames next to the Park Plaza London Riverbank hotel; airports at London Oxford and London Heliport.[5] In 2006 the Reuben Brother formed a partnership that injected private equity into the FTSE-listed McCarthy & Stone, a retirement home construction company,[7] and divested the investment in 2013.[8]

Via both companies, the Reuben Brothers continue to be one of the largest investors in luxury leisure group Belmond Ltd. Other holdings include Travelodge Hotels; D2 Jeans and Blue Inc clothing retailers, with retailer Sir Stuart Rose; Luup and Metro Bank; The Wellington Pub Company, the largest free-of-tie pub estate in the UK with approximately 850 tenanted pubs; Global Switch, the largest wholesale carrier neutral data centre provider in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region; Arena Leisure and Northern Racing merged forming ARC (Arena Racing Company) which represents 40% of UK fixtures and a 45% stake in At The Races (ATR), the broadcaster taking UK and Irish racing to domestic & international audience; and a joint venture with British Marine, that in 2014 had eight vessels with plans to double the fleet size.[5]

The family's philanthropic vehicle, the Reuben Foundation, is focused on the advancement of healthcare and education[10].

The family founded the Nancy Reuben Primary School, an independent Jewish day school in Finchley in honour of their mother.[11]

The foundation has donated £80 million to support the creation of Reuben College, originally named Parks College. It will be a post-graduate college focused on climate change, artificial intelligence and cellular life.[12]

The brothers are regular donors to the Conservative Party.[13]

According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2019, David and Simon Reuben and their family had an estimated personal net worth of £18.664 billion, an increase of £3.568 billion on the previous year.[2] This makes them Britain's second wealthiest family.[2]

The Reuben's net worth has progressively increased over the last decade.[14][15] The Times has reported that the brothers' businesses make extensive use of offshore tax havens. A spokesperson said that their businesses "fully comply with UK tax laws".[13]