Quick Facts
Biography
Dennis R. Washington (born 1934) is an American billionaire industrialist who owns, or co-owns controlling interests in, a large consortium of privately held companies collectively known as the Washington Companies and, in Canada, another collection of companies known as the Seaspan Marine Corporation.
Early life
Born in Spokane, Dennis Washington grew up in Spokane, Bremerton, Washington, and Missoula, Montana. His parents separated when he was very young, and Washington lived with his mother. He rarely saw his father, who worked in construction overseas. Washington did not grow up in a wealthy family. Additionally, he states his parents' divorce as his motivation to provide his own wife and children with a stable family environment.
Career
Following graduation from high school, he worked in construction in Alaska and Montana.He began his business career at age 30 in 1964, with a $30,000 loan and a single bulldozer.He created Washington Construction, which worked primarily on highway contracts and by 1969 was the largest contractor in Montana.
In the 1970s he moved into mining and dam construction. In 1986 he acquired a copper and molybdenum mine at Butte, Montana. He successfully reopened the mine and it became a very profitable operation. This success helped him diversify into railroads, marine services, coastal shipping, aviation and real estate. In 1996 Washington Construction acquired global construction and engineering company Morrison-Knudsen Corporation of Boise, Idaho, creating Washington Group International.
Included in the Washington Companies' holdings are:
- Seaspan Marine Corporation
- Montana Rail Link
- Aviation Partners Inc.
- Montana Resources LLP
Personal life
Washington is married to Phyllis and lives in Missoula, Montana. His son, Kyle Washington, is co-chairman of Seaspan Marine Corporation.
Washington also owns a large private estate on Stuart Island, British Columbia, including a luxury fishing lodge and golf course. The Washington–Grizzly Stadium for football at the University of Montana is named for him.
His private yacht Attessa IV has been featured in Forbes magazine. He has a Boeing Business Jet, 737-700 registration N162WC.
