Haute 100 San Francisco Update: Archie Aldis “Red” Emmerson

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city. Today, this lumber maven proves there’s no slowing him down.

Archie Aldis “Red” Emmerson

Category: Billionaires

Company: Sierra Pacific

Industry: Lumber

What Made Him Haute: He might be one of the most dressed-down billionaires on our list, possibly because he is in the business of cutting down trees. Time spent in the woods can do that to a person. As of 2009, his company, Sierra Pacific, owned 1.7 million acres of forestland in California and Washington, holdings that allowed it to take the title as the second-largest producer of lumber by volume in the United States.

What Makes Him Haute: Now 80-years-old, the lumber vet has been ranked as Forbes’ No. 421 billionaire with a net worth of $2.3 billion. Today, Sierra Pacific owns 2 million acres of forestland in California and Washington. Though the company is waiting out the recession, it seems as though lumber is the only thing being cut in Emmerson’s neck of the woods.