David Reuben built a shared fortune with his brother Simon through metals trading, property and asset-backed investments, then helped turn Global Switch into a valuable data-center platform before the brothers sold their ownership in stages. [1][2][3]
Metals trading supplied the first large pool of capital
Forbes' long-running account of the brothers says David began in metals trading while Simon started in carpets and property, before they joined forces in Transworld and expanded into metals markets in Russia and Kazakhstan. [1]
The brothers eventually exited Transworld and redirected capital into real estate and other investments, turning an operating and trading fortune into a broader portfolio rather than relying on a single company. [1]
That shift toward property and asset-backed businesses became a defining part of the Reuben strategy, with the brothers repeatedly buying large assets and holding them through long investment cycles. [1][2]
Global Switch converted property capital into infrastructure value
A 2011 Global Switch financing document identified David and Simon as the ultimate owners through Aldersgate Investments and described their decades of experience investing in property and asset-backed businesses. [2]
The brothers later sold Global Switch in stages, including the final 24% stake for £1.8 billion in 2019. David's wealth is therefore rooted in self-created trading and investment capital that was repeatedly redeployed into property, technology infrastructure and other assets. [3][1]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Sep 26, 2026.
- David & Simon Reuben · Forbes · Mar 8, 2007
- Global Switch financing memorandum · London Stock Exchange · Apr 17, 2011
- China's Shagang buys final quarter of Global Switch · Data Center Dynamics · Aug 30, 2019
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