18 February 2026
In July 2001, just weeks before one of the darkest days in modern history, New York property developer Larry Silverstein signed a 99-year lease on the World Trade Center complex , including the iconic Twin Towers that had defined the Manhattan skyline for decades.
At 69 years old, Silverstein had secured what many considered the deal of a lifetime. The towers were not just buildings; they were global symbols of commerce, ambition, and American resilience. For Silverstein, it was the culmination of years in commercial real estate — a bold investment in the heart of New York’s financial district.
Then came September 11, 2001.
On that clear autumn morning, the world watched in horror as the Twin Towers were attacked and ultimately collapsed. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost. The skyline was forever altered. And Silverstein, who had only just taken control of the lease, suddenly found himself at the centre of an unimaginable tragedy.
In the years that followed, his role became one of both controversy and reconstruction. Legal battles over insurance claims made headlines, particularly regarding whether the attacks constituted one event or two for policy purposes. Yet amid the litigation and scrutiny, a larger question loomed: what would rise from the ashes of Ground Zero
Silverstein committed to rebuilding.
Working alongside public authorities and city planners, he became a central figure in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. The project would eventually see the construction of a new generation of skyscrapers, including One World Trade Center — now standing as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and a powerful symbol of renewal.
For some, Silverstein’s story is one of financial risk and complex negotiations. For others, it is about endurance — the resolve to rebuild not only physical structures but also confidence in a shaken city.
More than two decades later, Lower Manhattan stands transformed. The memorial pools now occupy the footprints of the original towers, etched with the names of those who lost their lives. Around them, new towers rise — steel and glass reflections of a city that refused to stay broken.
Larry Silverstein’s legacy remains intertwined with that pivotal moment in history. He leased the towers. He witnessed their destruction. And he played a defining role in what came next.
In the end, his story is not simply about property or contracts — it is about resilience in the face of catastrophe, and the enduring human instinct to rebuild.
