Tom Lewis

Thomas A. Lewis has been the chief executive officer of Realty Income Corp. since 1997 and has been in the real estate industry since 1979.

The company acquires single-tenant, freestanding retail, triple net lease properties and leases them to regional and national retail chains.  Realty Income has trademarked the phrase "The Monthly Dividend Company," because it was formed to be a fiduciary for retirees. The company's mission is to always pay a monthly dividend. Lewis maintains that it's more than a motto; it encapsulates what Realty Income Corp. is and defines what the company is trying to provide to its shareholders, which include millions of baby boomers who are closing in on retirement.

Stability is a key part of Realty Income's appeal and Lewis has been with the company for 18 years, with similar levels of tenure in the senior management. In the end, Lewis is someone an elderly investor can count on.