Melvin Simon, the owner of the largest shopping mall company in the country and the NBA's Indiana Pacers died Wednesday at 82, the Associated Press reported.

Simon's death cause remains unknown but he died after a short illness, the company said in a statement, according to Bloomberg today.

Simon owned Simon Property Group which has full or partial ownership of more than 300 shopping malls in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Forbes estimated his fortune at $1.3 billion.

Simon is survived by his wife Bren, his children Deborah, Cynthia, David and Tammy, 10 grandchildren and two brothers.

Japan