CHICAGO , Illinois ( CNN ) -- One of Chicago 's most well-known real estate moguls appears to have shot himself to death , police said . Steven Good was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Monday , police said . The body of Steven L. Good was found in his Jaguar on Monday . The car was spotted in a parking lot of a wildlife preserve in Kane County , Illinois , just outside Chicago , authorities said . No note was found , and police say they do not know how long the 52-year-old had been in the vehicle . Good was the chairman and chief executive officer of Sheldon Good & Co. , a major U.S. real estate auction company . The death comes amid great turmoil in the country 's real estate industry . In his role as chairman of the Realtors Commercial Alliance Committee , Good commented on tough conditions last month at a business conference . On a memorial blog set up by the Chicago Association of Realtors , for which Good once served as president , friends and colleagues described him as a gregarious man with a big personality . He was a savvy businessman who built his company into a major national real estate company that did deals with Donald Trump , they said . `` It is testimony to Steve 's leadership that Sheldon Good & Co. remains well-positioned for the future , '' said Sheldon Good President Alan R. Kravets . `` The guy was a true blue Realtor , '' said Barbara Matthopoulos , the association 's spokeswoman . She was new to real estate when she met Good more than a year ago . He took time to give her advice that has helped her grow to love the business . `` Anybody who knew him would speak to his leadership , his generosity , his attitude . The guy was just very positive , always smiling , always telling you a story . He was engaged . Everyone is really very shocked , '' she said . `` I doubt anyone could help explain why this happened . '' Kane County Sheriff 's Department spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler said authorities do n't have any `` concrete evidence if this had anything to do with his finances . '' The company was founded by Good 's father , Sheldon Good , in 1965 , according to the firm 's Web site . Steven Good had `` been involved in the sale of more than $ 4 billion of real estate , including commercial , office , retail , industrial , residential , and vacant land sites , '' it says . `` Mr. Good is the driving force behind the expansion of the company , which has been ranked as the largest firm in the United States exclusively conducting real estate auctions . '' Good , who was also an attorney , wrote a book , `` Churches , Jails and Gold Mines : Mega-Deals From a Real Estate Maverick . '' According to Amazon.com , Donald Trump wrote the afterword . The first chapter begins , `` Our auction company is to the real estate business what Sotheby 's and Christie 's is the fine art and collectibles business . '' The book goes to say that as of its 2003 publication , the firm had sold 40,000 properties totaling $ 8 billion . `` If you lined up 1,000 people and said pick the one that might do this to themselves , he would be the last person I would choose , '' said Wayne Caplan , who worked at Sheldon Good for six years and knew Steven Good personally . `` He had a zest for life . He has a wife and kids and he had so much in his life . ''
Steven Michael Good was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound in his car Monday . Good was a well - known real estate businessman in Chicago . Friends , family shocked , saddened by what they say appears to be a suicide .