Throughout 2020, the luxury residential real estate market in South Florida was booming, and the rush is not stopping. From A-list celebrities to CEOs, business magnates, and founders, an entire brigade of ‘captains of industry’ landed in the tri-county area. While celebrities seemed to prefer the serene, small-town appeal of Palm Beach, a majority of head honchos were drawn to the premium, waterfront lifestyle of Fort Lauderdale.

With more investment and tech companies announcing their move to South Florida, we expect this avalanche of new residents to continue into 2021. For now, here’s a roundup of all the headline-worthy celebrity and VIP buyers that purchased a home or condo in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach in 2020:

Palm Beach’s Top VIP Sales of 2020: Celebrities & Executives

Who: Jon Bon Jovi

Rock star plus frontman of the award-winning band Bon Jovi, songwriter, record producer, actor, and philanthropist

Where: 1075 North Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach

How Much: $43 million

What: 0.66-acre oceanfront estate featuring a 10,232-square-foot, 7-bedroom mansion built in 2007. The estate also features a courtyard pool plus cabana, two oceanfront loggias, a wine cellar, an exercise room, plus a 3-car, air-conditioned garage.

Who: Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin

Oscar-nominated “Rocky” actor, director, producer, screenwriter and his wife

Where: 1480 North Lake Way, Palm Beach

How Much: $35.4 million

What: 1-acre+ waterfront estate featuring a 10,539-square-foot mansion with 7 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. Built in 2014, the estate features more than 250 feet of sandy beachfront and includes three separate structures: the main house, a guest house plus a guest pavilion.

Who: Russell Weiner

Billionaire founder of Rockstar Energy Drink

Where: 12520 Seminole Beach Road, North Palm Beach

How Much: $28.6 million

Sold By: Ex-wife of golfer Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren

What: 23,000-square-foot estate with an 11-bedroom, 15-bathroom, 3 half-bathroom mansion built in 2014. The house features rooms with retractable glass walls, two kitchens, a wine cellar, a theater, a gym, plus a roof deck. The separate guest house comes built with two separate apartments, each with its own kitchen and living room. The estate also includes 200 feet of ocean frontage, a putting green, a swimming pool, and a basketball/pickleball court.

Who: Andy Unanue

Heir to the Goya Foods fortune

Where: 111 El Brillo Way, Palm Beach

How Much: $11.3 million

What: Two-story, 7,743-square-foot house built in 2013. It features 7 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, a library, guest house, and 2-car garage.

Who: Read S. MacGregor Jr.

Non Executive vice chairman of Grocery Outlet, a California-based discount supermarket chain

Where: Unit 3 at Via Flagler by The Breakers, 221-231 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach

How Much: $10.8 million

What: 5,475-square-foot condo featuring 4 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and a 1-bedroom guest residence. Unit comes with access to community amenities such as al fresco dining by The Breakers, curated collection of luxury retailers along Royal Poinciana Way, private ocean club membership at The Breakers inclusive of a private half-mile of beach, four glittering pools, five whirlpool spas, two fitness centers, championship golf, tennis, and more.

Who: Elin Nordegren

Swedish model and ex-wife of golf legend Tiger Woods

Where: 12251 Tillinghast Circle, Old Palm Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens

How Much: $9.9 million

What: 2-acre property featuring a 13,523-square-foot mansion built in 2010. The recently renovated 6-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom house comes with a fireplace in the master suite, a wine room, large terrace, smart home features, and a full house generator.

Curious to see who bought in Miami & Miami Beach in 2020?

Check out our compilation of all celebrity and VIP buyers of 2020!

Who: Paul V. Atkins and Kathleen

Principal at New York-based Halmar International LLC - a highway and bridge contractor, plus his wife

Where: 11680 Lake Shore Place, Hidden Key, North Palm Beach

How Much: $9.5 million

What: 9,338-square-foot waterfront mansion built in 2015. Located in a gated community, the 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom, 2 half-bathroom house features a large backyard with swimming pool, basketball court, and a dock with two boat lifts.

Who: Warren B. and Allison Kanders

Chairman and CEO of Safariland parent Maui Acquisition Corp., businessman and philanthropist plus his wife. Both husband and wife were involved with NYC’s Whitney Museum of American Art.

Where: 309 Garden Road, Palm Beach

Sold By: Jimmy Buffet, “Margaritaville” music legend and business mogul

How Much: $6.9 million

What: 4,783-square-foot, 3-bedroom house built in 2003 with a swimming pool with the moniker of “Jimmy Buffet’s House”

Who: Carl Esrey

Founder of Dallas-based BMC Capital, a Texas real estate lending firm, CEO of BMC Bancshares and Chairman of Texas-based Titan Bank

Where: 119 East Inlet Drive, Palm Beach

How Much: $5.8 million

What: 5,066-square-foot house built in 2014 with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms

Who: Michael A. Wolohojian a.k.a Michael Aram

Artist and owner of the high-end brand Michael Aram known for its home decor items and jewelry with shops in NYC, L.A. and Bal Harbour.

Where: 135 Seminole Avenue, Palm Beach

How Much: $5.2 million

What: Two-story, 6,218-square-foot home built in 1921 with newly renovated roof and driveway. The home features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a guest house, and swimming pool.

Fort Lauderdale’s Top VIP Sales of 2020: Celebrities, Executives and Other Power Buyers

Who: Barry Minoff

Chairman of Ohio-based Kichler Lighting

Where: 1831 Southeast 9th Street, Rio Vista, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $20.5 million

What: 1-acre estate featuring 12,938-square-foot home built by Dennis R. O’Neil (co-owner of Checkerboard Vineyards) in 2010. The 7-bedroom, 11-bathroom estate features 437 feet of deep-water frontage, 170 feet of mega yacht dockage, a formal dining room, master suite with marble bathroom, fully equipped chef’s kitchen, wine cellar, fireplace, limestone floors, and elevator.

Who: Thomas G. Auringer

Owner of the Brooklyn-based heavy industrial crane and rigging company, U.S. Crane & Rigging

Where: 2300 Aqua Vista Boulevard, Seven Isles, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $12.2 million

What: 9,348-square-foot waterfront, corner estate featuring a 6-bedroom mansion. The estate is claimed to be a “super yacht haven” with 550 feet of deep-water frontage. The house includes a lounge and outdoor dining area overlooking the water, bar and billiards, a fireplace, a professional kitchen, and high ceilings.

Who: Christopher and Stephanie Chen

Owners of the primary care provider, ChenMed

Where: 220 North Compass Drive, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $11.5 million

What: 12,530-square-foot estate featuring a waterfront mansion built in 2015 with a full stock trading room inclusive of 10 monitor screens, a news ticker and two internet providers. The 6-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom house further includes a chef’s kitchen built for four chefs, a movie theater, a library with built-in closet humidor plus a complex control system for cigars, a wine cellar, two laundry rooms, and a dog spa. The estate features 250 feet fronting the Intracoastal Waterway and 111 feet fronting a deep-water canal.

Who: Jonathan W. Ayers and Heryun

Managing trustee of Ayers Wild Cat Conservation Trust plus former animal healthcare executive and his wife

Where: 3320 Northeast 58th Street, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $10.1 million

What: Three-story, 8,400-square-foot waterfront mansion featuring 7 bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, a swimming pool, 125 feet of dockage, and a 3-car garage

Who: Matthew Karch

CEO of the video game company Saber Interactive (later sold to the Swedish Embracer Group)

Where: Unit S2303 at Auberge Beach Residences & Spa, 2200 North Ocean Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $10 million

What: 4-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom residence in the Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates-designed condo-hotel. Unit includes a pool and a 4,100-square-foot terrace. Also includes access to the building’s ultra-luxury amenities such as multiple swimming pools with cabanas, museum-quality art in common areas, world-class spa by Auberge, restaurants, a Napa Valley wine room featuring Auberge’s best selections, a signature cigar lounge, signature Auberge HD golf simulator, and more.

Who: Peter Parthenis Jr.

President and CEO of Grecian Delight Foods and Pure Mediterranean Foods

Where: 650 Royal Plaza Drive, Las Olas Isles, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $9.4 million

What: 9,200-square-foot waterfront mansion built in 2018. The 7-bedroom home features 131 feet of water frontage, a lap pool with spa, a 3rd-floor club room with wet bar, separate entrance for mother-in-law quarters, three fireplaces, smart home technology, an elevator, and a 6-car garage.

Who: Bill Coulter

Auto magnate leading Phoenix-based Coulter Automotive Group

Where: 1 Pelican Drive, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $9 million

What: 6,995-square-foot waterfront house built in 2016. The gated property features 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a saltwater pool, and mega-yacht dockage

Who: Robert Palmisano

President, CEO and Executive Director of Tennessee-based global medical device company called Wright Medical Group

Where: 2623 Delmar Place, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $9 million

What: 8,812-square-foot, waterfront mansion built in 1998. Designed by architect Art Bengochea, the property features a main house with 6 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms. It also includes 375 feet of water frontage, a detached guest house with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, a 5-car garage, a swimming pool, and an 18,000-pound boat lift.

Who: Greg Shottenkirk

Head of the Shottenkirk Automotive Group with locations in California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, and Iowa

Where: 22 Isla Bahia Drive, Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $7.8 million

What: 7,286-square-foot waterfront home built in 2019. The 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom, 2 half-bathroom house features a gym, library, club room, and bar. Outdoors, the property features 100 feet of water frontage, an entertaining area with a large covered patio, summer kitchen, patio bar, pool, and spa. 

Who: John Moran Jr.

CEO of Pennsylvania-based Moran Logistics, a warehousing, logistics and transportation company

Where: 5 Isla Bahia Terrace, Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $7.5 million

What: Almost 1-acre waterfront property featuring 190 feet of water frontage and a 7,000-square-foot, 2-story house with 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 2 half-bathrooms, and a 3-car garage

Who: Andrew Dumke

Founder, Chairman and CEO of CloudBreak Capital, a San Diego-based private equity fund plus Board Member of the San Diego Air & Space Museum

Where: 2501 Delmar Place, Seven Isles, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $7.3 million

Sold By: Retired baseball star Mike Napoli

What: 8,120-square-foot waterfront mansion built in 2016. The 6-bedroom, 9-bathroom home features a gym, office, loft, and a 4-car garage. The outdoor area includes a saltwater pool and jacuzzi, gazebo, gas fire pits, and boat lift.

Who: Jay and Roxana Starkman

Founder of the human resources outsourcing firm Engage PEO

Where: 785 Middle River Drive, Sunrise Intracoastal, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $6.7 million

What: 7,059-square-foot waterfront home built in 2015. Located in a gated community, the 6-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom house features 100 feet of water views, pool, jacuzzi, wet bar, fireplace, a master suite overlooking the river, and 23-foot-high ceilings.

Who: Bryan T. Rich

Chairman and CEO of Connecticut-based SmartEquip, a software company mainly catering to the construction industry

Where: 2325 Desota Drive, Seven Isles, Fort Lauderdale

How Much: $6.1 million

What: 0.5-acre waterfront property featuring a 6,071-square-foot house designed by luxury interior designer Steven G. It includes 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, and 160 feet of water frontage with room to dock a yacht.

Looking to move to Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach? Call, chat, or email us to let a local real estate expert help you find the perfect home to follow your work or business down to sunny South Florida!