While John Donne would have us believe that no man is an island (does that mean no woman is a peninsula?), apparently man is not above living on said island, particularly if his bankroll runs into the billions; not millions – billions!
Phillip Frost's Star Island home is one of the most extravagent and luxurious in the area.
The rich and famous are clamoring to live on four islands just west of SoBe (that’s South Beach for those of us not hip enough to frequent the trendiest strip of land on the east coast) in Miami’s Biscayne Bay – Palm, Hibiscus, Star and Fisher Island. Check out this bird’s eye view of the islands courtesy of Google maps.
Until the recent real estate meltdown, Forbes dubbed Fisher Island (named for Carl Fisher, automotive parts pioneer and cofounder of Miami Beach in 1915) one of the richest communities in the country; it’s still among the leaders.
William Kissam Vanderbilt II traded a luxury yacht to Fisher for ownership of the island in 1925. His family home still graces Fisher Island today. The island passed through the hands of several wealthy movers and shakers in the intervening years, always remaining a one-family retreat until 1963, when then island owner Gar Wood, the millionaire inventor of hydraulic construction, sold Fisher Island to a development group that included local Key Biscayne millionaire Bebe Reboze, Miami native and U.S. Senator George Smathers, and then former U.S. Vice President, Richard Nixon. The three never personally lived on Fisher Island.
The 722 residents that actually live on Fisher Island today have an average next worth of $57.2 million based on the minimum $200,000 the taxpayers make. Those residents come from 40 countries (Brazilians and Russians top the international clientele), with fewer than half Americans. Only about a third of the residents actually live on the island full time. The list of former and current residents includes such notables as Sharon Gless, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Andre Action Jackson.
Until the recent real estate meltdown, Forbes dubbed Fisher Island (named for Carl Fisher, automotive parts pioneer and cofounder of Miami Beach in 1915) one of the richest communities in the country; it’s still among the leaders.
William Kissam Vanderbilt II traded a luxury yacht to Fisher for ownership of the island in 1925. His family home still graces Fisher Island today. The island passed through the hands of several wealthy movers and shakers in the intervening years, always remaining a one-family retreat until 1963, when then island owner Gar Wood, the millionaire inventor of hydraulic construction, sold Fisher Island to a development group that included local Key Biscayne millionaire Bebe Reboze, Miami native and U.S. Senator George Smathers, and then former U.S. Vice President, Richard Nixon. The three never personally lived on Fisher Island.
The 722 residents that actually live on Fisher Island today have an average next worth of $57.2 million based on the minimum $200,000 the taxpayers make. Those residents come from 40 countries (Brazilians and Russians top the international clientele), with fewer than half Americans. Only about a third of the residents actually live on the island full time. The list of former and current residents includes such notables as Sharon Gless, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Andre Action Jackson.
I wonder if anyone would be willing to do some house swapping.
Jimmy and I got a chance to see the four islands up close and personal with my sister/hostess-with-the-most-est Lynda (well, as close as is allowed by boat, given the islands are all tightly guarded, some only accessible by ferry, and only if you know the right people) during our recent trip to Florida.
We got to be the three amigos during our Florida visit with Lynda as our tour guide.
Our 90-minute tour courtesy of Island Queen Cruises launched from Miami’s downtown Bayside Marketplace open-air mall. First mall I’ve ever been to that includes a boat launch. My humble (and meager) origins are showing.
Nice shopping mall!
The Army Corps of Engineers gets the credit for these manmade islands that date back to the early 1900’s. For a time in the 1940’s and 1950’s following the post-World War II economic boom, Palm and Hibiscus Island became the site of the Famous Latin Quarter Nightclub owned by Lou Walters, father of the View’s Barbara Walters. Entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett performed three shows a night for the winter crowds of tourists and celebrities flocking to Miami Beach for some warm weather and hot entertainment.
Among those snowbirds (I can vouch for the cold winters, but I have no idea where Capone was during the Valentine’s Day Massacre) was Chicago’s notorious gangsta’, Al Capone. His renovated home, currently owned by Peter Corsell, founder of the energy solutions conglomerate Grid Point, sits vacant on Palm Island waiting for a modern-day money mogul with $10 million and a penchant for crime bosses to snatch up this one-of-a-kind compound.
Among those snowbirds (I can vouch for the cold winters, but I have no idea where Capone was during the Valentine’s Day Massacre) was Chicago’s notorious gangsta’, Al Capone. His renovated home, currently owned by Peter Corsell, founder of the energy solutions conglomerate Grid Point, sits vacant on Palm Island waiting for a modern-day money mogul with $10 million and a penchant for crime bosses to snatch up this one-of-a-kind compound.
Not much of a view of the actual house, but I'm sure that was the way Capone wanted it.
With any luck, a new owner will find all the money Capone laundered hidden somewhere in the house he paid a mere $40,000 in 1928 at the height of his power. He retreated to Palm Island rather than Chicago following his release from prison in 1939 (pay your taxes or suffer the same fate!), remaining in the home he bought from Clarence Busch of the Anheuser-Busch family until his death in 1947.
Today’s movers and shakers seem to prefer Star Island, undoubtedly because it features some of the most luxurious homes in all of Miami, not to mention the privacy and security from all those adoring fans. As the name suggests, this star-studded island has been home to many modern-day celebrities, among them former homeowner and basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy, Diddy, P. Diddy), Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame , former talk-show host Rosie O’Donnell, singer Gloria Estefan,
Today’s movers and shakers seem to prefer Star Island, undoubtedly because it features some of the most luxurious homes in all of Miami, not to mention the privacy and security from all those adoring fans. As the name suggests, this star-studded island has been home to many modern-day celebrities, among them former homeowner and basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy, Diddy, P. Diddy), Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame , former talk-show host Rosie O’Donnell, singer Gloria Estefan,
Gloria is hiding in there somewhere.
and the aforementioned Phillip Frost, a self-made billionaire Forbes identified as one of the 50 wealthiest men in the world with a net worth of $2.6 billion.
Phillip Frost’s home, the first home pictured in today’s post, is the largest home on Star Island; with 28,000 square feet at his disposal on 6 acres of land, he had plenty of room to host his $50,000-a-plate dinner for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Here's another picture of Mr. Frost's home.
Phillip Frost’s home, the first home pictured in today’s post, is the largest home on Star Island; with 28,000 square feet at his disposal on 6 acres of land, he had plenty of room to host his $50,000-a-plate dinner for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Here's another picture of Mr. Frost's home.
Each palm tree along costs about $10,000.
There seemed little shortage of cash as we breezed by the home of Julio Iglesias, a Spanish singer-songwriter heart-throb in my day, big daddy to Spanish singer-songwriter heart-throb Enrique Iglesias, for those members of the younger crowd.
Julio doesn't look to be home.
The home frequently used for location shots for Miami Vice and CSI Miami has been purported to have been rented to Kenya West for the low, low price of $13,500 a night.
Check out the staircase!
We got a good look, too, at the pink house Elizabeth Taylor bought from Don Johnson in the 1980’s. If you look real close, you can almost make out the famed rabbit sculpture (it sits atop the pyramid-looking glass base) given to Liz to signify her “jumping” from one man to the next.
Liz was always in the pink in this place, although it doesn't look very pink in this shot.
There was no denying the magnificent Miami Beach skyline was a big part of the appeal of these island locations. Imagine that view at sunset!
And to think this was once just a mosquito-infested swamp.
Or you can imagine my neighbor’s fence running across my back yard. Actually, you don’t even have to use your imagination. Here’s a picture of my view! Sunset doesn't help much.
Sure hoping for spring to improve my view, if even minimally.
There are no homes on Flagler Memorial Island; the tiny, nearly round island is home to a municipal-park belonging to South Beach. The park with its 110-foot-tall white obelisk is dedicated to railroad magnet Henry Flagler. Flagler was instrumental in making this truly tropical spot once inhabited by the Tequesta Indians accessible to the rest of the country at the turn of the twentieth century.
Where's the White House?
Our ride back to the dock took us by the Port of Miami; not the prettiest of views either, unless you’re into BIG ships. Of course, if you own said Port of Miami, the view may be all you need to have that sense of peace that comes with knowing all is right with your world.
Maybe Carnival Cruise Line should reconsider the ships they use.
It’s a world of high rollers with money to burn in the hot sun and surf of Florida’s Gold Coast.
All aboard!
Whatever floats your boat!
No, my hat is tipsy, but I'm not tipsy!
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Bottom Line on Island Queen Cruises:
Verdict: This was another activity my father recommended. It was nice being out on the water, but I’m not really a big fan of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. I think a sunset cruise (yikes, 3 hours for $69) or an evening cruise along Miami Beach with all the sparkling lights would have been sufficient for me.
How to Get There: From Miami Beach, take Collins Avenue South to 5th Street and make a right on to 5th Street. Head West on 5th Street, which turns into I-395 or Macarthur Causeway. Get off at the Biscayne Boulevard exit. Make a left at the second light on to Biscayne Boulevard. Head South on Biscayne Boulevard until NE 5th Street or Port Boulevard. Make a left and stay to the right, then enter Bayside Marketplace parking garage. Bayside Marketplace is an open-air mall located in downtown Miami and Island Queen Cruises is located in the middle of the mall, next to the music stage and a 15-foot hanging shark.
Insider Information: Do arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to boarding; 45 minutes if you really want a seat along the railing for the best chance at pictures. Seating below is enclosed; up top, the area is open. Passengers are strongly discouraged (and reprimanded) when it comes to moving about the seating area during the ride, which did make taking pictures difficult. You can bring your own drinks aboard, as well as small snacks.
Booking online at the Island Queen Cruises website gets you a special $3 per person internet discount, bringing the price for adults to $24; children’s tickets (4-12) to $16.
Nearby Food: Light snacks and beverages are available on board. There are plenty of places to eat back at the Bayside Marketplace. We had a great lunch after our cruise at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
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