Billionaire real estate developer Jeff Greene officially entered the Florida Senate race today when he announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. In a campaign video, Greene called himself a “different choice” who is “willing to shake things up in Washington.” He said he won’t take contributions of over $100, with the idea that his own personal wealth will shield him from the influence of special interests. Gov. Charlie Crist said yesterday that he will run as an independent. [CBS]

Billionaire real estate developer Jeff Greene might enter the Democratic Senate primary race in Florida, a source told the Washington Post. Greene, who made was made wealthy in large part because of his bets against the subprime mortgage market, had reportedly been mulling a run as an independent, but since Gov. Charlie Crist now seems to be leaning toward that route, Greene is instead considering a challenge to Rep. Kendrick Meek, who is running as a Democrat. Greene’s net worth of $1.5 billion makes him one of the world’s 400 richest people and therefore, a formidable opponent to any politician. [Washington Post, 1st item] 

Jeff Greene, who recently purchased the La Bellucia mansion in Palm Beach County’s largest sale of 2009, was made a billionaire largely with the success of his bet against the subprime mortgage market. But the swaggering figure the Wall Street Journal dubbed the “Meltdown Mogul” doesn’t come off as such, the Miami Herald wrote in a profile of the South Floridian investor this week. Green said his own father’s story — one of a small New England businessman who worked in vain to fight trends of cheaper labor migrating jobs to the South — impressed on him how fates can change. He said his own belief that the real estate market had become unmoored was the reason his wealth is now at an estimated $1.3 billion. His bet on the opposite side of market calls by the largest institutions of Wall Street, which were snapping up mortgage bonds, including billions in subprime adjustable-rate loans, worked well for Greene. [Miami Herald]

The big deals came back to Palm Beach’s mansion market when La Bellucia, a storied house in the ultra-rich island’s property pantheon, sold for $24 million. Sources told the Palm Beach Daily News that the sale was the county’s largest on record in 2009. The nine-bedroom house, located at 1200 S. Ocean Boulevard and designed by Palm Beach’s best known architect, Addison Minzer, was purchased by Los Angeles real estate developer and billionaire Jeffrey Greene. First Allied Jacksonville, a Rochester, N.Y.-based holding company owned by Palm Beach resident Malcolm Glazer, a billionaire sports team owner, sold the 12,000-square foot estate, which encompasses 3.8 acres. Paulette Koch and Dana Koch, Corcoran Group associates and partners, listed the trophy property for $27.5 million. [Palm Beach Daily News]