Ballers, stars and fashionistas: Who’s buying and selling in South Florida?

Jonathan Vilma and his $14.4 million mansion
Jonathan Vilma and his $14.4 million mansion

UPDATED, March 29, 2:54 p.m.: The constellation of stars in South Florida is ever-changing. There’s no shortage of celebrity sightings on South Beach, of course, and Star Island remains one of most exclusive enclaves in the world. But with competition for prime real estate among everyone from athletes to tech titans to foreign investors, some boldfaced names are exploring other areas for their splurges. For those who don’t need the hassle of tending to an estate, there are endless luxury condo buildings running all the way up the coast. And mansions are being built in evolving Miami neighborhoods for those thinking outside the celebrity box. Or, if horses are a concern, what about moving inland a bit and picking up a few equestrian acres? Here’s a look into the deals of the famous folks who recently bought or sold in South Florida.

After playing ball at the University of Miami, Jonathan Vilma moved on to the NFL with the New York Jets and to the Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, but the star linebacker called Tahiti Beach Island home until he sold his five-bedroom mansion for $14.4 million in January. Vilma bought the property overlooking Biscayne Bay in 2011 for $6 million and later built a 6,900-square-foot modern home on the land. The mansion at 17 Tahiti Beach Island Road was listed for $18.5 million last year with Douglas Elliman’s Chad Carroll.

Luxurious understatement reigns supreme at chez Tomas Maier,” Vogue recently wrote about the German-born designer’s fall collection, and the same could be said of the oceanfront house in Gulf Stream that he and his husband, Andrew Preston, sold in January. The 6,270-square-foot home fetched $9.5 million, although the sale price was a bit off the $10.95 million price tag when the 3377 North Ocean Boulevard property hit the market in November. Douglas Elliman’s Nicholas Malinosky and Randy Ely represented the sellers. Maier and Preston are moving to a recently renovated mansion in Palm Beach, which they bought in 2014 from Ivana Trump.

Mickey Drexler and his $13.7 million waterfront property

Mickey Drexler needed a little more room, so he bought the neighboring 22,719-square-foot lot. That lot happens to be a waterfront property in Miami Beach, so the J. Crew chairman had to put down $13.7 million for it. But Drexler paid a little more than half the $25 million that 4462 North Bay Road was listed for in 2015. The previous owner, former chairman of MTV International Bill Roedy, cut the asking price to $15.9 million last year. Ralph Arias of One Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller.

Actor Michael Caine and his wife, Shakira, sold their luxury condo at the Apogee South Beach for $7.45 million in January, as the couple is spending less time in Miami, according to listing broker John Lennon of South Pointe Drive Realty. The 4,154-square-foot, four-bedroom home last had an $8.7 million asking price, but had been on the market several times over two years, initially at $12.9 million. The Oscar winner bought the Miami Beach apartment at 800 South Pointe Drive in 2008 and, appropriately, added a small movie theater. Christiana Machado of Cervera Real Estate represented the buyer, a Brazilian businessman.

Dion Waiters and hid $7.4 million mansion in Pinecrest

Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters set an off-the-court record when he put up $7.4 million for a mansion in Pinecrest, making his the most expensive non-waterfront property in the area. Architect Frank Mendez took a shot with the 17,700-square-foot spec home and scored with features intended to attract professional athletes. The nine-bedroom Balinese-style home at 5745 Southwest 94th Street has a shower big enough for 12 people and a driveway large enough for 30 cars. The property was first listed in January 2015 with a $9.9 million price tag. Brown Harris Stevens Miami agent Marianna Dubinsky had the listing. Nancy Bernstein and Jonathan Garcia of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty represented Waiters.

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Billy Joel and his horse-loving wife, Alexis Roderick, are movin’ out of the Florida beachfront properties the singer owns and movin’ up to a five-acre equestrian ranch in Wellington, which they bought for $3.5 million in January. The property at 14190 Palm Beach Point Boulevard features a 12-stall barn, five paddocks and a regulation-size dressage ring. Joel bought a neighboring five-acre parcel in 2016 for $3.6 million. The ranch isn’t far from the Winter Equestrian Festival, one of the nation’s largest horse-riding events. The Piano Man and his wife join a host of other celebs who’ve bought in Wellington, including Bruce Springsteen and Bill Gates. Carol Sollak of Engel & Volkers Wellington had the listing.

Jay Schottenstein spent $6.77 million on a condo at the soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton Residences

Where does a Midwestern boy stay in Miami? At the Ritz if he’s Jay Schottenstein, the CEO and chairman of American Eagle and DSW. The Ohio-based retail heir spent $6.77 million on a 4,347-square-foot, three-bedroom condo at the soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton Residences at 4701 Meridian Avenue in Miami Beach. With 111 condos and 15 standalone villas designed by architect Piero Lissoni, the ultra-luxury community will offer its residents a marine helipad, 36 boat slips and — for those who don’t have their own — a house yacht. The complex is scheduled to open later in 2018. Darin Tansey of Douglas Elliman was the listing agent.

“Get it while you here, boy/’Cause all that hype don’t feel the same next year, boy,” Drake rapped from his living room in the Marquis Residences for the “I’m On One” video. That was in 2011. In 2012, he sold the downtown Miami condo to then-Heat guard Mario Chalmers for $2.4 million. Chalmers held onto the 5,475-square-foot apartment for more than a year, but he put it on the market for $4 million in 2014 and was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. There were no takers until February, when the condo sold for a small loss at $2.3 million. Representing Chalmers was Denver Bright, who was with Douglas Elliman at the time. Bright is now with Compass.

Rosie O’Donnell and her $5 million West Palm Beach home

Rosie O’Donnell sold her West Palm Beach home for $5 million in January, and the first thing buyer H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. is going to do is tear the place down. Built in 1957, the five-bedroom manse sits on an acre of land next to the Intracoastal Waterway. The comedian bought the nearly 7,600-square-foot house at 3100 North Flagler Drive in 2015 for $4.975 million and had listed it for $6.05 million before cutting the price in June 2017. O‘Donnell can probably afford to laugh off the $25,000 profit margin — she sold a Star Island property in 2013 for $12.6 million. Liza Pulitzer of Brown Harris Stevens of Palm Beach had the listing.

Even if Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and all the guys from OneRepublic decide to drop by at the same time, Timbaland’s new waterfront condo in Miami should be big enough to host all his collaborators. The Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer, whose full name is Timothy Zachery Mosley, bought two units in the still-under-construction Aria on the Bay, which will encompass 4,700 square feet when they’re combined, plus another 1,300 square feet of terrace overlooking Biscayne Bay. Tim Elmes of Coldwell Banker and Marc Hameroff of Engel & Völkers Miami represented Timbaland in the reportedly $4 million deal.

Editor’s note: This story has been amended to include Dion Waiters’ representation in his home purchase.