Barry Sternlicht

Sternlicht, the billionaire real estate investor and hotelier, was ahead of the pandemic-era frenzy of CEOs that decided to move their companies to Miami. Sternlicht, founder and CEO of Starwood Capital Group and chairman and CEO of the publicly traded Starwood Property Trust, announced the move for both firms in 2018.

Sternlicht also previously founded and led Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which he sold to Marriott International in 2016. He lives in Miami Beach, where he had a modern mansion built on North Bay Road. He’s leaned on the Starwood name, rebranding his SH Group to Starwood Hotels. That firm owns 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels and the Treehouse Hotels brands. 

Sternlicht will often offer his candid take on how global events are affecting the financial markets, making for engaging earnings calls with investors. 

In his backyard, Sternlicht is among the investors planning to redevelop The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, an iconic hotel on the Venetian Islands. He and his partners withdrew their request for zoning changes following controversy over an agreement with a neighboring condo association, but the project is still expected to eventually move forward.